B-flat-boying
“I included one of my power moves, the windmill, when I sang Erismena at the Château De Versailles.”
Recent Stories
Judges for yourself
With the Met’s announcement of the 2018-2019 season approximately a week away, La Cieca thought we should review the always oracular and generally accurate Future Met Wiki.
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).
Puritani, as the driven snow
It was an afternoon of spectacular singing, particularly from the two principals and the glorious Lyric Opera Chorus.
Grace, under fire
On this day in 1928 soprano Grace Moore made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Mimi.
And one for Handel!
“It’s quite a coup to have Alice Coote starring in not one but two company premieres at Lyric next season.”
Fifty shades of Grail
The Met’s magnificent revival which opened on Monday night with a superb cast under the mesmerizing leadership of Yannick Nézet-Séguin nearly converted me into a devoted Parsifal disciple.
Figlia dei Faraoni
On this day in 1968 mezzo-soprano Fiorenza Cossotto made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Amneris.
Broadcast: Parsifal
Tonight, cher public, time becomes space starting at 5:55 PM and 30 Lincoln Center Plaza.
BASTA: Super, tanks for asking
The day of the big BASTA audition, Evan found the flier Paul Upczuk had passed him the previous weekend at Aura Bar.
Going, going, gong
“It’s like your nightmare Tinder date where if the guy doesn’t know the answer he gets his head cut off.”
The not so great outdoors
For all the company’s good intentions this opera-dance combo was not one of its happiest outings.
Lady for a day
On this day in 1959 soprano Leonie Rysanek made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Lady Macbeth.
Cross examination
“On March 5, at The Town Hall in NYC, [Andrew LLoyd Webber] will be joined by Glenn Close to celebrate the release of his new memoir, Unmasked.”
Jeune premier
On this day in 2006 tenor Jonas Kaufmann made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Alfredo.
Arms and the man I sing
Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin has been doing heavy lifting not only in the metaphorical but in the literal sense as well.
Melody and more
The arrival of a new recording of Giuseppe Verdi’s Otello into the catalogue, to say nothing of a new tenor capable of singing Otello, is generally cause for hosannas all around in operatic circles.
Broadcast: Il trovatore
This afternoon’s Met broadcast is Il trovatore, a revival that has already been widely discussed, and surely will be spoken of further when it begins at 1:00 PM.
A masterpiece may be unwelcome but it is never dull
Born on this day in 1887 writer and librettist Gertrude Stein.
Don’t bother me, I can’t Copley
So it turns out the spin from all of Good Old Uncle John’s chums is not quite accurate after all.
Carriage trade
A particularly elegant bevy of sponsors grace the pixels of parterre this month: Carnegie Hall, the New York City Opera and the New York Philharmonic.
King song
While Farinelli and the King isn’t the only Broadway play to have explored castration (Sweet Bird of Youth, anyone?) it’s likely the first to concern a legendary 18th century opera star.
Bronze goddess
Happy 81st birthday soprano Martina Arroyo!
Peak performance
“Trove Thursday” ushers in February with Catalani’s La Wally with a mountain-top cast of Renata Tebaldi, Renata Scotto, Mario del Monaco, Giangiacomo Guelfi and Giorgio Tozzi conducted by Carlo Maria Giulini.