In witch we serve
Sunday afternoon’s intermittently involving concert performance of Handel’s Alcina at Carnegie Hall starred an unusually intense Joyce DiDonato as a powerful sorceress blinded by her romantic delusions.
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Mezzo piano
This week’s contribution from Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin is a more intimate one, sort of: a recital by Dame Gwyneth Jones.
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).
Solidus citizen
On this day in 312, Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross.
La voix de l’Empereur!
On this day in 1520, Charles V, later Holy Roman Emperor, was crowned King of Germany.
Two on the aisle
La Cieca hopes that even the less celebrated attendees at this week’s intermission feature will feel free to commment on off-topic and general interest subjects.
Get hep!
On this day in 1938, the Archbishop of Dubuque, Francis J. L. Beckman, denounced swing music.
Vissi d’artist
The San Francisco Opera is batting a thousand where young singers are concerned this season.
The magic sniff
On this day in 1947 American actor Kevin Kline was born.
Battle of Broadway
Fall 2015 is the target date for an as yet untitled one-woman show based on the life of Kathleen Battle, scheduled to star Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o.
Tops in flops
On this day in 1967, the musical Henry, Sweet Henry opened at the Palace Theater.
Anger’s aweigh
It was a night a-tingle with excitement at the Metropolitan Opera House.
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.