Is it Christmas yet?
No, it’s still not opera, but here’s a classic lounge act in the holiday spirit.
Recent Stories
Not the type at all
At last La Cieca has discovered Renee Fleming‘s muse, or at least, as we have so often wondered “who the hell it was who taught her to sing that way.” Meet the divine Naoko Maeda, asking the musical question . . . “Bill” (from Show Boat)
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).
Be among the First
Don’t forget to join La Cieca at 8:00 tonight for a live chat about the prima of The First Emperor at 8:00 p.m. Would any of La Cieca’s cher public care to give her a hand as moderators in the chatroom tonight? To serve, as it were, as Roger Alberto to her Vecchia Madelon? Well, […]
Block that Met-aphor
Cher public, you all know that La Cieca just adores Beverly Sills, and your scribe simply dotes on the Met’s new web presence. But, entre nous, given the new quizmistress’s recent viduity, is this caption really in the very best of taste?
Sad news
We have just heard that critic and opera fan Stephanie von Buchau has died.
A Handelmania Holiday
La Cieca has only recently been able to catch up with the excellent programs produced by some of her podcasting compatriots. A particular delight is Handelmania, produced by the inimitable (and prolific!) Charlie Handelman. Each show is a virtual master class in the art of the recorded voice, and the current holiday-themed show is no […]
Barking up the wrong tree
Anna Netrebko again. Oddly, the aria is not “Da, chas nastal!”
La Cieca non mente
Remember that prediction that La Cieca made about how Renee Fleming would bring her Norma into New York? Turns out that may have been inaccurate. (Yes, you have every right to be shocked and amazed. This is surely a first.) Yes, La Cieca hears, the Met is planning a production of the Bellini masterpiece, but […]
La Danza
“Tony Danza will play Max Bialystock in the Broadway production of The Producers starting Dec. 19.” — Playbill News On the stage of The ProducersMamma mia, I had a shock!Was that really Tony DanzaPlaying Max Bialystock?On the stage of The ProducersMamma mia, I had a shock!Was that really Tony DanzaPlaying Max Bialystock?Was that really Tony […]
Justify my love
Roberto Alagna appeared on an Italian talk show this evening to explain (once again) his side of the walkout. The host is Pippo Baudo, the ex Mr. Katia Ricciarelli.
First, among equals
Join La Cieca on the evening of Thursday, December 21 for a live chat about the world premiere of Tan Dun‘s The First Emperor. The chat room will open for this special event at 7:30 p.m. and the yakking will continue until the final curtain. Check back at parterre.com on Thursday for a link to […]
The Inner Voice of Reason
You may well be surprised to hear La Cieca say this, cher public, but she’s bellowing a lusty “brava” to none other than Renee Fleming. On yesterday’s matinee Met broadcast of Rigoletto, Fleming took on a role associated with Geraldine Farrar, that of intermission commentatress. One of the first questions she lobbed at Joseph Calleja […]
Panic at the disco
You asked for it, cher public: the Renee Fleming dance remix.
Stockholm syndrome
Poorish quality video, but the soundtrack is familiar.
Out in the cold
Which late-blooming soprano, hailed as a savior only last season, has now been stripped of her “prima donna” status? Who knew the winter would come so soon?
A weekend in the country
Per Opera Chic, Roberto Alagna is off for what promises to be an interesting weekend at Franco Zeffirelli‘s palatial villa near Rome. According to Alagna’s “Chief Counsel Avvocato” Marco Rocchini, the tenor will apparently spend much of the weekend in transit, since he plans a quick visit to Paris on Tuesday, and then will return […]
Talking head
Our editor JJ sounds off about the Alagnapalooza on WNYC’s “Soundcheck.”
Nobel seigneurs, salut!
You’ve seen the dress. Now you can hear the song! UPDATE: No, she wasn’t drunk, so far as La Cieca knows, and no, the singer is not Joanne Worley, it’s our Renaay.
John McCain hates La Cieca
Senator (and presumptive Republican Presidential nominee in 2008) John McCain is wasting no time in getting started with the necessary pandering. According to cnet.com, McCain has proposed legislation that would require “[m]illions of commercial Web sites and personal blogs … to report illegal images or videos posted by their users or pay fines of up […]
Is this the face of Opera Chic?
Intrepid girl reporter Opera Chic has lead the blogosphere in her coverage of the recent Alagnadammerung. But who is this mysterious Opera Chic? An important piece of evidence has made its way into the greedy mitts of La Cieca: soon the truth may be told. Here we see a photograph of the poster for tonight’s […]
"But more about Antonello later"
BREAKING! La Cieca has been informed that a stray RAI microphone in the wings of La Scala picked up an emotionally heated conversation between Roberto Alagna and Franco Zeffirelli immediately following the tenor’s angry walkout on Sunday night. A translated transcript follows: FZ: Calm down. The gong rang. The fight’s over. RA: I will not […]
Film at 11
First off, La Cieca should tell you that her producer/alter ego JJ will be heard this afternoon on WNYC’s talk show “Soundcheck” discussing (what else?) L’affaire Alagna. The program begins at 2:00 PM and JJ is scheduled to be heard in the final segment between 2:30 and 3:00. “Soundcheck” gained notoriety last month when uber-diva […]