A wig and a prayer A wig and a prayer

A snarky commentator might dub last night at the Met “Boris of the divo hair flip” but that would do a disservice to a serious, often effective performance of the challenging original version of Mussorgsky’s masterpiece.

on September 29, 2021 at 11:23 AM
Sneer and sneer again Sneer and sneer again

Separated at smirk: base George Sanders and bass René Pape.

on October 16, 2019 at 2:10 PM
Geh such dir die Stars vom vergangenen Jahr! Geh such dir die Stars vom vergangenen Jahr!

Tristan has been the season-launching opera three times before now, but good luck finding someone to provide a firsthand account of the last time.

on September 23, 2016 at 3:20 AM
“Something great in itself” “Something great in itself”

Now we have considered the three “winners” in the Tristan competition, let’s turn to the also-rans, or, to be more optimistic, the runners up.

on September 22, 2016 at 9:00 AM
Not only with words, but with lively gestures Not only with words, but with lively gestures
on April 12, 2016 at 9:00 AM
Winter afternoon’s dream Winter afternoon’s dream

It took the better part of a decade—including two high-profile cancelations—or New York to finally hear Anna Netrebko in recital.

on February 29, 2016 at 9:35 AM
If I had a photograph of you If I had a photograph of you

So, as La Cieca understands it, this Halloween Rene Pape is going as Alice Coote disguised as Simon Le Bon playing The Joker attending a Flock of Seagulls concert.

on October 25, 2015 at 6:44 PM
Pape music Pape music

There is something so very Don Draper about René Pape .

on September 28, 2014 at 8:55 PM
Hysterical blondeness Hysterical blondeness

Wednesday brought the Met’s “real” season opener, an indelible, indispensable night at the opera: a starry revival of Verdi’s Macbeth crowned by Anna Netrebko’s demented Lady.

on September 26, 2014 at 1:37 PM
We’ll settle that tonight! We’ll settle that tonight!

La Cieca has been wining, dining and otherwise wooing her Met connection (pictured above) and he (or is it she?) has come across with some tidbits about upcoming seasons at Casa Gelb.

on August 14, 2013 at 3:59 PM
The case of the missing vehicle The case of the missing vehicle

La Cieca’s sources tell her that a planned revival of Faust at the Met in the fall of 2014 has been canceled, because who wants to see that ugly thing again, or else the leading lady didn’t feel like singing it, whichever.

on April 16, 2013 at 11:16 AM
Teen spirit Teen spirit

La Cieca thought it would be amusing to do a bit of speculation about what’s to come as we approach the middle of the decade.

on March 11, 2013 at 5:56 PM
Ring à la russe Ring à la russe

Wagner is becoming an important calling card for Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Theatre.

on February 11, 2013 at 2:10 PM
on December 29, 2011 at 12:06 AM
on September 20, 2011 at 3:18 PM
on October 29, 2010 at 2:08 PM
on June 07, 2009 at 1:19 PM