Gender change for tenor heartthrob
“We hear that Anna’s fiancé, the Azeri tenor Yusif Eyvazov, has stayed behind to understudy Joan Kaufmann in the role of Des Grieux.”
Recent Stories
Failure is impossible
On this day in 1872, suffragist Susan B. Anthony voted in defiance of the law, and was later fined $100.
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).
She’s got the world on a string
“Macy’s announced that the giant character balloons and floats will be joined by the opera star Renée Fleming…”
Not since 1890
On this day in 1890 Alexander Borodin‘s opera Prince Igor premiered in St. Petersburg.
Screwing the Puccini
“Sonya Yoncheva will sing her first-ever staged performances of Mimì in Puccini’s La Bohème at the Met on November 14, 20, 24, 28, December 1 and 5, replacing Kristine Opolais.
Turn that crown upside down
For Verdi-sated New Yorkers, a different take on Macbeth, as performed at Covent Garden in 2011.
Overflow
On this day in 1333, the River Arno flooded.
She fell in with evil companions
On this day in 1968, the musical Her First Roman closed at Lunt Fontanne Theater, New York City, after 17 performances.
Thine alone
La Cieca hopes that you, the cher public, will generously share your off-topic and general interest discussion with tout le monde.
Separated at “Birth of the Blues”
Judy Garland singing “Swanee River” and Ian Bostridge singing “Curlew River.”
An “Affair” to remember
Janácek mavens, Bayerische Staatsoper devotees and Pavel Cernoch groupies alike will be glued to their monitors this afternoon when Vec Makropulos is webcast live from Munich starting at 1:00 PM.
Ottoman and woman
“With radiant looks, we shall depart this world,” sing Konstanze and Belmonte near the end of Mozart’s exotic yet charming opera Singspiel Die Entführung aus dem Serail.
Number one with a bullet
On this day in 1894, Thomas Edison filmed American sharpshooter Annie Oakley, leading to her hiring by Buffalo Bill for his Wild West Show.
A bulwark never failing
On this day in 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg.
Side eye and bitch face
At the first intermission at last night’s Met revival of Aida, I turned to my companion and said, “So… what about the Aida? I thought she was supposed to be good.”
Prison riot
Herbert von Karajan once said listening to some of his old recordings made him envy painters who could simply burn the pictures they disliked.
Red shoe diaries
Sonya Yoncheva will make her North American role debut as Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata at the Met this January.
What’s seen cannot be unseen
Which Met superstar—who’s no stranger to blind items this season—is the first to accede to the Met’s suggestion of a fee reduction of 7% for principal artists in upcoming seasons?
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
Just in time for Halloween, Decca Classics has released the trailer for the upcoming CD Renée Fleming: Christmas in New York.
Cold comfort
On this day in 1952 Clarence Birdseye sold the first frozen peas.
For the ladies
On this day in 1787, Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni received its first performance in Prague.
“Rachel, please, it can’t matter to you!”
Finally the mystery has been solved: glamorous Joyce DiDonato and mousy Rachel DiDonato (pictured, left to right) are really the same person!