Heather Harper 1930-2019 Heather Harper 1930-2019

The distinguished British soprano died today. She was 88.

Ye shall know them by their fruits Ye shall know them by their fruits

Quite an eye-opener from the Staatsoper Stuttgart this morning at 11:00 AM: a live video stream of Prokofiev’s Love of Three Oranges!

A little more mascara A little more mascara

Happy 83rd birthday mezzo-soprano Fiorenza Cossotto.

Sophisticated Hades Sophisticated Hades

The sexiest moment on Broadway this season features a 73-year-old man and a single button.

Muscle of love Muscle of love

On this day in 2005, the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Faust.

Gods and monsters Gods and monsters

Legrenzi married the quirky libretto to a score of transcendental beauty.

Broadcast: La clemenza di Tito

All roads lead to Rome.

“No, that was me!” “No, that was me!”

On this day in 2015 Renée Fleming made her Broadway debut in Joe DiPietro‘s comedy Living on Love.

Das ist Charfreitag’s-Zauber, Herr Das ist Charfreitag’s-Zauber, Herr

La Cieca is happy to invite the cher public to take a few hours to ponder a complete performance of Wagner’s Parsifal (from Berlin in 2015).

Me, Natalie Me, Natalie

Happy 54th birthday soprano Natalie Dessay.

Billy Budd, queen of the birds Billy Budd, queen of the birds

The pretty boy who got a bum rap.

Nostalgia for places one has never seen Nostalgia for places one has never seen

“Trove Thursday” turns to Jacopo Foroni’s rare 1849 historical melodrama Cristina, Regina di Svezia to commemorate the 330th anniversary tomorrow of that enigmatic monarch’s death.

For art For art

Happy 71st birthday soprano Catherine Malfitano. 

Broadcast: La traviata Broadcast: La traviata

Will tonight’s Met broadcast (at 8:00 PM) be croce or delizia?

Don’t fach with me, fellas! Don’t fach with me, fellas!

Happy 79th (or so) birthday soprano/mezzo-soprano Anja Silja.

Out of the past Out of the past

Opera premieres on this day…

Der Meisterdirigent Der Meisterdirigent

Christian Thielemann is widely regarded as our time’s preeminent master of the Austro-German symphonic ensemble.

Entry of the ghosts Entry of the ghosts

Born on this day in 1843 novelist Henry James.

Teenager in love Teenager in love

Stefan Vinke’s Siegfried was not so much brawny and terrestrial, but heady and mercurial

Next, a rant about lazy good-for-nothing Millennials Next, a rant about lazy good-for-nothing Millennials

“It has left older generations feeling they deserve the same treatment…”

Slow curtain Slow curtain

On this day in 2016, James Levine announced his retirement as Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera to become music director emeritus.

Broadcast: Siegfried Broadcast: Siegfried

Good morning, good morning!

You can’t stop the divas You can’t stop the divas

Happy 61st birthday soprano Aprile Millo.

Casting a Paul Casting a Paul

Paul Appleby will sing Don Ottavio in tonight’s performance of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, replacing Pavol Breslik, who is ill,.”