Questo e Quello
Two superstars of the 21st century, Diana Damrau and Juan Diego Flórez, bring exciting new life to a classic of the 19th century, Verdi’s Rigoletto. This new production of the warhorse was heard Saturday night in Dresden. Regie is by Nikolaus Lehnhoff and musical direction is by Fabio Luisi. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://youtube.com/v/PiyaNoNxOYY” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
It took Bridget Jones practically no time at all to guess the correct answer to our most recent Regie quiz: the opera depicted was indeed Die Walküre. So now can you tell La Cieca which opera is being performed here? And do remember, everyone: guesses only! If you know the production, sit this one out!
Your doyenne continues to marvel at the riches preserved on YouTube. A random browse this evening turned up a particularly rare gem: a snippet of Aïda as performed by legendary Romanian divas Virginia Zeani and Elena Cernei. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://youtube.com/v/NyzITAvcuAk” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
Those muckraking scamps over at Opera News are at it again, quoting a in their June issue a particularly inflammatory passage from the mad gay diaries of mad gay Cecil Beaton. Dear Cecil, you will recall, designed the Met’s celebrated 1961 production of Turandot that starred Birgit Nilsson. It seems that mere critical and popular…
Cher public, La Cieca can hardly believe that the musical event of the season has slipped her mind until just this very minute. She is talking, of course, about the concert tonight in Prospect Park by (in alphabetical order) Roberto Alagna and Angela Gheorghiu. The Thirteen/WNET website helpfully notes that “Gheorghiu and Alagna aren’t strangers…
Following a performance of Lucia in San Francisco, Our Own “sassy bald” High C’s models the notorious blood-stained t-shirt for none other than Natalie Dessay.
Our Own JJ chats with pal Dorothy Bishop about her upcoming cabaret “Viva la Diva.” [kml_flashembed movie=”http://youtube.com/v/o_NYvOYmpoI” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /] “Viva la Diva” graces the stage of the Zipper Factory Theater on June 29 at 3:00 PM. Online booking is available through OvationTix.
“Even though opera is an anachronism, a centuries-old art form replete with some of the creakiest plots imaginable, in 2008 opera – at least the Met Opera– is where the action is.” An alternative (or perhaps a response) to the Wall Street Journal‘s dire prognostications may be found in an analysis of the Met’s current financial position by…
In celebration of the recent Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, the New York Times puts their best man on the case, with exactly the adjective-engorged result you might predict: Out of Opera’s Cradle, Hunky Broadway Babies. “Back then, audiences were willing to lean forward and pay attention.”
The legendary “Tokyo Traviata,” one of the most often pirated opera videos, has finally been released in an authorized version by VAI. Featuring the golden-age cast of Renata Scotto, Jose Carreras and Sesto Bruscantini, the DVD boasts beautifully restored video and broadcast-quality audio — by far the cleanest version of this telecast La Cieca has…
Pamela Rosenberg, late of San Francisco Opera and currently at the Berlin Philarmonic, moves on next to the Staatsoper Unter Den Linden, La Cieca hears. The Philharmonic gig ends in 2010, so expect Rosenberg to return to the opera house immediately after.
After three years of failed legal motions by four legal teams, “felonthropist” Alberto Vilar will emerge from the close confinement of his heavily chandeliered 5,500 square foot apartment to face trial in September for defrauding investors of millions of dollars. [via ABC News]
In what may be 2008’s most stellar example of unintentional irony, the organization Opera America has elected as its new chairman … a Brit. According to musicalamerica.com, Anthony Freud, newcomer General Director and CEO of the Houston Grand Opera, will succeed Opera Theater of St. Louis General Director Charles MacKay. Opera America President Marc Scorca deemed…
Speaking of Broadway, David Merrick once said (if La Cieca recalls correctly) that even though Pearl Bailey played Hello, Dolly! for only one season, the legendary diva managed to squeeze in two seasons’ worth of cancellations. A roughly similar situation may be observed at Opera Orchestra of New York, a company that does only three performances…
Congratulations to Rosina Daintymouth for her identification of last week’s Regie as Intermezzo (Richard Strauss). This week’s Regie quiz may not be much quite so challenging, so La Cieca is going to offer you only two production photos. Remember, guesses only — no cheating!Â
As New York City cools down, Unnatural Acts of Opera heats up with the second and third acts of Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots. Les Huguenots, Acts 2 and 3
La Cieca hears that Marcello Giordani has withdrawn from his scheduled June and July performances as Cavaradossi at the Arena di Verona this summer. The June 21-July 19 performances will be shared between Marcelo Alvarez and Carlo Ventre. Giordani’s next stage performances will be his role debut as Alvaro in La forza del destino in…
In general, La Cieca tries to avoid posting two YouTube videos in a row, but she’s making an exception this time around since internet it-boy Izzy Anderson has decided to tackle Mozart. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://youtube.com/v/gC5aoEhmw3Y” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /] The direction is, as always, by the Seattle Svengali, Wenarto.
Well, no, actually. In fact, telegenic divas and divos date back at least half a century. Here are Clara Petrella and Giacinto Prandelli in a 1956 telecast of Manon Lescaut.
“The chief judge of the federal appeals court in California, Alex Kozinski, has contributed to a Web site that featured sexually explicit materials …. [including] a photograph of naked women painted to look like cows. . .” [via NYT] Â
La Cieca was reading a website the other day. It’s all about civilization or something, a nutty kind of a website. Do you know that the guy said that downloaded media is going to take the place of CDs and DVDs? Shoving her inner Jean Harlow back into her unconscious for a moment, La Cieca…
… for (as the saying goes) “that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives.” Well, when La Cieca reflects upon where she’s going to spend the rest of her life, the first place she turns to is Bradley Wilber‘s MetManiac. So you can imagine your doyenne’s deep relief…
In her never-ceasing quest to keep her cher public violently engaged in the operatic discussion process, La Cieca presents a couple of snippets from a recent opera performance at Covent Garden. The artist in question is heard in moments representing (your doyenne is informed) his worst and best singing of the evening.
Tell us: Filth or dementia?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
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