The woman, the goddess
Born on this day in 1926 soprano Leonie Rysanek.
Recent Stories
Tempesta
On this day in 1937 the National Broadcasting Company formed a full-sized symphony orchestra.
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).
Side effects
“Her showboating performance on October 29, while certainly not lacking in spectacular moments, came as a sad disappointment after her ‘gripping and insightful’ Norma last season.”
Roses turn
Born on this day in 1939 soprano Lucia Popp.
Lake, placid
On this day in 1993 Dvorak’s Rusalka finally appeared at the Met. Gabriela Benacková does the honors.
The devil’s eye candy
There are shows with iconic characters, and there are shows with iconic characters playing iconic characters.
Under water
On this day in 1970 the Richard Rodgers–Martin Charnin musical Two by Two (with Danny Kaye as Noah) opened at the Imperial Theatre, to run 351 performances.
First action hero
Director David Pountney and his splendid designers have brought Lyric Opera of Chicago a visually spectacular Siegfried full of daring ideas.
Tales of the unexpected
In the Academy of Vocal Arts’s (AVA) clever pairing of two Puccini works, there was every reason to expect the fix was in.
Fleur du mal
Too bad, then, that this season’s tossed flower was a bit of a wilted one.
Bryn to be wild
Happy 53rd birthday bass-baritone Bryn Terfel.
Broadcast: Mefistofele
Boito returns to the Met for your listening and discussion tonight at 7:30.
Santuzza in a kimono
The whole performance reminded me of what Butterfly as I have never known it, but often herad about it, can be.
Strange music
Just over a month ago the great Catalan soprano Montserrat Caballé died at age 85.
Day of the devil
On this day in 1965 bass Nicolai Ghaiurov made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Méphistophélès.
Center ring Gandhi
BAM brings us a political opera featuring… literal balancing acts.
Paris was burning
Logistically, a large-scale revival of the operas of Giacomo Meyerbeer is an unreasonable request, much less an expectation.
Troy story
On this day in 1928 the American premiere of Richard Strauss’ Die ägyptische Helena took place at the Met, with Maria Jeritza in the title role.
Talents of Gold(mark)
Throughout the evening I couldn’t help thinking that this1870s Biblical epic of erotic obsession and penance was what the Met should have been doing this fall rather than its misbegotten Samson et Dalila.
A prima donna is born
On this day in 1883 the Metropolitan Opera presented its very first Traviata with Marcella Sembrich as Violetta.
Curtin call
Met debuts: In 1961 soprano Phyllis Curtin debuted as Fiordiligi…
Broadcast: Die Walküre
For your listening and discussing pleasure this afternoon, La Cieca recommends you turn to Die Walküre live on the BBC from Covent Garden at 1:00 PM EDT.
Mid-career
On this night in 1924 Tullio Serafin made his Met debut conducting Aida.