Tops in flops
On this day in 1967, the musical Henry, Sweet Henry opened at the Palace Theater.
Recent Stories
Anger’s aweigh
It was a night a-tingle with excitement at the Metropolitan Opera House.
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).
Le veau d’or
On this day in 1883, the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City opened with a performance of Gounod’s Faust.
Bee movie
La Cieca is gradually coming to the conclusion that Tara Erraught (pictured) has built her dressing room over an Indian burial mound.
Hearing Klinghoffer
Since the Met’s production of The Death of Klinghoffer, opening tonight, will apparently not be broadcast in any form, Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin has graciously provided, in streaming form, a recording from the world premiere of the work in 1991 at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie.
Low, low prices
On this day in 1803 the United States Senate ratified the Louisiana Purchase.
Does anyone still wear a mobcap?
La Cieca trust that you, the cher public, will don your finest festoonery for this week’s discussion of off-topic and general interest subjects.
The Greeks had a word for it
On this day in 1845, Richard Wagner’s opera Tannhäuser premiered in Dresden.
Precode
On this day in 1902 American actress Miriam Hopkins was born.
Blind arrogance
Which rat-faced former elected official—who has been coasting (and profiting) off the one good week he had 14 years ago ever since then—is now about to stick his notoriously art-hating snout into Monday night’s anti-Klinghoffer demonstrations?
Unadorned
There was wonder and magic last night in Philly when The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society presented British tenor Mark Padmore and American pianist Jonathan Biss in a recital devoted to the songs of Schumann, Tippett, and Fauré.
Weighed in the balances
On this day in 529 BC, King Cyrus the Great of Persia marched into the city of Babylon.
Top hatters
Christopher Alden‘s production of Handel’s Partenope is so erudite and theatrically audacious and also such a rollicking ride, it’s hard to believe it isn’t crap.
Martinu, very dry
Gotham Chamber Opera, which began to operate twelve years ago with a double bill of Bohuslav Martinu’s quirky little pieces, opened its 2014-15 season with two more, Alexandre bis (Alexander, twice) and Comedy on the Bridge.
Bach to Bach
Three nights, three concert halls, and three incredibly diverse programmes.
Doyenne
On this day in 1925 English-American actress Angela Lansbury was born.
Ricevete la mercè de’vostri onori
Join the party, cher public, for the free web broadcast of Macbeth tonight starting at 7:15. Of course, La Casa della Cieca will be buzzing!
Mourning in America
“Taken by itself, the St. Matthew Passion felt a little mundane. But compared to Zauberflöte, it could have been the Second Coming.”
Daily double
Here’s a quick last-minute quiz for you Martinu fans out there: answer the question after the jump and win two tickets to Gotham Chamber Opera’s double bill program of Alexandre bis and Comedy on the Bridge this week.
I cannot wear my crown upon my heart
On this day in 1793, Queen Marie-Antoinette of France was tried and convicted in a swift, pre-determined trial in the Palais de Justice, Paris, and condemned to death the following day.
Day of victory
That miracle of the internet age, the slow leak, has begun.
One more into the breeches
“Norwegian mezzo-soprano Ingeborg Gillebo will make her Met debut singing the role of Cherubino in this evening’s performance of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, replacing Isabel Leonard, who is ill.”
Song of Queens
On this day in 1930, Ethel Merman debuted on Broadway in Girl Crazy.