Questo e Quello

Missed connection

La Cieca hears that Emmanuelle Haïm has been protested by the orchestra of the Opéra national de Paris and will be removed as conductor of the company’s new production of Idomeneo opening on Wednesday. Replacing her will be Philippe Hui, whoever that is.

By 31 comments

Coronation

Congratulations to Rysanekfreak (pictured), contributor of the best top ten list in La Cieca’s Oughty But Nice competition. The ‘Freak’s somewhat meta compilation was entitled The Top Ten Participants I Have Most Enjoyed Reading on Parterre Box During the Last Decade. Rysanekfreak will receive a $100 gift card from amazon.com. 

By 6 comments

Rosa’s turn

“Unlike Ms. Garanca, Ponselle was among the many Carmens who have tried some real dancing.” Why is La Cieca not surprised that one of the few intelligent and detailed surveys of the dramatic element of the Met’s new Carmen should be written by a dance critic? [NYT]

By 72 comments

Gone in 60 Seconds

“Why can’t a general director with the fame, charm and ability of Domingo roll up his sleeves and work to realize his vision, rather than distancing himself from the results? The answer: because he isn’t actually there, running the company. He’s conducting Stiffelio, or singing Simone Boccanegra, or trying to keep up with his other […]

By 149 comments

Bach to basics

Some composers write as if the dividing line between instruments that play notes and the voice, which usually sings a text and takes some of its attitude towards the music from that text, were not an all-important factor.

By 6 comments

“Stiffelio” dress: first report

Member of the cher public Harold informs La Cieca, “The singing is good but the intermissions are too fucking long. The pause was longer than the last scene and the intermission longer than Act 2. I’ll be damned if I’m going to come back for 2 40-minute intermissions and a 10 minute scene change surrounded […]

By 73 comments

Lady sings the blues

There’s lots of coverage in both Italian and English-language media today about how Franco Zeffirelli (sort of) called Daniela Dessì “fat.” La Cieca chose this one because it had the funniest pictures. [The Telegraph]

By 52 comments

Out of ordure

“Ray Dull of Fresno, who recalls in the 1940s hauling manure as a teenager on his family’s Ohio farm as he listened to the Met’s Saturday radio broadcasts, understands the appeal of being up close in the movie theater.” [The Fresno Bee]

By 51 comments

Sock’s appeal

The maniacal laughter of incorrigible NYCO nemesis Manuela Hoelterhoff continues to echo through the halls of Castle Bloomberg this morning, as yet another of the executive editor’s gang of henchscribes gloats over yesterday’s announcement of a curtailed season at the company that dared to snub Francesca Zambello. Poor paltry fools!

By 20 comments

Thrift

“Though fine from a distance, the ladies’ costumes (also designed by Howell) had an air of Lisa Kudrow’s character on Friends circa 1994, which means they’ll probably be au courant in a few years.”  [Time Out New York]

By 21 comments

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