All Sills final All Sills final

You can tell a lot about someone from their garage sale.

Miles to go Miles to go

When is good enough not quite good enough?

Bly spirit Bly spirit

In any narrative, the unmentioned—the unmentionable—will always be more alarming than that which is carefully described.

Double digits Double digits

Promiscuous — it’s not a pretty word. But when a matron in black underwear cavorts with two dozen naked hunks, what else can you call her?

“And the portions are so large!” “And the portions are so large!”

A parterre reader just back from the matinee of Powder Her Face relates this story of two elderly ladies seated in the second row…

State of Her Grace State of Her Grace

Like Miss Adelaide the well-known fiancée in Guys and Dolls, the New York City Opera may be down but she’s not flat as all that.

Wang Center Wang Center

Now it seems the NYCO’s Duchess of Argyll will have to make do with a mere 25 lovers  in the company’s production of Powder Her Face—instead of the originally planned 88.

I am missing the winter now I am missing the winter now

One quick way to warm up: Watching tenor heartthrob Roberto Alagna.

Be very afraid Be very afraid

Turn of the Screw is an incredibly frightening ghost story really at the heart of it but with a very modern edge.

Going, going, gone! Going, going, gone!

“New York City Opera, seeking to shed decades’ worth of old sets, costumes and props, has decided to auction off most of the material next month, the company’s general manager and artistic director, George Steel, said on Wednesday.”

Dreams I know will never come true Dreams I know will never come true

New York City Opera has announced complete casting for the spring 2013 season.

An unknown object draws us An unknown object draws us

Could there possibly be any more providential day of the year for New York City Opera to announce their Annual Fall Vintage Event?

A dream? Or a dud? A dream? Or a dud?

Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, for the New York City Opera is now offering subscriptions to its [2012-]2013 season.

NYCO 2012-2013 season announcement NYCO 2012-2013 season announcement

Coverage starts live, here on parterre, at 11:00 AM.

Boathouse Betty Boathouse Betty

La Cieca just glimpsed this “save the date” from NYCO’s development department.

The seasons alter The seasons alter

It takes a lot from your commenters to surprise La Cieca, but this time she was frankly bowled over by the depth and breadth of your imagination.

Steel yourself Steel yourself

La Cieca thinks it would be fun for the cher public to play George Steel (or, given the difficulty of the task, Superman) and devise an upcoming season for NYCO.

Rain on the Rufus Rain on the Rufus

“With Anjelica Huston, Parker Posey and Yoko Ono dotting the crowd at BAM Sunday afternoon, the New York City Opera’s premiere of Prima Donna offered more diva presence offstage than on.”

“Afraid? Am I afraid?”

George Steel has called for a mediator (pictured) to attempt to summon the departed spirit of the New York City Opera. [New York Times]

Evidence of life detected

UPDATE: The answer is: George Manahan is out. FURTHER: La Cieca hears a very reliable rumor indeed that NYCO is in serious negotiations with El Museo del Barrio to relocate the troubled company there. EARLIER: La Cieca’s flawless if rather vague sources inform her that some big news is about to break concerning New York…

Must… reach… endowment…

The Man of Steel is in danger again, this time from a new gang of supervillains: Lila and DeWitt Wallace. [NYT]

War talk

Although La Cieca (center) has never played Fort Sumter, she thinks she can recognize the sound of a shot being fired. A forwarded email, after the jump.

Indecent proposals

On the eve of New York City Opera’s announcement of their 2011-12 season tomorrow at the Guggenheim Museum, La Cieca has been forwarded an email sent by AGMA to its members offering details of what Alan Gordon says are the company’s proposals for the beginning of contract negotiations. The text of the email after the…

The Cathy will rock

Soprano, stage director and now, apparently, activist Catherine Malfitano has collected more than 120 signatures on a letter “denouncing New York City Opera’s planned move from Lincoln Center and calling into question the company’s stewardship.” Among those signing on: June Anderson, Jane Bunnell, Tito Capobianco, José Carreras, Frank Corsaro, Phyllis Curtin, Justino Díaz, Joyce DiDonato,…