Devil’s advocate
Just 85 years ago, four of Italy’s greatest opera stars gathered at Teatro all Scala for an historic event: the first-ever recording of Arrigo Boito’s sole complete opera, Mefistofele.
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Loft horizon
La Cieca has been informed LoftOpera is relocating its next production, Così fan tutte—opening on September 16, with performances until September 25—to 101 Varick Avenue, a massive warehouse space in East Williamsburg.
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).
Alles Vergängliche ist nur ein Gleichnis
On this day in 1910 the premiere performance of Gustav Mahler‘s Symphony No. 8 in Munich featured a chorus of 852 singers and an orchestra of 171 players.
Lovely hour
On this day in 1850 “Swedish Nightingale” Jenny Lind gave her first United States concert.
One finger exercise
David Lang is, per The New Yorker, a “postminimalist enfant terrible.”
Cuts like a knife
You may wonder what Rachmaninoff’s Aleko and Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci have in common.
I’m nacred
On this day in 1868 Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de perles premiered in Paris.
Bella come un tramonto
With the performance of Dessì we move onto a different plane than the other singers.
Happy birthdays are all alike
Born on this day in 1828 writer Lev Nikolayevich “Leo” Tolstoy.
Win a Free Ticket to Opening Night at the Met!
Quinn Kelsey and Lise Davidsen star in the Met's new Macbeth. We're giving away one ticket, so screw your courage to the sticking place and enter now!
Honky Tonk Angel
Born on this day in 1932 singer Patsy Cline.
Johan Botha 1965-2016
The dramatic tenor died this morning in Vienna.
He’s so Boulezian
Happy birthday critic and lecturer Mark Berry.
Sinner and Scott
Among the highlights were concert performances of Jules Massenet’s Thaïs and Otto Nicolai’s Il templario.
The white shoes
Happy Labor/Labour Day US and Canadian Paterrians!
Chat: Pelléas et Mélisande
The widely-acclaimed Aix-en-Provence production of Pelléas et Mélisande, broadcast at 1:00 PM on CBC-TWO, is the subject of this afternoon’s discussion at La Casa della Cieca.
Finale ultimo
On this day in 1967 the TV game show What’s My Line? broadcast its final episode, after a 17 year run on CBS.
Dancing lady
Happy 97th birthday dancer and choreographer Marge Champion.
Hidden in plane sight
“Trove Thursday” instead presents a rare Cavalli opera, Il Xerse, from 1665, featuring the lovely Swedish mezzo Kristina Hammarström in the title role.
A man of widespread fame
Born on this day in 1751 dramatist Emanuel Schikaneder.
Who is Sylvia? What is she?
“Part cabaret confessional, part homage to the Great American Songbook…”
