Outside this house Outside this house

The 55th New York Film Festival presented the world premiere of Susan Froemke’s marvelous new documentary The Opera House in a special one-time-only screening at the Metropolitan Opera. 

on October 02, 2017 at 9:11 AM
Dark matter Dark matter

In Schikaneder’s patriarchal cosmology, darkness is the province of emotional women—not just the erratic fury of the Queen of the Night, but the pathetic supplications of Pamina as well.

on September 28, 2017 at 7:44 PM
Drunk history Drunk history

Last night was my fourth or fifth wade into the slough of Bartlett Sher’s production of Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann at the Met since its premiere in 2009.

on September 27, 2017 at 3:21 PM
Better call Gaul Better call Gaul

Bellini’s Norma Monday evening didn’t at all improve on the production it was replacing.

on September 26, 2017 at 12:51 PM
Broadcast: Norma Broadcast: Norma

The performance and the obligatory parterre chat both begin at 6:30 PM EDT.

on September 25, 2017 at 1:06 PM
Monday in the park with mike Monday in the park with mike

From up close, the miked opera singer can be a bit tough to take.

on June 13, 2017 at 5:00 PM
They’re broke and that’s oak They’re broke and that’s oak

The important thing to remember about Druids is that they don’t follow fashion very much.

on June 10, 2017 at 11:58 AM
Fresh faces Fresh faces

Bass Christian Zaremba will sing the role of Angelotti in the Met’s new production of Tosca opening New Year’s Eve.

on May 23, 2017 at 9:00 AM
Not since John Dexter’s ‘Billy Budd’… Not since John Dexter’s ‘Billy Budd’…

“Uh, I have,” Mr. McDermott said, laughing.

on May 21, 2017 at 8:00 AM
Glitter and be gala Glitter and be gala

Finally, Peter Gelb brings camp back to opera!

on May 09, 2017 at 2:21 PM
Fifty shades of gold Fifty shades of gold

Anticipation of events like the Metropolitan Opera’s 50th Anniversary bash turns me back into the newly opera-soused kid who begged his parents to let him watch the highlights of the Bing Gala on the family color television.

on May 08, 2017 at 12:53 PM
The music, ho! The music, ho!

Here’s where the parterriani will surely gather to hear and to comment upon this evening’s monster gala celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Met’s incumbency at Lincoln Center.

on May 07, 2017 at 3:14 AM
Broadcast: Der Fliegende Holländer Broadcast: Der Fliegende Holländer

More Wagner listening excitement this afternoon at 1:00 PM, cher public, on the Met’s Saturday afternoon broadcast.

on April 29, 2017 at 11:38 AM
I lived, if you can call it living, for art I lived, if you can call it living, for art

Since no doubt the New York contingent of the cher public are already shuddering in anticipation of a Kristine Opolais Tosca as a “gala” New Year’s Eve treat, La Cieca thought you might enjoy—again, surely too strong a word—a preview of sorts.

on April 26, 2017 at 2:02 PM
Gewitter und Sturm Gewitter und Sturm

The wild tempest that whipped and drenched the audience as it exited the Met after Tuesday’s season premiere of Wagner’s Der Fliegende Holländer mirrored the finer features of the evening.

on April 26, 2017 at 11:42 AM
Arms and the man I sing Arms and the man I sing

Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes up the baton for tonight’s season premiere of Der Fliegende Holländer at the Met, and the cher public will surely all be in place for discussion of The Gun Show.

on April 25, 2017 at 5:10 PM
Same steppes, different dancers Same steppes, different dancers

Is there a more gorgeous male voice before the public today than Peter Mattei’s? Has Anna Netrebko ever sounded better?

on April 18, 2017 at 12:16 PM
Through a glass vaguely Through a glass vaguely

Any production of Der Rosenkavalier that can transform the usually excruciating first half of the third act into a hilarious romp already has my vote.

on April 14, 2017 at 2:38 PM
“Nicht heut, nicht morgen!” “Nicht heut, nicht morgen!”

But enough about Renée Fleming‘s farewell.

on April 13, 2017 at 4:00 PM
Lethal injection Lethal injection

If British Opera magazine is to be believed, incoming Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin has already scheduled the first artistic fiasco of his new incumbency.

on April 05, 2017 at 1:09 PM
A quiet girl A quiet girl

“Tatiana has developed into one of Netrebko’s very best roles.”

on April 03, 2017 at 12:38 PM
Master of the house Master of the house

Incoming Met music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin “plans to open his first season with a new production of Verdi’s Aida starring Anna Netrebko and to start the following season with Ms. Netrebko as Strauss’s Salome.”

on March 31, 2017 at 10:33 AM
Broadcast: Idomeneo Broadcast: Idomeneo

Settle in for an afternoon of opera seria, cher public, and chat as you will in the comments section of this post.

on March 25, 2017 at 12:49 PM
She has immortal longings in her She has immortal longings in her

All right, folks, if you’re going to troll La Cieca, you might try just a little subtlety.

on March 21, 2017 at 6:31 PM