From A to Zeani
An appearance by legendary diva Virginia Zeani is but one of the highlights of tomorrow night’s Marcello Giordani Foundation Concert and Dinner.
diva
The Quantification of the Diva: Upon Reflection
“Mirror, mirror on the wall, who are the greatest divas (Classic and Contemporary) of them all?” And the mirror replied, “I’ll tell you right after the jump!”
The Quantification of the Diva: Part the Third
And now, cher public, let’s put today’s singers, the Contemporary Divas, under the microscope. How do they stack up?
Anxiety, cum-blog vital, say divas
Monsters and Critics reveals: “Although acclaimed mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli has achieved almost everything there is to achieve in the world of classical music, she says she is still anxious ahead of every performance. In an interview with the German Press Agency dpa this week, the 44-year-old Italian opera star said a certain dose of stage […]
The Quantification of the Diva: Part the First
We begin our Kang Method statistical analysis of That Which is Called Diva with a dozen Classic Divas: Hildegard Behrens, Montserrat Caballé, Régine Crespin, Mirella Freni, Marilyn Horne, Christa Ludwig, Jessye Norman, Leontyne Price, Leonie Rysanek, Renata Scotto, Joan Sutherland and Tatiana Troyanos, henceforth called by first name or nickname as applicable. Our first report […]
Prelude to the Quantification of the Diva
La Cieca is delighted to announce a week-long series of investigative reports deciding once and for all the question “Who is the greatest opera diva of our generation?”
The law of diminishing divas
La Cieca invites the cher public to act as blue-ribbon panel in selecting the singers to be included in the “Greatest Diva” study. Voting after the jump.
A denomination of divas
La Cieca was delighted, amused and infuriated (three of her favorite emotions) when she read yet another wonderful piece over at The Awl yesterday, a statistical analysis determining The Greatest Diva of the Past 25 Years. This treatise, by one Jay Caspian Kang, was limited in scope to ladies inhabiting the realm of popular music, […]
The art of the non sequitur
La Cieca wishes she could write a caption so deadpan.
The ladies who liaise
Our own JJ (not pictured) revisits A Little Night Music, and who should be inhabiting that chateau extravagantly overstaffed but Elaine Stritch? [Capital New York]
Angel of peace
La Cieca’s fans worldwide will be happy to note that she doesn’t think scandals are limited to only New York and Bayreuth. In fact, wherever Patti LuPone goes, scandale follows. Right now, La LuPone is in Chicago, and, yes, the Hogtown natives are restless.
The Great Lady Has an Interview
Legendary diva Martina Arroyo chats with Our Own JJ about learning, teaching and The Odd Couple. [New York Post]
“Tu vois je suis encore coquette!”
La Cieca is of the opinion that there are some sopranos who can act Manon, some who can sing Manon, and some who simply are Manon. This snippet from a recent interview may suggest which category Anna Netrebko fits into.
Happy Birthday Shirley Verrett
The American mezzo-soprano and soprano is 79 years old today.
Two faces of Tosca
While we’re waiting for further news on the final Tosca of the Met season, La Cieca suggests we consider the diva and the non-diva, on the other side of the jump.
That’s why they don’t sing at the Met
La Cieca presents the first in a series of speculations why seemingly talented and well-respected artists don’t get hired — or rehired — by the Met.
Happy Birthday Fiorenza Cossotto
The legendary mezzo-soprano is 75 today.
Happy Birthday Catherine Malfitano
The American soprano was born April 18, 1948.
Agnes Botoxa
This Greek mezzo-soprano, born 1944 [!] is seen at a concert last month [!!!]. For this kind of quality work, we all need to start saving our money, cher public.
A drop of eau de Cologne
Saturday evening Kiri te Kanawa sang the first of her final two Marschallins at the Cologne Opera House. The reason for this rather unexpected return to one of her signature parts seems to have been a sentimental one:
Kiss kiss
“Diva! The very word evokes tantrums, unreasonable demands — and the wrath of Aretha Franklin denied her Snickers bar.” Our Own JJ (not pictured) discusses divadom with Angela Gheorghiu in the New York Post.
Monarch butterfly
Happiest 100th birthday greetings to the legendary Magda Olivero! In celebration, let’s enjoy a recital from December 13, 1977 in Dallas, Texas, with Ivan Davis, piano.
Noblesse oblige
Angela Gheorghiu will sing Mimì at the Met’s last performance of Boheme this season tomorrow afternoon, replacing Anna Netrebko who is ill. Angie’s in town (already?) in preparation for her performances in La traviata beginning March 29.
Win a Free Ticket to Opening Night at the Met!
Quinn Kelsey and Lise Davidsen star in the Met's new Macbeth. We're giving away one ticket, so screw your courage to the sticking place and enter now!
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).
