Not pretty or safe or easy
La Cieca hears that the Théâtre du Châtelet will continue its series of Stephen Sondheim productions with Passion, set to star Natalie Dessay (as Fosca, bien sûr!)
Recent Stories
Dongs of mirth and triumph sing!
Donkey dick and other Asian Fusion vaudeville acts arouse “The BAM Effect” at Handel’s Semele.
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).
Au revoir les infantes
On this day in 1867 Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Don Carlos premiered in Paris.
Je sens une pure flamme
Our Own JJ‘s take on the Massenet will not appear until next week, but for now you are invited to make do with Zachary Woolfe‘s rave in the New York Times.
It’s all you had and you’ve had it
On this day in 1959 Tennessee Williams‘ Sweet Bird of Youth premiered at the Martin Beck Theatre.
Commie dearest
The Manchurian Candidate is indeed operatic: outsized characters, a doomed love story and a narrative fraught with suspense.
The devil is in the details
Certain operas are better in theory than practice.
How Green was my Verdi
As the world knows, Anja Harteros dropped out of this series of Don Carlo for a stab at Aïda in Rome. Illness sidelined Ramón Vargas from the title roles in both Don Carlo and Werther. While Wiener Staatsoper has been plagued with cancellations all season (even substituting L’elisir d’amore for La Juive at the last […]
Nell’ebbrezza d’un amplesso ch’io viva!
On this day in 1562, kissing in public was banned and made punishable by death in Naples, Italy.
The plans were on display
On this day in 1978 the first radio episode of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams was transmitted on BBC Radio 4.
Everyone else seems to like it
Don’t hold back, cher public, but join in this week’s discussion of off-topic and general interest subjects.
Mortal purpose
The advance publicity about Zhang Huan’s production of Handel’s luscious Semele currently having its US premiere at the Brooklyn Academy of Music prominently featured a provocative claim.
But why, Veda?
On this day in 1946 at the 18th Academy Awards, Joan Crawford was named “Best Actress” for her performance in Mildred Pierce.
Il me faut des géants!
Born on this day in 1619 Cyrano de Bergerac, French author and playwright.
Hustle & flu
Jonas Kaufmann has canceled his performance as Don José in Bizet’s Carmen this Saturday, March 7 matinee, as he is still ill with the flu and unable to travel to New York.
Floperetta
On this day in 1954 the musical The Girl in Pink Tights opened at the Mark Hellinger Theater.
They’re only in it for the do
What with all the interest in the recent Rome performances of Aïda (and in part, at least, in Anja Harteros‘s approach to the high C in the Nile aria), La Cieca thought it would be fun to hear how some divas of the past and present have coped with that very challenging phrase. And, just […]
There’s no place like home
On this day in 1913 Gabriel Fauré‘s opera Pénélope premiered in Monte Carlo.
Speak the speech
On this day in 1869, the Booth Theater at 23rd Street and Sixth Avenue in New York City opened with a gala performance of Romeo and Juliet.
Singing head
Howling in a language I don’t understand” is an expression that gets thrown around a lot these days.
Rome invasion
Given that Jonas Kaufmann just canceled half his Met season and Anja Harteros is, well, Anja Harteros, La Cieca thought it would be interesting for us hinterlanders to hear what this duo sounds like when both show up to sing.
And now a word…
La Cieca (not pictured) would like to take a moment to salute our advertisers, whose generosity—and savvy marketing skills—help bring parterre.com to you every day.
Auf Flu des Gesanges
“Jonas Kaufmann has canceled his performance as Don José in Bizet’s Carmen for this Wednesday, March 4, because he is suffering from the flu…”