I am woman, hear me roar
Happy 68th birthday director and administrator Francesca Zambello
francesca zambello
Last dance
If it is true that there are few respectable ways for people over 40 without small children to celebrate Halloween, a performance of Richard Strauss’ pioneering horror opera Elektra belongs on the short list.
The amazing race
“I think some things should be cast with certain physical types, and the role of Otello is one of them.”
Pyramid scheme
Isn’t it inspiring how deeply Francesca Zambello has sunk her tentacles into the heart of American opera?
All’s for the worst in this worst of all possible worlds!
Two “major” US companies will present in 2017-2018 what La Cieca cannot help but regard as the worst possible combination of director and material.
That ’70s show
Washington National Opera followed up Monday’s lavishly praised Die Walküre with a Siegfried that, if not quite rising to the summit of the previous installment, delivered a musically committed and eminently watchable version of this complicated work.
Burden of gilt
Happily, this Rheingold, which returned to the Kennedy Center Saturday night to open the first of three complete cycles, has been shorn of its clumsier gestures.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one
Gala this; gala that; who knew rich people wore clothes so badly?
One night only, one night only, there’s nothing more to say
“The Art House in Provincetown, MA, headed by Mark Cortale, will present Metropolitan Opera Star Deborah Voigt in ‘Voigt Lessons’ created by Terrence McNally, Francesca Zambello and Deborah Voigt, for one night only on August 2 at 6:30 PM.”
Escape from nuance
Just when you though it was impossible to have any less respect for Francesca Zambello…
Warhorse
Three blocks from the opera house is a terrible time to realize there was homework.
Barn yesterday
Christine Goerke is the Prima Donna in this scene from Francesca Zambello‘s Glimmerglass production of Ariadne auf Upstate New York, and Did I Mention That the Komponist is a Dyke?
Dish night
“Superstar soprano Deborah Voigt and powerhouse opera and theater director Francesca Zambello, friends for over 25 years, came to 92Y to talk opera, inspiration, artistry and friendship.”
A coupla white chicks sitting around talking
On Wednesday, April 23rd at 8:15 PM, renowned soprano Deborah Voigt and opera and theater director Francesca Zambello, friends for over twenty-five years, join to discuss opera, inspiration, artistry and friendship.
La vita e Club Inferno
What, you might ask, could a middle-of-the-road middlebrow stage director add to this monumental chef-d’oeuvre?
Busting out
June Anderson will make the transition into the “Anne Revere” segment of her career next summer when she sings the role of Elvira Griffiths in Tobias Picker‘s An American Tragedy at the Glimmerglass Festival.
Steppin’ 2 the Nile Side
La Cieca would like to take this opportunity to extend kudos to Francesca Zambello and the Glimmerglass Festival on what looks to be their season’s first smash hit: a new production of the classic musical Dreamgirls.
Fairy-lit
It was dear Oscar Wilde, wasn’t it, who devised that early mot du jour “Good writers borrow; great writers steal”…
Ring around the Bay
Here goes with the End of the Gods and the End of these Ring reviews: Götterdämmerung was more of a mixed bag than the other operas, but still left a powerful impression. This was where Zambello’s choice to steer clear of heavy spectacle was most evident to me. The cost in grandeur was offset by […]
Bloomberg onions
The multi-slashed Manuela Hoelterhoff (Bloomberg editrix/spouse to disgruntled New York City Opera intendant manquée Francesca Zambello/grouch emeritus) dipped her goose quill in venom this morning once again to take on her favorite subject, i.e., how NYCO has gone to hell in a handbasket ever since they didn’t hire her girlfriend to run the place.
A woman running City Opera? Unheard of!
“Zambello, a busy stage director, should have become director of New York City Opera a few years back but was rejected by a sexist board.” [Lebrecht] On a completely unrelated note, happy birthday Beverly Sills!
La Dappertutta
Providing continuing proof that at any given time there are only about a dozen opera administrators in the entire universe, the currently restructuring Washingon National Opera has selected as its artistic advisor the otherwise criminally underemployed Francesca Zambello.
The road to Manderley
From time to time the younger queens ask La Cieca, “Why does all the camp date back decades? Did something happen to camp? Why is there no new camp? Where should we look to find our own 21st century camp? Now La Cieca has an answer for you young queens. Look no further! Camp, with […]
The return of Glimmertrash
Given the choice, I’ll take Hans Neuenfels.
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).
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!
