Zero gravitas Zero gravitas

On the train ride home I was thinking that I don’t want to see or hear Norma ever again.

on March 01, 2023 at 11:09 AM
Poison of interest Poison of interest

Following new productions of Tosca in 2017, Adriana Lecouvreur in 2018, and the Anna Netrebko-led Puccini orgy of 2019, New Year’s Eve at the Met has come to signify that verismo, as this school tends to be known, is still kicking.

on January 02, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Playing the diva vs. being the diva Playing the diva vs. being the diva

In the last weeks of January, as the Metropolitan Opera season wound to a close (prior to the winter hiatus) two striking sopranos were thrust into the limelight.

on January 27, 2022 at 8:39 AM
Fascinating but frustrating Fascinating but frustrating

Now, through the auspices of the Metropolitan Opera, we have Sonya Yoncheva—and if anything, the diva-dom has been kicked up a notch!

on February 27, 2021 at 4:28 PM
Sonya or later Sonya or later

“The Met Stars Live in Concert performance featuring soprano Sonya Yoncheva, which was rescheduled for this Saturday, November 28, has now been moved to Saturday, February 27, 2021, as Ms. Yoncheva is still ill (with a non-Covid illness).” Thus speaks the Met’s press department.

on November 24, 2020 at 3:19 PM
Sonya Yoncheva plays Mad Libs Sonya Yoncheva plays Mad Libs

[via Twitter]

on March 14, 2019 at 4:56 PM
Whenever you cough Whenever you cough

Ardent Angel Blue will jump into performances vacated by the collapsible Sonya Yoncheva at La Scala.

on February 27, 2019 at 10:52 AM
Sonya Yoncheva we love you get up Sonya Yoncheva we love you get up

“Couple of hours ago at home, I was preparing for the show, when suddenly I collapsed.”

on January 11, 2019 at 7:01 AM
Made in the shade Made in the shade

Here’s a quick sprint through some recent (and a few maybe not-so-very-recent) Handel CDs that have been stacking up. 

on December 14, 2018 at 11:10 AM
“Of all creatures that can feel and think, we women are the worst treated things alive” “Of all creatures that can feel and think, we women are the worst treated things alive”

Sonya Yoncheva dons the mantle of Cherubini’s Medée this afternoon at 1:05 PM.

on October 13, 2018 at 10:01 AM
Blonde Venus? Blonde Venus?

The frequently-omniscient Future Met Wiki has recently vouchsafed a few morsels about upcoming Met seasons.

on June 18, 2018 at 2:55 PM
I’m every diva, it’s all in me I’m every diva, it’s all in me

La Cieca, fashion arbiter though she may be, cannot figure out what is going on with this day-to-evening (and then some) look Sonya Yoncheva is flaunting.

on April 17, 2018 at 1:05 PM
Telecast: La Traviata Telecast: La Traviata

Michael Fabiano and Sonya Yoncheva star in Great Performances at the Met’s telecast of La Traviata tonight at 9:00 PM.

on August 25, 2017 at 2:00 PM
Mai Tosca alla scena Mai Tosca alla scena

Sonya Yoncheva will make her role debut in the Met’s new production of Puccini’s Tosca next season replacing Kristine Opolais.

on June 16, 2017 at 11:28 AM
Two steppes forward, one steppe back Two steppes forward, one steppe back

“Et d’ailleurs, les costumes me font ressembler à un côté d’une maison.”

on February 04, 2017 at 6:37 PM
Sonya non mente Sonya non mente

A big chunk of the last act of Norma.

on September 28, 2016 at 3:07 AM
Cher public, affrettati, precipita per l’etra! Cher public, affrettati, precipita per l’etra!

La Cieca’s familiar spirits have been turning their generally steely eyes to the Future Met Wiki, attempting in vain to make sense of impending repertoire and casting at Casa Gelb.

on December 08, 2015 at 9:50 AM
A whiter shade of pale A whiter shade of pale

While the celebrity-studded, expensively-dressed audience gathered for the gala opening of the Metropolitan Opera’s 2015-2016 season seemed genuinely enthralled by Monday evening’s performance of Otello, it was more likely swept away by the power of Verdi’s genius than by Bartlett Sher’s puzzling, inert new production.

on September 22, 2015 at 12:31 PM
Shortlisted Shortlisted

I expected something lovely, but what I beheld was nothing short of magnificent.

on January 21, 2015 at 10:37 AM
Wish upon a star Wish upon a star

At what moment does a “rising star” become simply a “star”?

on January 15, 2015 at 3:00 PM
Snow business Snow business

Every year I say I’m not going to another La Bohème because I’ve seen this too many times.

on November 21, 2014 at 10:25 AM
Screwing the Puccini Screwing the Puccini

Sonya Yoncheva will sing her first-ever staged performances of Mimì in Puccini’s La Bohème at the Met on November 14, 20, 24, 28, December 1 and 5, replacing Kristine Opolais.

on November 03, 2014 at 8:34 AM
Red shoe diaries Red shoe diaries

Sonya Yoncheva will make her North American role debut as Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata at the Met this January.

on October 30, 2014 at 11:13 AM