You voted, cher public, and La Cieca delivers on her campaign promises. Herewith the three most-requested mystery Ulricas. Use these sound clips wisely in formulating your entries in the Which Witch competition. Ulrica #3 Ulrica #8 Ulrica #11
By La Cieca
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La Cieca is surprised to note that with only a day left in the spectacular Which Witch competition, there are only a few official entries, with a tie (10 correct each) between the top two contenders. It may be that your doyenne got a little cocky this time around and made the quiz impossibly difficult…
By La Cieca
For the week of Halloween, La Cieca offers her cher public a particularly SPOOKY competition. First, listen to the composite clip below of various artists singing Ulrica’s aria from Un ballo in maschera. Then, if you think you can identify all 13 singers, do so via email to [email protected]. The first email received with all…
By La Cieca
Magnificent singing actress (and longtime parterre fave) Anna Caterina Antonacci casts a spell in the title role of Cherubini’s Medea in this week’s edition of Unnatural Acts of Opera. Medea, Act 1 Medea: Anna Caterina Antonacci, Giasone: Giuseppe Filianoti, Glauce: Cinzia Forte, Creonte: Giovanni Battista Parodi, Neris: Sara Mingardo, Il capo della guardia: Diego Matamoros,…
By La Cieca
The second half of the historic Dual/Duel Diva Concert at Carnegie Hall on January 31, 1982. Grace Bumbry and Shirley Verrett Concert Part 2 Concert in Honor of Marian Anderson Verdi: Aida Cilea: Adriana Lecouvreur Verdi: Otello Bellini: Norma Encore of Norma duet Opera Orchestra of New York; Eve Queler. Carnegie Hall, New York, 31…
By La Cieca
A nugget of lead from the Golden Age. Rigoletto Trainwreck Passengers on the doomed vehicle include Sayao, Kiepura, Morelli and Glaz, conducted by Halasz from St. Louis in 1940.
By La Cieca
Sharing the stage another diva in one’s identical fach always puts a girl on her mettle, La Cieca has always said, and no better proof of that just-invented shibboleth is there than this week’s edition of Unnatural Acts of Opera. Grace Bumbry and Shirley Verrett grace the stage of Carnegie Hall on January 31, 1982,…
By La Cieca
The final act of Wagner’s Lohengrin, along with a preview from La Cieca of Monday’s festivities. Lohengrin, Act 3 Â
By La Cieca
Undaunted by Hurricane Hannah, La Cieca continues her presentation of Lohengrin at Unnatural Acts of Opera. Lohengrin: Jess Thomas Elsa: Claire Watson Telramund: Walter Berry Ortrud: Christa Ludwig Koenig Heinrich: Martti Talvela Heerrufer: Eberhard Waechter Vienna State Opera, Karl Boehm, 1965. Lohengrin Act 2
By La Cieca
Our Own Lindoro has contributed a vocal ID quiz based on Liù’s first act aria from Turandot. This one’s just for fun, so feel free to make your guesses in the comments section. Signore, ascolta!
By La Cieca
August 30 is the anniversary of the birth of a famous Quickly: Regina Resnik! [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/ipFMt7bPStg” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /] And here we have Mme. Resnik in a campy mood, sending up the faux-exoticism of Kismet. Not Since Nineveh!
By La Cieca
In honor of the 158th anniversary of the premiere of Lohengrin, Unnatural Acts of Opera presents a performance of the Wagnerian work from Vienna in 1965 under the baton of Dr. Karl Böhm. Lohengrin, Act 1
By La Cieca
Here’s the solution to the Elfte Brautnacht! vocal ID quiz:
By La Cieca
Here’s a very special audio quiz for La Cieca’s cher public du weekend. In the following mp3 clip, 11 sopranos sing the soaring aria “Zweite Brautnacht!” from Die Ägyptische Helena of Richard Strauss. If you think you can identify these beauties, email [email protected]. The first email received with the names of all 11 sopranos in…
By La Cieca
La Cieca braves tornado warnings (tornado warnings!) to bring her cher public the final Unnatural Acts of Thomas’ Hamlet. Hamlet Acts 4 and 5
By La Cieca
La Cieca puts on the trousers (which is more than she can say for some of the cher public) and highlights her versatility by playing a male role! But even your doyenne’s dulcet speaking voice is no match for Simon Keenlyside‘s robust (ahem!) performance of the operatic Dane. Hamlet Act 3
By La Cieca
Another serving of Hamlet, courtesy of Unnatural Acts of Opera. Hamlet (Thomas) Act 2
By La Cieca
Well, NachtundTraume buzzed in first with all eight names in the correct order for the “Mon coeur” quiz. Since this week’s Regie seems already to be a wash as a guessing game, La Cieca will try to keep you entertained with yet another performance of the celebrated selection from Samson et Dalila. Can you identify…
By La Cieca
Eight Dalilas, courtesy of Our Own Sanford. Can you identify them? Mon coeur contest
By La Cieca
The Beautiful Voice is known for her improvisational skills both as an actress and as a musician (who can forget her “Over the Rainbow” or “O légère hirondelle?”) Now La Fleming has harnessed her spontaneity to create a variant text for her first public performance of a celebrated Puccini aria. Manon ho studiato UPDATE: The…
By La Cieca
Finally, the closing acts of Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots are presented by your dilatory doyenne on Unnatural Acts of Opera. Les Huguenots Acts 4 and 5
By La Cieca
As New York City cools down, Unnatural Acts of Opera heats up with the second and third acts of Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots. Les Huguenots, Acts 2 and 3
By La Cieca
