War zone War zone

Alan Gordon, embedded journalist, reports from inside the first AGMA/Met negotiation session.

“This is the point of no return!” “This is the point of no return!”

“My opera will be the grandest of all!”

Mary Garden is not tall; diets to keep slender Mary Garden is not tall; diets to keep slender

“Her manner is straightforward, even blunt at times, though she is a match for any diplomat.”

Divinités du stacks Divinités du stacks

The noble Alceste of Kirsten Flagstad is but one of many fascinating live recordings featured in Opera Depot’s May Sale.

Sweatin’ to the cabalettas Sweatin’ to the cabalettas

Here’s a playlist of bel canto favorite suitable for motivating even the most couch potatoesque of parterrians to put in a hard session of weight training.

Mr. B Natural Mr. B Natural

This week, Our Own Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin shares a modern classic: Wozzeck from the Opéra national de Paris, featuring Simon Keenlyside.

Bomp in the night Bomp in the night

The first single by MU, “The Bomp Bomp Song,” is now available for download from CD Baby.

No you can’t No you can’t

Identically-coiffed artistes Klaus Florian Vogt and Renée Fleming prove conclusively that American musical theater is not an international language.

A tsar is torn A tsar is torn

In Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov, all the Russian people starve and suffer, but none has suffering like the mental agonies of Tsar Boris.

Heartbreak fridge Heartbreak fridge

Before there was Verdi’s Otello, Rossini’s Otello was considered the master operatic adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy.

The wrong box The wrong box

La Cieca hopes any confusion will be cleared up soon enough that you, the cher public, may engage in your weekly round of conversation on general interest and off-topic subjects.

Rumors addressed Rumors addressed

Peter Gelb sent out an email to the “Public Bulletin Board” earlier today, noting that “inaccurate rumors [are] flying around” and attempting to clarify the Met’s position on upcoming union negotiations.

Haydn in plain sight Haydn in plain sight

The operas of Franz Josef Haydn are seldom presented in the great opera houses of the world, but then, they weren’t composed for the great opera houses of his own world.

Norn yesterday Norn yesterday

The final day of the Buenos Aires Ring dawns in our latest sampling from the Mike Richter’s trove of CD-ROMs.

Dish night Dish night

“Superstar soprano Deborah Voigt and powerhouse opera and theater director Francesca Zambello, friends for over 25 years, came to 92Y to talk opera, inspiration, artistry and friendship.”

Ce bruit de l’or Ce bruit de l’or

Legendary diva Montserrat Caballé has been charged by Spanish procescutors with tax evasion for failing to declare some 500,000 euros of income for concerts given in Andorra.

Blinded item Blinded item

His 75-minute setting of Oedipus in Kolonos, heard in a live 2009 performance on MDR Klassik, illustrates how Mendelssohn tried to link ancient forms with Romantic-era sensibilities by fashioning harmonically adventurous chorales and believable characters instead of abstract musical representations of mythical figures.

Porgy on the bay Porgy on the bay

A new DVD of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess features an enjoyable live performance from the San Francisco Opera from June of 2009.

Miss Mary Garden climbs Mont Blanc Miss Mary Garden climbs Mont Blanc

“For two days after,” she wrote, “I felt absolutely exhausted, and my eyes hurt me from the glare of the snow. But now I feel splendid, and my lungs feel twice as strong and in fine shape for Salome.”

“Donors, Mama. They’re called donors, and every opera company has them.” “Donors, Mama. They’re called donors, and every opera company has them.”

Peter Gelb talks about the “social rejection” of the Met.

Song of the lark Song of the lark

Our Own Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin presents Natalie Dessay in recital.

Red queen Red queen

Joyce DiDonato is taking her Mary Stuart on the road, so to speak.

Stairway to heaven Stairway to heaven

Once again, beloveds, we approach the Milanese shrine that simultaneously attempted to  cultivate and destroy the career of Maria Meneghini Callas.

Faces of mirth Faces of mirth

La Cieca’s old, old, old friend Dorothy Bishop, recently interviewed in Opera News, brings her “Dozen Divas” show to NYC’s Metropolitan Room April 30 and May 5.