Aegean in place Aegean in place

Greek National Opera’s Medea in the ancient theater at Epidaurus is an intermittently rewarding exercise in nostalgia.

Thoughts on <em>La Gioconda</em>: the others Thoughts on <em>La Gioconda</em>: the others

Yes, there were other Giocondas if not of quite the same distinction. Chronologically…

This is a gala day for you This is a gala day for you

On October 14, 1979 I spent my birthday attending my first all-star opera gala, thrilled at the chance to hear some of the great singers I’d only experienced on LPs, broadcasts or via my pirate reel-to-reel tapes.

Two by two Two by two

Were Joan Sutherland and Marilyn Horne 20th century opera’s ultimate same-sex pairing?

Old-Fashioned Oratorio Old-Fashioned Oratorio

For the fourth annual edition of “Handel for my birthday” Trove Thursday serves up three heaping portions of “old-fashioned oratorio.”

I Capuleti ed I Montecchi I Capuleti ed I Montecchi

Joining the Met’s week of bel canto reruns and Tuesday’s premiere of Teatro Nuovo’s exciting new project, Trove Thursday presents Bellini’s I Capuleti ed I Montecchi with Tatiana Troyanos and Cecilia Gasdia.

Dido it again Dido it again

“Trove Thursday” presents Purcell’s remarkably concise Dido and Aeneas in a pair of fascinatingly different interpretations.

Being alive Being alive

Orfeo’s  latest edition is a 1978 performance of Lucia di Lammermoor with a very estimable cast that on its surface may seem a tad mundane but the extensive liner notes (with performance photos) tell the story of why it held such magic.

Start the revolution without me Start the revolution without me

In Andrea Chenier an unexpected Canadian star-tenor relishes beheading alongside a far less well-known Italian diva: Jon Vickers and Ilva Ligabue.

Bells are ringing Bells are ringing

Lakmé, stars Ruth Welting, Alfredo Kraus, and Paul Plishka, conducted by Nicola Rescigno. 

Un Eden di delizia! Un Eden di delizia!

Let’s all listen to the American debut of Ghena Dimitrova in this 1981 performance of Ernani from Dallas.

another link broken

La Cieca has heard the sad news that maestro Nicola Rescigno died earlier today in Viterbo, Italy. The Dallas Opera website now has an obituary for the conductor and co-founder of the company. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/4fsOVCnE_WY” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]