It’s a life of smiles and a life of tears
On this day in 1908, Maurice Maeterlinck‘s play L’Oiseau bleu premiered in Moscow.
Recent Stories
Context unbecoming
Actual contextual advertising served with an anti-Klinghoffer screed.
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).
Dream team
In honor of WQXR’s salute to the Richard Tucker Music Foundation next week—featuring Tucker honoree Michael Fabiano and hosted by legendary Renata Scotto—La Cieca invites the cher public to compete for free tickets to the mini-concert.
Barber on the verge of a nervous breakdown
It’s a place where the one thing you can expect is the unexpected. The place is… Philadelphia?
“Pretentious? Moi?”
Well, it’s finally happened. Jessye Norman has reached that moment in her career when she starts pronouncing the word “costume” with the accent on the second syllable.
Everything but the bloodhounds snappin’ at her rear end
This week Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin presents for our delight a rare live performance of Tchaikovsky’s The Enchantress.
Gay, glamorous, but broke
Born on this day in 1904 Greer Garson, English-American actress.
Pape music
There is something so very Don Draper about René Pape .
Diese Toilette nur an
On this day in 1836, Thomas Crapper, English plumber, was born.
The lady’s a star
I just arrived back from Stella di Napoli’s.
Gifted humans
Born on this day in 1898 composer Vincent Youmans.
Hysterical blondeness
Wednesday brought the Met’s “real” season opener, an indelible, indispensable night at the opera: a starry revival of Verdi’s Macbeth crowned by Anna Netrebko’s demented Lady.
When I have sung my songs
Soprano Renée Fleming is certainly making the role of the Countess in Richard Strauss’s final opera Capriccio the focus of her late-career years.
Constant as the northern star
On this day in 46 BC, Julius Caesar dedicated a temple to his mythical ancestor Venus Genetrix in accordance with a vow he made at the battle of Pharsalus.
Non posso nemmeno
“Thank goodness the Met’s new production by Richard Eyre lacks a bold new concept.”
Bohemian girl
The Met press office announces: “Hei-Kyung Hong will sing the role of Mimì in Puccini’s La Bohème on September 26 and 29, replacing Ekaterina Scherbachenko, who is ill.”
Prima donna
On this day in 1979, the musical Evita opened at the Broadway Theater in New York City.
Wedding bell blues
“So it’s twice as disappointing that Monday night’s performance of the Mozart masterpiece turned into a four-hour fizzle.”
Empire waste
On this day in 1180, Manuel I Komnenos, last Emperor of the Komnenian restoration, died, and the Byzantine Empire slipped into terminal decline.
Chorus of the exiled protesters
“I applaud the Klinghoffer protesters for voicing their opinions, but that doesn’t stop me from saying that I find those opinions ill-informed, inept and downright dangerous.”
Love me, love my dog
On this day in 1962, Philharmonic Hall (since renamed Avery Fisher Hall) opened as the first unit of Lincoln Center for Performing Arts.
Tiara in the aisles
Our Own JJ (pictured) is off to cover the Met’s opening night.
Femmes fatales
You’ve cast your votes for the operas you most look forward to hearing at the Met this fall, and if the opera has “Macbeth” in the title, you’re there.