Round midnight
As a child I had but a few criteria that were necessary to ensure a happy entertainment. These included mostly ball-gowns, fairy godmothers and Julie Andrews, though Sally Ann Howes was acceptable in a pinch.
Recent Stories
Richard is better
The Tucker Foundation will be the subject of a special event on Wednesday June 27 at 7 pm, when WQXR’s Naomi Lewin (not pictured)…
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).
Huis Clos
That most operatic of all operas, Il trovatore, has been done many ways, but here’s a first: the warhorse as bottle episode.
The only work that really brings enjoyment
James Levine received $2.1 million in compensation from the Met for the 2010-2011 season, during which time he conducted 31 performances.
Blinded by the lights
Which much-lauded diva has been canceling lots of performances lately, but not necessarily because she suffering from “swollen cords,” as she claims?
Blonde item
This year, I attended one of Natalie Dessay‘s only fully-sung Traviatas at the Met.
A time to weep
Don’t let the headline worry you, cher public, what’s coming up after the jump is meant to be good clean fun, with a prize even.
Intermission feature
Dull though the summer may be, La Cieca invites the cher public (pictured) to discuss off-topic and general interest subjects in the weekly intermission feature.
Mock the knife
In short, which opera would most people most like to F.K.?
Shadow, no doubt
Richard Strauss’s “last romantic opera,” as he called Die Frau Ohne Schatten, is and has always been a problem child.
Milan or malinger?
“Due to health reasons, Anna Netrebko has withdrawn from the performances of Massenet’s Manon.”
Cold case
The operas of Leos Janácek have been slowly gaining ground in the world’s theatres over the past fifty years.
And you’ll find that you’re in the rotogravure
La Cieca (not pictured) invites the cher public (far left) to discuss general interest and off-topic subjects in this, your weekly intermission feature.
Stealing Rome
L’incoronazione di Poppea nearly disappeared from the stage completely after its 1642 Venice premiere and a Naples revival in 1651.
Captive audience
Die Entführung aus dem Serail has been a bit of an unruly child recently, with productions by Neuenfels and Bieito dividing audiences and inspiring critics like Heather MacDonald to lengthy manifestos.
To absent friends
Miss Bobolink will be unable to do the weekly breakdown, as she is having her pique fitted.
Deaf ear
Which summer festival is quietly preparing for a season with performances accompanied by two pianos instead of the customary full orchestra?
Past imperfect
One of my adolescent pastimes was trolling the classical cut-out bins in record stores searching for overlooked gems or unfamiliar singers.
Nearsighted item
Which legendary fan will make the switch from opera house to newsprint when she is profiled in the New York Times this weekend?
Down the drain
After all the spectacularly bad publicity the Met garnered last month, Peter Gelb is now in Europe.
Citius, Altius, Fortius
Of all the Olympics-related products created to honor the upcoming summer games in London, surely one of the oddest must be a brand new pasticcio just released on a two-CD set
by Naïve—L’Olimpiade.
The windmills of his mind
Jules Massenet’s Don Quichotte was one of a number of commissions from the Monte Carlo Opera that occupied the composer at the end of his life.
In the Gods
Here’s your intermission feature for the week, cher public, home to your off-topic and general interest discussions.