The real problem with opera today, according to Marcelo “Mouth of the South” Àlvarez?  Could it be tubby tenors with teeny voices? Actually, no. The problem is… blogs.

By on April 24, 2010 at 10:45 AM
70 comments

It is La Cieca’s sad duty to publish the following example of “This Diva Looks Like That Diva.”

By on February 20, 2008 at 5:10 PM
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La Cieca’s spy L’Inconnu in the City of Brotherly Love (which, given the circumstances, she supposes she should specify is Philadelphia) whispers: La Cieca favorite Stephen Costello is one of the only worthwhile reasons to catch David DiChiera‘s new opera Cyrano premiering tomorrow night at the Opera Company of Philadelphia. The men truly led the…

By on February 07, 2008 at 2:40 PM
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Officially, Anna Netrebko is expecting her baby “this autumn,” and La Cieca of course extends her and Erwin Schrott all the best wishes. However, let’s take a peek at a few recent photos of Netrebko… [Traviata at Covent Garden, early January] [Arriving at the Opernball in Vienna, February 1] [On set of Boheme film, around…

By on February 07, 2008 at 2:26 PM
57 comments

La Cieca was just recalling that soon after she arrived in New York back in 19-mumble-mumble, she screwed up her courage to audition for that most august of impresarios, Ira Siff of La Gran Scena Opera. Back in those days your doyenne thought she had what it took to be a great prima donna (including…

By on February 06, 2008 at 10:38 PM
44 comments

In the second act of Carmen, the eponymous gypsy says “Holà!.. Lillas Pastia, holà!.. nous mangerons tout… tu me régales… holà! holà …. Tiens, attrape… et apporte-nous des fruits confits; apporte-nous des bonbons, apporte-nous des oranges, apporte-nous du Manzanilla… apporte-nous de tout ce que tu as, de tout, de tout…” Well, that line is cut…

By on February 04, 2008 at 10:30 AM
19 comments