Ce noble transport
On this day in 1890 Hector Berlioz‘s Les Troyens premiered in Karlsruhe.
Recent Stories
As nature intended
Meredith Monk and her Vocal Ensemble (five singers besides Monk, plus three instrumentalists) are giving a program called On Behalf of Nature through Sunday at BAM’s Harvey Theater.
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).
Later on, we’ll conspire
It’s that time of year again, cher public: those crisp short days when you decide to stay home and make all your gift selections from La Cieca’s Shoppe of Holiday Delights.
Girls and gags
On this day in 1928 Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn‘s musical Whoopee premiered at the New Amsterdam Theatre.
The artist is delusional
“Marina Abramovic plans to start filming her ‘Seven Deaths’ project next summer, 25 years after she first conceived the idea of playing her heroine, the opera singer Maria Callas.”
Catch 21
On this day in 1993, the first issue of parterre box was published to commemorate the 70th birthday of Maria Callas, and, yes, La Cieca knows she got the date wrong.
I will gladly pay you Tuesday for fundraising today
A faithful parterrian sends a copy of a fundraising letter from Opera Orchestra of New York.
White tie and tails
On this day in 1933, Fred Astaire‘s first film, Dancing Lady, was released.
Regni Dessay
Almost exactly twenty years after her auspicious Metropolitan Opera debut as the Fiakermilli in Arabella and a year following what she has claims was her final appearance on the operatic stage, Natalie Dessay returned Sunday afternoon to Lincoln Center—to sing opera.
The coast of Bohemia
What would you do if I asked you to take a old, faded version of Puccini’s score for La Bohème and fill in the unreadable parts with a mélange of disco, kabarett, and Alban Berg?
Getting and spending
La Cieca is sure that the cher public (pictured), just like all other red-blooded Americans or foreign nationals, will spend the day today doing their “Cyber Monday” shopping.
An old-fashioned wedding
Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin notes: while this performance of Janácek’s Jenufafeatures the same three principal singers from the legendary Carnegie Hall concert of 1988, the fact that it is a staged performance raises the temperature even higher.
You were a flop, you know
On this day in 1956, the musical Candide opened at the Martin Beck Theater for 73 performances.
Too, too much
The cher public are invited to lose control as they discuss off-topic and general interest subjects.
Una voce molto tempo fa
On this date in 1825, Il barbiere di Siviglia was performed at the Park Theatre.
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind
Why would it be crazy for you to believe that recent rumor? Is it because the gentleman in question is already enjoying a happy preview of his next romantic relationship?
The secret word
On this day in 1932 Groucho Marx performed on radio for the first time.
“Special appearance by TV’s Ann B. Davis”
“Labor disputes are threatening to delay the broadcast of Renee Fleming’s first-ever holiday special, ‘Christmas in New York,’ ” a source close to the production tells Confidenti@l.
Cross purposes
On this day in 1095 Pope Urban II declared the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont.
Name that Rodolfo
“Francesco Demuro and Michael Fabiano will sing the role of Rodolfo in the remaining 2014 performances of La Bohème.
Rossini crescendo
Sooner or later, Our Own JJ gets around to discussing the Met’s Barbiere di Siviglia and Juilliard’s Turco in Italia in this week’s New York Observer.
Born to be Vlad
On this day in 1476, Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) defeated Basarab Laiota with the help of Stephen the Great and Stephen V Báthory and became the ruler of Wallachia for the third time.