Divine, madness Divine, madness

This is our anniversary day, cher public.

You must investigate Baghdad You must investigate Baghdad

On this day in 1953 the Wright-Forrest-Borodin musical Kismet opened on Broadway.

Chanson d’amour Chanson d’amour

Much like Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, which launched the Met’s 2016-2017 season, Kaija Saariaho’s L’Amour de Loin is an opera about love and death.

Tag sale Tag sale

It is a good rule of thumb that if you emerge from a massive grand opera like Aida feeling any less than overwhelmed, you have a right to be somewhat disappointed.

Jetez un voile noir sur la triste fiancée Jetez un voile noir sur la triste fiancée

On this day in 1840 Donizetti’s La Favorite premiered in Paris.

Chat: L’Amour de Loin Chat: L’Amour de Loin

Whether near or far, cher public, you can enjoy the Met premiere of L’Amour de Loin in the company of other denizens of La Casa della Cieca.

Harmony of contrasts Harmony of contrasts

Joyce DiDonato’s atest album, In War & Peace: Harmony through music, is more specific than it sounds.

Divine gladness Divine gladness

La Cieca thought it would be nice to revisit an Unnatural Acts of Opera podcast which included selections from the diva’s 1958 US recital tour.

Impressed seaman Impressed seaman

On this day in 1951 Benjamin Britten‘s Billy Budd premiered in London.

Fürchterliches Weib Fürchterliches Weib

Happy 73rd birthday soprano Luana DeVol.

Chestnut, roasting on an opera fire Chestnut, roasting on an opera fire

Anna has gone auburn!

Powder her brain Powder her brain

So interesting an operatic topic as Barbara Cartland and her brain pills goes unset.

Test pattern Test pattern

On this day in 1948 Verdi’s Otello was the first opera to be telecast from the Metropolitan Opera.

Solid gold Solid gold

This week’s opera is Die Liebe der Danae.

The thought behind it The thought behind it

Born on this day in 1923 actress Gloria Grahame.

All about my mother All about my mother

Operatic history can be cruel where multiple works with the same subject are concerned

Winning streak Winning streak

Like our beloved Cubs, Chicago Lyric Opera is in the midst of a championship season.

Dream home Dream home

On this day in 1843 Michael Balfe’s The Bohemian Girl premiered in London.

To my cher public To my cher public

La Cieca (pictured) begs your pardon for her unexplained absence from the site for the past several days.

Once, Moore, with feeling Once, Moore, with feeling

When Sonja Frisell‘s Met production of Aïda was new and starred Oklahoma native Leona Mitchell, the similarly-intialled Latonia Moore was nine years old, singing in the choir of her pastor grandfather’s church. 

The Sun Daughter The Sun Daughter

On this day in 1898 Pietro Mascagni’s Iris premiered in Rome. 

Susanna in Forth Worth” Susanna in Forth Worth”

I offer a bit of operatic turkey, P.D.Q. Bach’s half-act opera The Stoned Guest, as an aural amuse-bouche. 

Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities

Born on this day in 1694 writer and philosopher Francois-Marie Arouet (better known as Voltaire).

Dem inneren Triebe Dem inneren Triebe

On this day in 1808 Beethoven’s Fidelio premiered in Vienna.