L’Heure exquise L’Heure exquise

Although she didn’t sing that eponymous song by Reynaldo Hahn at Weill Recital Hall Thursday evening, Sabine Devieilhe did offer an “exquisite hour” of early 20th century French songs.

O tentatrice! O tentatrice!

On this day in 1907 the Metropolian Opera premiered Puccini’s Manon Lescaut with the composer in attendance.

At first sight At first sight

If I had to live with just one Tchaikovsky opera, it would be Iolanta.

Tears of a clown Tears of a clown

On this day in 1960 tenor Jon Vickers made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Canio.

House of the setting sun House of the setting sun

When a work is named for its lovers one might legitimately expect that pair to dominate its performance but in my experience that is never the case with Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande.

Out of sight, out of mind Out of sight, out of mind

Now, you would think nothing could please gaycentric La Cieca more than yesterday’s New York Times profile of the Met’s new music director…

General commander General commander

Happy 85th birthday mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne.

Two divas enter! One diva leaves! Two divas enter! One diva leaves!

“Remember where you are. This is Adriana Lecouvreur. Death is listening, and will take the first diva that screams.”

Broadcast: Pelléas et Mélisande Broadcast: Pelléas et Mélisande

La Cieca invites the cher public to visit Allemonde tonight at 7:30.

Too many sauces Too many sauces

On this day in 1958 Samuel Barber‘s Vanessa had its world premiere at the Met.

Crazy little thing called trove Crazy little thing called trove

Last week, our indefatigable podcaster Christopher Corwin (not pictured) achieved the milestone of  the 200th episode of Trove Thursday.

To the extreme To the extreme

No other singer of Die Amme approaches the towering standard set by the German mezzo Tanja Ariane Baumgartner.

Finalmente mia! Finalmente mia!

On this day in 1900 Puccini’s Tosca premiered in Rome.

The wit, the intelligence, the dignity and, of course, the voice. Basta! The wit, the intelligence, the dignity and, of course, the voice. Basta!

Happy 83rd birthday baritone Renato Bruson.

Broadcast: Adriana Lecouvreur Broadcast: Adriana Lecouvreur

Astounding Anita Rachvelishvili gets mixed up with Saxe and violets

“A maze of treacherous Puccini shallows” “A maze of treacherous Puccini shallows”

On this day in 1912 Pietro Mascagni’s Lodoletta had its United States premiere at the Metropolitan.

Gentlemen prefer blinds Gentlemen prefer blinds

Which superstar performer, despite recent success in this hemisphere, has thus far hesitated to sign a contract for more performances next season?

Sonya Yoncheva we love you get up Sonya Yoncheva we love you get up

“Couple of hours ago at home, I was preparing for the show, when suddenly I collapsed.”

Electrifying Electrifying

On this day in 1934 soprano Lotte Lehmann made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Sieglinde.

Broadcast: Otello Broadcast: Otello

It’s the final Otello broadcast of the Met season.

Discomfort zone Discomfort zone

Roberto Alagna’s physical and vocal embodiment of Don José lent his particular narrative a complication I hadn’t anticipated.

The ambassadors The ambassadors

“Trove Thursday” offers a recent broadcast of one of his best-known but rarely performed operas, Il Mitridate Eupatore. 

Knock on wood Knock on wood

Cellist Leah Coloff’s one-woman cabaret act ThisTree finds its place among a lineup of Prototype Festival miniatures this week that seem to plumb the depths of womanly distress.

“Oh, de’ Verdi anni miei” “Oh, de’ Verdi anni miei”

Happy 84th birthday baritone Sherrill Milnes.