Breaking: horses not to be frightened Breaking: horses not to be frightened

“Our patrons are also our investors, and because many of our core subscribers are also our most generous philanthropists, we need to make sure that our programming jives with their expectations, what they’d like to see onstage.”

on September 22, 2015 at 2:15 PM
Here’s Lucy Here’s Lucy

The breaking news from San Francisco Opera is that Nadine Sierra will sing the title role of in a new production of Lucia di Lammermoor, replacing Diana Damrau, who will not.

on September 18, 2015 at 9:50 PM
“My work is done” “My work is done”

John Berry, artistic director of the English National Opera, has announced he intends to step down from his role after 20 years with the Company.

on July 10, 2015 at 6:59 AM
“Nun halt’ ich, was mich erhebt, der Mächtigen mächtigsten Herrn!” “Nun halt’ ich, was mich erhebt, der Mächtigen mächtigsten Herrn!”

In an unprecedented move, the Bayreuth Festival has named conductor Christian Thielemann official “Music Director.”

on June 29, 2015 at 11:56 AM
Orange is the new spinto Orange is the new spinto

Opera star Montserrat Caballé has reached a deal with the public prosecutor to receive a six-month prison sentence and a €240,000 fine for defrauding the Spanish tax office.

on December 23, 2014 at 7:27 PM
Leaner in Leaner in

The Metropolitan Opera just announced that 22 positions from its administrative staff of 254 have been eliminated as part of a company-wide program of cost cutting.

on September 12, 2014 at 5:22 PM
Overtime Overtime

UPDATE: The Met has reached tentative agreements with AGMA and Local 802. The contract deadline has been extended through midnight on Tuesday, August 19, to allow Local One and the other remaining unions with unsettled contracts more time to secure new deals with the institution.

on August 18, 2014 at 10:00 AM
Back from the dead? Back from the dead?

AGMA and Local 802 have agreed to the Met’s proposal that Allison Beck, a representative of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, be appointed immediately to mediate negotiations, working with both sides to find a compromise agreement.

on July 31, 2014 at 1:12 PM
Anna engaged? No. Anna engaged? No.

According to the Facebook page of tenor Yusif Eyvazov (Des Grieux to Anna Netrebko‘s Manon in the Rome Opera Manon Lescaut), the two are “engaged.”

on March 11, 2014 at 9:01 AM
It’s today! It’s today!

La Cieca’s spy informs her that the Met will announce its 2014-2015 “Wednesday evening.” Watch parterre.com starting at 4:00 pm tomorrow for up-to-the-minute coverage.

on February 12, 2014 at 4:00 PM
Courage… du courage! Courage… du courage!

La Cieca hears that soprano Alex Penda is en route to London on a rescue mission, for which her friends (young or otherwise) are doubtless giving thanks.

on October 27, 2013 at 9:20 AM
A song at twilight A song at twilight

Yes, you’ve heard it already, but you might as well have an official place to talk about it: Marina Poplavskaya goes on tonight in Les Vêpres siciliennes at the Royal Opera House.

on October 21, 2013 at 12:28 PM
Something happened up there, something not very nice Something happened up there, something not very nice

Emma Thompson will portray Mrs. Lovett in the New York Philharmonic’s staged production of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

on October 09, 2013 at 6:14 PM
A multiplicity of mezzos A multiplicity of mezzos

Wonder no more! Says the Met press office, “Elina Garanca has withdrawn from her 2013-14 Met engagements because she is pregnant with her second child, who is due this winter.”

on August 08, 2013 at 12:45 PM
After the fall After the fall

Wendy White is suing the for a 2011 accident on stage during a performance of Faust.

on August 03, 2013 at 1:23 AM
Those “Das-is-ein-fideles-Gefängnis-da-werd-ma-einen-kleinen-Schligowitz-ein-schalten-net” Blues Those “Das-is-ein-fideles-Gefängnis-da-werd-ma-einen-kleinen-Schligowitz-ein-schalten-net” Blues

Broadway actor Danny Burstein will make his Metropolitan Opera debut in the non-singing role of Frosch in this season’s performances of Die Fledermaus.

on July 23, 2013 at 10:59 AM
To the Emerald City, as fast as lightning! To the Emerald City, as fast as lightning!

Aidan Lang has been named Seattle Opera’s third General Director effective September 1, 2014.

on June 19, 2013 at 6:30 PM
Ancient German virtue of bravery gone missing Ancient German virtue of bravery gone missing

In a press release, the Deutsche Oper am Rhein at Düsseldorf has announced the cancellation of its controversial new production of Tannhäuser.

on May 08, 2013 at 12:47 PM
Énée day now Énée day now

Tenor Bryan Hymel has been named the recipient of the eighth annual Beverly Sills Artist Award for young singers at the Metropolitan Opera.

on March 25, 2013 at 5:33 PM
E “La Nave” va E “La Nave” va

La Cieca has just heard that Teatro Grattacielo’s performance of Montemezzi’s La Nave has been rescheduled and confirmed for Wednesday October 31 at 8:00 PM at the Rose Theater.

on October 31, 2012 at 3:16 AM
Gone in sixty seconds Gone in sixty seconds

Out of nowhere, Santa Fe Opera’s chief conductor Frédéric Chaslin has resigned his position.

on August 29, 2012 at 10:04 AM
Breaking dawn Breaking dawn

When Giuseppe Filianoti isn’t busy being one of the world’s more versatile tenors, he plays detective.

on July 11, 2012 at 4:00 PM
Fit to print Fit to print

La Cieca (pictured, right) invites you to peruse what’s making headlines today.

on May 04, 2012 at 1:45 PM
ENO is enough ENO is enough

The repertory for the upcoming season of the English National Opera (also known as “Peter Gelb‘s shopping list”) boasts the world premiere of a new opera by Philip Glass, The Perfect American, which imagines the last days of Walt Disney.

on April 24, 2012 at 2:07 PM