Seal the deal Seal the deal

Yusif Eyvazov will sing Hermann in the performances of Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades on November 29 and December 2 and 5, replacing Aleksandrs Antonenko, who has withdrawn due to illness.”

on November 25, 2019 at 3:56 PM
Manca la diva Manca la diva

La Cieca has just heard that Angela Gheorghiu has become indisposed after the first act of Tosca at the San Francisco Opera.

on November 15, 2012 at 11:58 PM
Recycled Recycled

Katarina Dalayman will sing the role of Brünnhilde in this evening’s performance of Wagner’s Siegfried, replacing Deborah Voigt, who is ill….”

on May 09, 2012 at 5:15 PM
Look around: everywhere you turn is heartache Look around: everywhere you turn is heartache

Stuart Skelton will sing the role of Siegmund in Wagner’s Die Walküre on Monday, May 7, replacing Jonas Kaufmann who is ill.”

on May 02, 2012 at 6:51 PM
La tisi non le accorda che poche rappresentazioni La tisi non le accorda che poche rappresentazioni

Here’s something you can hardly call news, because it’s an old story everyone expected to happen anyway.

on May 02, 2012 at 1:01 PM
La voce d’angela La voce d’angela

Jonas Kaufmann is ill.

on April 27, 2012 at 5:49 PM
Demimonde Demimonde

La Cieca has just had the news confirmed that Natalie Dessay canceled after Act 1 of La Traviata earlier this evening at the Met.

on April 22, 2012 at 12:54 AM
Comeback kid Comeback kid

After an absence of seven seasons, tenor Richard Leech will return to the stage of the Met on April 27 as Albert Gregor in The Makropulos Case.

on April 19, 2012 at 6:21 PM
Recovered girl Recovered girl

Here’s a bit of good news for all you Traviata fans with tickets for tomorrow night’s Met performance or Saturday afternoon’s HD.

on April 09, 2012 at 8:51 PM
Red dress diaries Red dress diaries

La Cieca has just received a complete report from her spy at today’s open dress rehearsal of La traviata at the Met.

on April 03, 2012 at 11:41 AM

From the Met press office: “Jay Hunter Morris will sing the role of Siegfried in Siegfried on April 21 matinee and April 30, 2012, and in Götterdämmerung on May 3, 2012. He replaces Gary Lehman who has withdrawn due to illness.”

on November 18, 2011 at 1:15 PM

As is so bloody typical when La Cieca leaves town for even a few days, news breaks all over the damn place. As you have no doubt already heard by now, Jay Hunter Morris will sing all this fall’s Met performances of Siegfried, replacing Gary Lehman who has canceled (all together now) “because of illness.” Lehman,…

on October 19, 2011 at 8:23 PM

La Cieca’s spy in London reports: “So first Angela Gheorghiu cancelled this evening’s Traviata Faust at the ROH. On hearing the news, Vittorio Grigolo suddenly came down with a ‘chest infection’ —so the performance is going ahead with James Valenti and Malin Byström.”

on October 04, 2011 at 4:16 PM

La Cieca hears that tenor Yonghoon Lee will sing the title role of Verdi’s Don Carlo during the Met’s tour to Japan, replacing Jonas Kaufmann who will be sick or something. (Photo: Ken Howard / Metropolitan Opera)

on May 12, 2011 at 10:53 AM

BREAKING! In a sudden and shocking turn of events, James Levine will go on as scheduled tonight, conducting Simon Boccanegra at the Met. However, according to an email from the Carnegie Hall press office, the maestro “and The MET Chamber Ensemble must regrettably cancel their concert scheduled for this Sunday, January 30 at 5:00 p.m.…

on January 28, 2011 at 12:42 PM

In fact, Lucia is due in New York in less than a month, but current reports about the proposed prima donna are not encouraging.  

on January 25, 2011 at 10:31 PM

This just in from the Met’s press office: “Matthew Polenzani will sing the role of Alfredo in La Traviata for all performances this season. For the January 19, 22, 26 and 29 performances, Polenzani replaces Francesco Meli, who has withdrawn due to illness.”

on December 22, 2010 at 1:45 PM

This just in from the Met press office: “William Shimell will sing the role of Don Alfonso in Mozart’s Così fan tutte for all performances this season, replacing Wolfgang Holzmair who is suffering from a sinus infection.”  Mr. Holzmair’s sinus infection is apparently scheduled to linger through December 2.

on November 05, 2010 at 11:01 AM

Congratulations to tenor Stephen Costello, who today was officially awarded the ceremonial title of  Villazóneinspringer at the Vienna State Opera. No, actually, he’s jumping into two performances of La boheme, replacing Rolando Villazón, on September 6 and 9.

on August 27, 2010 at 4:38 PM

La Cieca just heard that Stephen Costello goes on tonight (i.e., in just a few hours) in Roméo et Juliette at the Salzburg Festival opposite Anna Netrebko. He’s jumping in for Piotr Beczala, who, if you ask Norman Lebrecht, is probably malingering with a South Seas cutie.

on August 16, 2010 at 9:58 AM

A member of the cher public reminds La Cieca, “How soon do we start wondering who will conduct the new Rheingold at the Met? I thought I would see Jimmy at Tanglewood next week for the Mahler 2nd, but Mikey Twinkle-Toes will be in charge that evening.” La Cieca’s answer: it’s never too soon to…

on June 27, 2010 at 10:25 PM

Lucio Gallo‘s name has quietly been substituted for that of Juha Uusitalo in the Met’s 2010-2011 performances of La fanciulla del West.

on June 26, 2010 at 11:49 AM

Which singer was not unwell when he withdrew “because of illness” from that production already rife with cancellations, but rather was fired because he had not yet mastered his music?

on May 29, 2010 at 1:12 PM

Someone or something in Cincinnati doesn’t want Die Meistersinger to happen. Today, three more cancellations were announced, including Thomas Allen (Beckmesser) and Evgeny Nikitin (Pogner). [Cincinnati.com]

on May 24, 2010 at 5:16 PM