One more into the breeches One more into the breeches

“Norwegian mezzo-soprano Ingeborg Gillebo will make her Met debut singing the role of Cherubino in this evening’s performance of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, replacing Isabel Leonard, who is ill.”

on October 14, 2014 at 1:31 PM
Avec la garde montante Avec la garde montante

Brandon Jovanovich has agreed at short notice to step into the role of Don José in this evening’s performance of Carmen, replacing Aleksandrs Antonenko, who is ill.

on October 13, 2014 at 12:16 PM
When she has sung her songs When she has sung her songs

Given Anna Netrebko‘s continuing success at the Met in Macbeth (as evidenced by an mid-scene “brava” in last night’s Sirius broadcast), it’s time to think about the future—specifically her local assignments for next season.

on October 04, 2014 at 9:00 AM
Ten thousand bedrooms Ten thousand bedrooms

The Metropolitan Opera desperately needed a new production of Le nozze di Figaro.

on October 03, 2014 at 2:23 AM
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
Non posso nemmeno Non posso nemmeno

“Thank goodness the Met’s new production by Richard Eyre lacks a bold new concept.”

on September 25, 2014 at 2:18 PM
Bohemian girl Bohemian girl

The Met press office announces: “Hei-Kyung Hong will sing the role of Mimì in Puccini’s La Bohème on September 26 and 29, replacing Ekaterina Scherbachenko, who is ill.”

on September 25, 2014 at 12:05 PM
Wedding bell blues Wedding bell blues

“So it’s twice as disappointing that Monday night’s performance of the Mozart masterpiece turned into a four-hour fizzle.”

on September 24, 2014 at 11:23 AM
Chorus of the exiled protesters Chorus of the exiled protesters

“I applaud the Klinghoffer protesters for voicing their opinions, but that doesn’t stop me from saying that I find those opinions ill-informed, inept and downright dangerous.”

on September 23, 2014 at 10:39 PM
Tiara in the aisles Tiara in the aisles

Our Own JJ (pictured) is off to cover the Met’s opening night.

on September 22, 2014 at 4:14 PM
Femmes fatales Femmes fatales

You’ve cast your votes for the operas you most look forward to hearing at the Met this fall, and if the opera has “Macbeth” in the title, you’re there.

on September 22, 2014 at 8:30 AM
Le déluge Le déluge

The very busy Met press office announces: “The Metropolitan Opera announces cast changes for this season’s performances of Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Verdi’s Aida, and Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel.”

on September 18, 2014 at 11:06 AM
It’s a good career It’s a good career

Music Director James Levine (pictured, left) is obviously feeling well enough that he can get back to favorite pastime, i.e., making sure nobody else has a success except him.

on September 16, 2014 at 7:57 PM
Leaner in Leaner in

The Metropolitan Opera just announced that 22 positions from its administrative staff of 254 have been eliminated as part of a company-wide program of cost cutting.

on September 12, 2014 at 5:22 PM
Vital statistics Vital statistics

Now that you know how to obtain same-day tickets to the Met, cher public, all that remains is deciding which operas you intend to see.

on September 11, 2014 at 11:58 AM
Contessa, stop the music! Contessa, stop the music!

“American soprano Rachel Willis-Sørensen, who last week won First Prize at the prestigious Operalia competition, will make her Met debut as Countess Almaviva in this December’s performances of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro.”  

on September 04, 2014 at 3:05 PM
Ships in the night Ships in the night

As dear Rosalind Russell once said, “Politics makes strange bedclothes.”

on August 27, 2014 at 12:27 PM
Luke swarm Luke swarm

La Cieca (pictured) fears that the parterre hive mind proved itself populated with more drones than workers this time around.

on August 21, 2014 at 4:50 PM
Crunching the numbers Crunching the numbers

Now that it appears the Met’s labor crisis has been averted by successful completion of contract negotiations, La Cieca thought the cher public might be interested in seeing the exact terms of at least one of the pacts.

on August 20, 2014 at 1:37 PM
Belt, tightened Belt, tightened

AGMA and Local 802 “have agreed to cut a little more than 7% of their members’ compensation during the first year of the four-year contract, growing to 7% in the second and third years.”

on August 18, 2014 at 7:05 PM
Overtime Overtime

UPDATE: The Met has reached tentative agreements with AGMA and Local 802. The contract deadline has been extended through midnight on Tuesday, August 19, to allow Local One and the other remaining unions with unsettled contracts more time to secure new deals with the institution.

on August 18, 2014 at 10:00 AM
The songs of La Bohème will live forever The songs of La Bohème will live forever

Our Own Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin demonstrates the enduring quality of art with two performances of La Bohème four decades apart.

on August 18, 2014 at 8:00 AM
The sound of silence The sound of silence

This past week of contract negotiations at the Metropolitan Opera has been notable for the absence of any new PowerPoint presentations or fustian proclamations.

on August 17, 2014 at 11:56 AM