Those “Das-is-ein-fideles-Gefängnis-da-werd-ma-einen-kleinen-Schligowitz-ein-schalten-net” Blues Those “Das-is-ein-fideles-Gefängnis-da-werd-ma-einen-kleinen-Schligowitz-ein-schalten-net” Blues

Broadway actor Danny Burstein will make his Metropolitan Opera debut in the non-singing role of Frosch in this season’s performances of Die Fledermaus.

on July 23, 2013 at 10:59 AM
And the 2013 Pubies go to… And the 2013 Pubies go to…

One startling upset catches the eye among the many winners (if that is the word) of the 2013 Parterre Box Awards.

on May 20, 2013 at 8:51 PM
Plank your lucky stars Plank your lucky stars

The next scheduled appearance of the Met’s Ring production has been canceled, as irrevocably as these things can ever be.

on May 06, 2013 at 2:18 PM
Headless nuns in starless cast Headless nuns in starless cast

The most sensuous sounds at the Met this week come from an opera with nary a love duet.

on May 05, 2013 at 11:33 PM
Constellation Constellation

Here, for the first time in 40 years, the CBS telecast of the April 21-22 gala honoring the retirement of Sir Rudolf Bing.

on April 26, 2013 at 1:28 AM
Spin cycle Spin cycle

Your Wagnerian alternatives for today’s chat in La Casa della Cieca

on April 20, 2013 at 4:22 AM
Dark side of the moon Dark side of the moon

Finally some video of Stefan Herheim‘s Salome production shows up on YouTube.

on April 19, 2013 at 2:21 AM
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
Young man with a horn Young man with a horn

Ring a ding ding! There’s a new Duke in town, and he’s jolting the Met’s Rigoletto with enough electricity to light up the Las Vegas Strip.

on April 14, 2013 at 11:25 PM
Driving Miss Dessay Driving Miss Dessay

Always front and center with a vote of confidence, Peter Gelb told the New York Times, “Natalie is one of the great artists, but she also is somewhat fragile.”

on April 11, 2013 at 1:14 AM
Nile, be seeing you Nile, be seeing you

Danielle de Niese will sing the role of Cleopatra in this evening’s performance of Handel’s Giulio Cesare, replacing Natalie Dessay, who is ill.”

on April 09, 2013 at 1:49 PM
Nel tuo seno, amico sassone Nel tuo seno, amico sassone

Bollywood dance numbers, kung fu fighting, simulated nudity — and rock-solid musical values — added up to a sterling Giulio Cesare at at the Met.

on April 07, 2013 at 11:26 PM
A series of ones and zeroes A series of ones and zeroes

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

on April 07, 2013 at 7:32 PM
Pyramid scheme Pyramid scheme

Giulio Cesare at the Met proved an evening that added up to much more than the sum of its uneven parts.

on April 05, 2013 at 9:30 AM
Requiem for a dream Requiem for a dream

Last night, La Cieca finally got around to watching that documentary about the rocky road to the new Ring at the Met, and she has a thought or two about this whole brouhaha.

on March 29, 2013 at 4:15 PM
Énée day now Énée day now

Tenor Bryan Hymel has been named the recipient of the eighth annual Beverly Sills Artist Award for young singers at the Metropolitan Opera.

on March 25, 2013 at 5:33 PM
Faustian, but no bargain Faustian, but no bargain

“The spring season at the Met is as changeable as March weather in New York: crisp and brilliant for a day or two, and then suddenly as dismal as Thursday night’s Faust.”

on March 24, 2013 at 11:17 PM
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…”

on March 21, 2013 at 12:04 PM
Bright young thing Bright young thing

Thursday’s Met performance of the Verdi tearjerker featured a major find: Diana Damrau, who, in her first outing as Violetta, mesmerized with her gleaming soprano and ferocious acting.

on March 17, 2013 at 11:52 PM
Un soggetto dell’epoca Un soggetto dell’epoca

“With one of my favorite opera productions returning to the Met tonight, I’ve been considering lately what makes Willy Decker‘s Traviata so fine, so satisfying, and so worth a return visit.” [Musical America]

on March 14, 2013 at 3:12 PM
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
Excess d’estime Excess d’estime

It’s not often operagoers leave humming the scenery, but that was the case Monday, when the Met hauled out Riccardo Zandonai’s Francesca da Rimini from the vault.

on March 07, 2013 at 11:12 PM
Queen of the Maybe Queen of the Maybe

“I didn’t think anything could be campier than Adriana. But this is nothing but camp. Adriana at least has tunes.”

on March 05, 2013 at 9:38 AM
A tsar is born A tsar is born

Vot tsar’ vash!” Here is your Tsar, the 38-year-old Ukranian bass Alexander Tsymbalyuk.

on March 03, 2013 at 5:52 PM