Orientalism alive and well on the Upper West Side Orientalism alive and well on the Upper West Side

“Based on two Noh plays, the hypnotic work creates a shimmering world of supernatural encounters…”

Smoke gets in your eyes Smoke gets in your eyes

On this day in 1970, Regina Resnik celebrated her 25th anniversary at the Met with a performance of Carmen, part of the company’s first June Festival.

Blonde Venus? Blonde Venus?

The frequently-omniscient Future Met Wiki has recently vouchsafed a few morsels about upcoming Met seasons.

She’s electrifying She’s electrifying

Happy 75th birthday soprano Eva Marton. 

“I wish I could say I was sorry!” “I wish I could say I was sorry!”

James Levine is trying to discredit one of his alleged victims by dredging up a ‘love’ letter his teen accuser once wrote to him.”

Human, all too human Human, all too human

Siegfried is, in a sense, The Ring’s odd one out.

‘La traviata’ on a parterre saturday afternoon ‘La traviata’ on a parterre saturday afternoon

Today at 2:00 PM, Our Own JJ presents the “other” great Maria Callas Traviata from 1958, the glorious performance of June 20, 1958 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Boys of the baroque Boys of the baroque

In less than 10 days two outstanding countertenors, Franco Fagioli and Jakub Józef Orlinski, visited London.

Rara avis Rara avis

Tomorrow (Sunday) a staged reading of The Lisbon Traviata will be performed at New York’s LGBT Community Center.

Borne back ceaselessly into the past Borne back ceaselessly into the past

Born on this day in 1952 tenor Jerry Hadley.

Stonebroke? Stonebroke?

New York City Opera apparently plans to fund its commission of the opera Stonewall via Patreon.

The hipster demigoddess The hipster demigoddess

If Das Rheingold is an opera about infinitude, the illusory idea that the world is large enough to satisfy all of our desires, passions, and lusts, Die Walküre is an opera about scarcity.

Statuesque Statuesque

Happy 88th birthday stage designer and director Pier Luigi Pizzi.

Contes stop the music Contes stop the music

Trove Thursday wades into the murky musicological waters of Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann..

Who let the dogs out? Who let the dogs out?

Norman Lebrecht, as is increasingly his wont, emitted a vicious racially-charged dog whistle this morning.

Illuminatus Illuminatus

Born on this day in 1763 composer Simon Mayr

San Francisco, open your Rheingold gate San Francisco, open your Rheingold gate

Casting the Ring as a parable for the state of the current world, seen through the eyes of a progressive urban opera lover (and not an early German nationalist), offers us soothing self-justification.

Frappez toujours! Dieu choisira les siens! Frappez toujours! Dieu choisira les siens!

On this day in 1855 Verdi’s Les Vêpres siciliennes premiered in Paris.

Cave dwellers Cave dwellers

Composer/librettist David Hertzberg’s The Rose Elf, which gave its world premiere in the Green-Wood Cemetery Catacombs last weekend, is indeed a marvel of elfin proportions.

True intentions True intentions

Born on this day in 1919 actress and theatre practitioner Uta Hagen.

The sun shines nellie The sun shines nellie

Warmth, humor, and joyful out-and-proud-ness dominate the mood, yet there is considerable darkness in Taylor Mac’s view of both past and present.

Everything’s coming up roses Everything’s coming up roses

Born on this day in 1864 composer Richard Strauss and in 1913 mezzo-soprano Risë Stevens.

From the vault From the vault

La Cieca is delighted to remind her cher public that the parterre YouTube page (called operazine) has been newly refurbished and updated.

“I believe in the idea of the rainbow” “I believe in the idea of the rainbow”

Born on this day in 1922 Miss Show Business.