Questo e Quello
Sempiternal Magda Olivero celebrated her 99th birthday earlier this week.
La Cieca never knows quite how far to go in repeating what she “is told,” but since some of it seems to be leaking out anyway, well, she’ll try to be tactful. Apparently sometimes opera companies choose to use terminology like “laryngitis” and “knee injury” in order to avoid having to say “exhibited bizarre behavior…
La Cieca really, really doesn’t like to say this, but the truth seems to be staring us in the face, so here goes. We have seen the last of Rolando Villazón at the Met. Even though he’s announced as having canceled only the first two performances of Elisir, it’s pretty clear that he’s just not…
UPDATED YET ONCE MORE (March 26 at 5:00 pm): Per the Met’s press office, “Massimo Giordano will sing the role of Nemorino in L’Elisir d’Amore on March 31 and April 4 matinee, replacing Rolando Villazón, who is suffering from laryngitis.” UPDATED AGAIN (March 26 at 3:55 pm): Iréne Theorin will sing the first two matinees…
“Salvatore, viens, j’ai trouvé une étoile!” [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/5xXf8mh81dg” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /] Wenarto, watch your back!
La Cieca realizes she hasn’t devised a contest for you competitive members of the cher public in, oh, ages. So she’s going to direct you to the Omniscient Mussel blog, where the game is to offer an opera plot synopsis via Twitter.
La Cieca hears that the New York City Opera will present four five productions during their 2009-2010 season, including a new staging of Don Giovanni directed by David Christopher Alden and starring Daniel Okulitch (pictured). Revivals of “old” NYCO productions at The David H. Koch Theater include Weisgall’s Esther (with Lauren Flanigan), L’etoile, Partenope and…
A source close to the Met whispers to La Cieca that Rolando Villazon “will cancel” the first performance of L’elisir d’amore at the house on March 31. This, La Cieca should mention, is based on an overheard conversation between Sarah Billinghurst and Angela Gheorghiu.
Which soprano’s knee injury is fermenting trouble for her highly-awaited appearances in New York this spring? Let’s hope the company is ready with a rescue team!
In tribute to the last revival ever of the Met’s beloved “rags ‘n rocks” production of Wagner’s Ring, here’s a rare video clip from an early rehearsal of the cycle.
Peter Gelb has just announced that, due to the indisposition of Natalie Dessay, the role of Amina in La sonnambula will be sung tonight by Rolando Villazon. (Thanks to Opera Chic!)
As we wish Joan Crawford a happy 101st (or 105th) birthday, La Cieca asks you to imagine what it might have been (pronounced “bean”) like if Our Lady of the Shoulders had continued her vocal studies with Rosa Ponselle. Not “Joan Crawford Sings Verdi” exactly, but, my goodness, that woman could certainly fill out an…
In case you’re wondering why Roberto Alagna‘s Roméo suddenly sprouted baby-blue capri pants between dress rehearsal and opening night, well, cherchez la femme, as they say. “It was a little bit tricky,” [Alagna] laughs. “They gave me a sort of, I don’t know, very short underwear. It was right for the situation, but Angela didn’t agree.…
According to a release from the Met’s press office, “Margaret Jane Wray will sing the role of Santuzza in Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana tonight, replacing Waltraud Meier, who is ill.”
Opera composer Rufus Wainwright sings Berlioz. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/psUGIE7Ugjw” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
It’s been nearly a month since the last spurt of news about the New York City Opera, which, for those of you with not particularly long memories, is or was an opera company just off to the side of the Met at Lincoln Center. Well, now the first big story of March has crossed La Cieca’s desk.…
La Cieca offers her congratulations to fellow gossipmonger Perez Hilton, who has scooped the world with a story about Rufus Wainwright‘s opera Prima Donna, due for a world premiere production in… oh, wait a minute. Did La Cieca say “scooped the world?” What she meant to say was, “picked up on the story a mere…
Anyone listening to “The Pizza Boy Always Delivers Twice” tonight? La Cieca has just logged on in time for Alfio’s entrance, which means Waltraud Meier has a good deal of singing coming up in the next half hour or so.
Our Own JJ reports on the Met’s 125th Anniversary Shindig in the New York Post.
Renée Fleming, known as “The Beautiful Voice” and “Diva of the Future,” has won a new whaddyacallit, a new, uh, sobriquet. Courtesy of commenter Camille, Ms. Fleming will henceforth be known as “Opera MILF.” (At last night’s 125th Anniversary Gala, La Fleming rocked “a costume based on the one worn by Maria Jeritza for [Die…
La Cieca (not pictured) invites you, cher public, to listen to the broadcast of the Met’s 125th Anniversary Gala (on Sirius or RealNetworks) and comment to your heart’s content! The (projected) program is availabe as a pdf from the Met’s website.
Friends of the box have asked La Cieca to inform you that they have two tickets for today’s 125th Anniversary Gala for sale, row C orchestra, $400 each. If you’re interested, call 646-266-8423 and ask for Siciliano. (That’s his name.)
La Cieca is of course delighted to learn that dear John Waters intends to have Pink Flamingos adapted into an opera — though, sadly, he might as well forget about having the work premiered in his home town. La Cieca can’t imagine which currently active composer might be up for the daunting task of setting…
Our Own JJ makes his farewell to Gay City News, — not “in a box — simple pine” à la Morgana Neri — but with a review of the Met’s current production of Il trovatore. Meanwhile, still in place, and festive as ever, is that pearl among podcasts, The Entertainment Beat with Frances Gumm.
Tell us: Filth or dementia?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
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