Two pairs of pants Two pairs of pants

“French mezzo-soprano Géraldine Chauvet will make her Met debut as Sesto in this evening’s performance of Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito, replacing Elina Garanca, who is ill.”

on December 10, 2012 at 10:30 AM
Crave the date Crave the date

It only just occurred to La Cieca that the opening night of New York City Opera’s 2013 season—the premiere of their new production of Powder Her Face—is February 15, a date that sounds oddly familiar somehow.

on December 02, 2012 at 2:31 PM
Notte e giorno criticar Notte e giorno criticar

Imagine if someone left Vermeer’s masterpiece “Girl With a Pearl Earring” out in the rain.

on November 29, 2012 at 11:02 PM
Smooth operatic Smooth operatic

Did the ancient Egyptians invent chest waxing?

on November 27, 2012 at 12:50 AM
Working “Tito” Working “Tito”

After an uneven start to the season, the Met brought its A game Friday to a superb revival of Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito.

on November 20, 2012 at 12:49 AM
Why, oh why? Why, oh why?

“Alden Drops the Ballo: His Milquetoast Take on Verdi’s Classic Fizzles at the Met”

on November 14, 2012 at 10:20 AM
Swedish frisson Swedish frisson

Last week’s freak nor’easter set the tone for Thursday’s chilly new production of Un Ballo in Maschera at the Met.

on November 11, 2012 at 11:15 PM
The man in the ironic mask The man in the ironic mask

The realization of the opera Un ballo in maschera by Verdi and the librettist Antonio Somma is almost as famous as the opera itself.

on November 09, 2012 at 9:56 PM
Down for the count Down for the count

The battle of the sexes ended in an upset the other night in Le Nozze di Figaro.

on November 04, 2012 at 11:50 PM
The man behind the mask The man behind the mask

Recently your doyenne engaged in an email-based interview with David Alden, director of the Met’s new production of Un ballo in maschera, opening on Thursday.

on November 04, 2012 at 2:58 AM
Can this “Marriage” be saved? Can this “Marriage” be saved?

The performance at the Metropolitan Opera last night proved that yes, it is possible to kill this opera. I don’t know how they managed it, but they did.

on October 27, 2012 at 2:35 PM
Isle, be seeing you Isle, be seeing you

“Like the Shakespeare play it’s based on, Thomas Adès’ opera The Tempest is set on an enchanted island.”

on October 25, 2012 at 12:34 AM
Our retrospection will now be all to the future Our retrospection will now be all to the future

La Cieca predicts you won’t be seeing any puritans at the Met next season, except of course for the ones who slouch around during intermission hissing, “You call that a trill?”

on October 22, 2012 at 2:18 PM
Smells like teen critic Smells like teen critic

Friend of the box Opera Teen (pictured, right) reacts to Saturday night’s performance of Otello.

on October 15, 2012 at 2:39 AM
Beating time Beating time

So meandering and ragged a reading would be alarming at a first rehearsal; for a first night, it was a scandal.

on October 11, 2012 at 3:04 AM
Scent of mystery Scent of mystery

La Cieca has been sniffing around her generally reliable (and fragrant) sources, and she thinks she has pieced together a list of the dozen operas to be featured in the 2013-2014 season of “The Met: Live in HD.”

on October 07, 2012 at 2:17 PM
Was hast du, Nemorino, du siehst so verstort? Was hast du, Nemorino, du siehst so verstort?

In a rare last-minute change of program, the Metropolitan Opera has canceled tomorrow night’s performance of L’elisir d’amore.

on October 04, 2012 at 1:30 AM
The medium is the mezzos The medium is the mezzos

“Two generations of gypsy women dominated the first weekend of the Met’s new season.”

on October 02, 2012 at 1:17 AM
Tales of the unexpected Tales of the unexpected

Saturday matinee’s prima Trovatore brought an exciting and compelling show to the Met’s stage in the revival of David McVicar’s dark, Goya-esque production.

on October 01, 2012 at 6:30 PM
Fight club Fight club

“I literally wanted to punch Sher in the face.”

on September 30, 2012 at 2:29 AM
Yu’s on first Yu’s on first

So what’s the news from the Met press office this late Friday afternoon?

on September 28, 2012 at 4:33 PM
On with his head On with his head

Matthew Polenzani will sing the role of Leicester in all performances of the Met’s new production of Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda this season.

on September 27, 2012 at 4:47 PM
Just one look Just one look

Which VIP at the Met’s opening night barely lasted through Belcore’s entrance aria before hustling out the door and leaving a gaping lacuna in the guest seating chart?

on September 25, 2012 at 10:38 PM
Read meat Read meat

After last night’s opening of L’elisir d’amore, the chirping of the first critics is heard.

on September 25, 2012 at 1:38 PM