O brother, wired art thou? O brother, wired art thou?

Shocker of the century! The New York Times reveals that Met singers are miked!

By on June 29, 2013 at 10:10 AM
104 comments
A series of ones and zeroes A series of ones and zeroes

“I’m analytical, not wild,” Ms. Garanca told an interviewer in 2009.

By on April 07, 2013 at 7:32 PM
70 comments
Scarred for life Scarred for life

“…the stage is crowded with grumbling members of the old guard who aren’t renewing subscriptions, disenchanted reviewers, vendors of vitriol on blogs like Parterre Box…”

By on March 21, 2013 at 12:04 PM
235 comments
The sound of two hands clapping The sound of two hands clapping

If it’s in the New York Times, it must be true, right?

By on February 07, 2013 at 1:29 PM
72 comments
All for the best All for the best

George Steel announces that New York City Opera is destroying, giving away or selling off most of its stock of repertory productions.

By on October 02, 2012 at 7:00 PM
53 comments
The case of the missing Amelia The case of the missing Amelia

“In the space of a few words, the leading role in a major new production had been reassigned. But why?”

By on September 21, 2012 at 11:15 AM
76 comments
The shock of the new The shock of the new

“The article also referred imprecisely to offerings in the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 2012-13 season.”

By on August 09, 2012 at 3:26 PM
33 comments
Wer nicht mit dem Woolfe heult Wer nicht mit dem Woolfe heult

Zachary Woolfe (not pictured) makes his way to Bayreuth to try to unravel the Evgeny Nikitin mystery.

By on July 26, 2012 at 5:50 PM
51 comments
Closet drama Closet drama

I have a confession to make about Britten’s opera Billy Budd: I don’t like it very much.”

By on July 04, 2012 at 12:07 AM
280 comments
Tony award Tony award

For decades New York City Opera was a model of an organization with a clear mission.

By on June 01, 2012 at 12:00 PM
35 comments
Mouth feel Mouth feel

“The bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni, playing Leporello in the Met’s recent Don Giovanni, asked for vegetable sausage…”

By on May 09, 2012 at 4:26 AM
20 comments
Ghost boaster Ghost boaster

Can a day pass without the New York Times‘ 24/7 coverage of the Met’s Ring getting on yet another of La Cieca’s nerves?

By on May 07, 2012 at 12:12 PM
85 comments
Screen and screen again Screen and screen again

The New York Times sends cub reporter (Get it? Cub reporter! Oh, La Cieca is killing herself with the puns!) Zachary Woolfe to the movie palaces of the heartland.

By on April 27, 2012 at 8:42 AM
56 comments
How sharper than a serpent’s tooth How sharper than a serpent’s tooth

“The Met’s new Ring is the most frustrating opera production I have ever had to grapple with.”

By on April 25, 2012 at 1:53 PM
70 comments
Eye rolling Eye rolling

It turns out we were wrong all along, cher public: the Robert Lepage production of the Ring at the Met is in fact a triumph.

By on April 22, 2012 at 5:53 PM
77 comments
Ass backwards Ass backwards

Zachary Woolfe went to Las Vegas and all we got was a thoughtful analysis of why Robert Lepage was never a good fit for the Ring.

By on April 16, 2012 at 7:43 PM
23 comments
Damage control Damage control

Just in time for the beginning of the first cycle of the Robert Lepage Ring (pictured), Peter Gelb tries to convince Anthony Tommasini that everything is just fine, thank you…

By on April 03, 2012 at 4:24 PM
177 comments
Take the Monnaie and run Take the Monnaie and run

“Though Mr. Herheim’s work is rigorous, it is also fun, and this Rusalka is serious but the opposite of dour.”

By on March 09, 2012 at 6:44 PM
38 comments

In honor of Martin Luther King day (belated), the New York Times hosts a discussion about the current Broadway production of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. As a bold gesture toward diversity and inclusion, the keynote speakers range from Anthony Tommasini to Ben Brantley.

By on January 17, 2012 at 11:42 AM
Reply

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

By on December 06, 2011 at 12:14 AM
7 comments

Is Peter Gelb wearing too many hats? Anthony Tommasini seems to think so, adding that one of those headpieces in particular is ill-fitting and might perhaps more flatteringly perch upon some other head. Call La Cieca suspicious, but she thinks the timing of this piece is hardly an accident.

By on November 25, 2011 at 11:15 AM
60 comments

NYCO’s George Steel has “…a vision of gradually increasing productions, arriving at 10, with 40 performances…. the company would reach the 10-production benchmark by 2025…. Only about 10 percent of revenue this season is predicted to come from the box office, with the rest mainly provided by donors. The ratio does not change much over the…

By on November 11, 2011 at 9:17 PM
28 comments

La Cieca is always happy (if a little envious) when another critic expresses exactly how she feels about a musical event (such as Jonas Kaufmann‘s recital last Sunday at the Met) because that means she doesn’t have to blather on and on about it.  Instead she can simply reply, “Check out what Zachary Woolfe has…

By on November 01, 2011 at 2:44 PM
76 comments

Not only has physical therapy healed Mariusz Kwiecien‘s shapely back, it’s apparently added a third to the top of his range. [New York Times]

By on October 24, 2011 at 8:20 AM
34 comments