From the HIP
We are in the midst of a titanic Beethoven onslaught prompted by the unstoppable need to commemorate the composer’s upcoming 250th birthday.
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Princess of the posse
La Cieca hears that the centerpiece of the 2021 Salzburg Easter Festival will be a new production of Turandot conducted by Christian Thielemann (not pictured) .
Kebabs in the Persian Room
Ester, Liberatrice del Popolo Ebreo was presented in concert on Thursday night by Salon/Sanctuary Concerts in the Brotherhood Synagogue on Gramercy Park, in proper time for Purim.
Don’t talk to strangers
Born on this day in 1910 composer Samuel Barber.
Knight in white satin
On this day in 1976 mezzo-soprano Tatiana Troyanos made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Octavian.
I Masnadieri
Verdi’s Sturm und Drang opera, live from the Bayerische Staatsoper.
Così fan tutte
A Saturday afternoon iteration of this season’s ubiquitous revival.
Win a Free Ticket to Opening Night at the Met!
Quinn Kelsey and Lise Davidsen star in the Met's new Macbeth. We're giving away one ticket, so screw your courage to the sticking place and enter now!
Out of the Blue
Bess is clearly Angel Blue’s part—set in the richest and most shimmering upper middle portion of her voice, and optimally suited to her persona.
Just leave everything to me!
Happy 61st birthday to musical theater diva Donna Murphy.
Taking care of business
Not everyone is happy about the Beethoven sestercentennial.
En direct
Happy 45th birthday conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
What is normal?
That question hung in the air when Teatro de la Zarzuela Madrid revived Tomás Bretón’s opera Farinelli for first time since its premiere in 1902.
A soldier’s play
On this day in 1959 Alban Berg‘s Wozzeck had its Metropolitan Opera premiere.
Witch hunt
Later this month Asmik Grigorian will star in Covent Garden’s new Jenufa, which Trove Thursday anticipates presenting the acclaimed Lithuanian soprano in a broadcast from 2014 of Tchaikovsky’s rare opera The Enchantress (Charodeyka).
Well equipped
While last year’s finals were dominated by early nineteenth-century bel canto arias, this year’s finalists took on a remarkably broad range of music from a variety of repertoires.
My heart belongs to mama
VIctor Herbert demonstrates in this slight, affectionate piece a talent for keeping his musico-dramatic balls in the air, as Madeleine’s spirits juggle, fall, rise again, and droop to elegant resignation at the last.
Pettifogging
Happy 66th birthday to comic genius Catherine O’Hara.
Met imposes quarantine
La Cieca has obtained a letter from the Met’s Assistant General Manager, Artistic informing artists arriving in New York from certain high-risk areas they are subject to a two-week quarantine before rehearsing or performing.
A dark drab dud
I never imagined I’d see such a rote park-and-bark Wagner production created in 2020!
Flopéra comique
On this day in 1875 Bizet’s Carmen had its disastrous premiere at the Opéra Comique in Paris.
Shipwreck
After tonight’s dark drab dud of a Dutchman, I was plunged into despair.
Der Fliegende Holländer
Wagner’s early masterpiece returns to the Met conducted by Valery Gergiev (not pictured).
And now a word from our sponsors
Our thanks to our darling parterre box advertisers, without whom La Cieca and the gang would be at a loss for words!
