Gold standard Gold standard

Like everyone else, La Cieca was watching Mad Men last night, and suddenly something clicked.

on April 16, 2012 at 10:03 AM
And that’s when I clicked “close gesamtkunstwerk” And that’s when I clicked “close gesamtkunstwerk”

A sharp-eyed spy at tonight’s performance of Die Walküre at the Met notes that, while there were no malfunctions of the Machine per se, there was an unexpected projection toward the middle of the third act.

on April 14, 2012 at 12:34 AM
Slow curtain, the end Slow curtain, the end

Here’s a taste of what’s in store for the Met’s HD audience on Saturday

on April 12, 2012 at 11:30 AM
Recovered girl Recovered girl

Here’s a bit of good news for all you Traviata fans with tickets for tomorrow night’s Met performance or Saturday afternoon’s HD.

on April 09, 2012 at 8:51 PM
Starless night Starless night

An understudy saved the show at the Met’s La Traviata Friday night, but no star was born.

on April 08, 2012 at 11:14 PM
Cover up Cover up

Says the Met’s press office: “Hei-Kyung Hong will sing the role of Violetta Valéry in Verdi’s La Traviata at tomorrow’s performance, replacing Natalie Dessay, who is ill.” (Photo: Marty Sohl)

on April 05, 2012 at 7:37 PM
Damage control Damage control

Just in time for the beginning of the first cycle of the Robert Lepage Ring (pictured), Peter Gelb tries to convince Anthony Tommasini that everything is just fine, thank you…

on April 03, 2012 at 4:24 PM
More news from the future More news from the future

Here La Cieca has scarcely returned home from a very pleasant concert performance of Pipe Dream (feeble show, attractive songs, fine cast) and what should she find in her inbox but an alert from the Playbill Club.

on March 30, 2012 at 12:01 AM
The party’s over The party’s over

When the hard-partying heroine of Massenet’s Manon hits bottom, she literally lands in the gutter.

on March 27, 2012 at 10:38 PM
The Ironic Lady The Ironic Lady

Another grim narrative of the Gelb years, and one I think is generally hogwash, is that the Met has (at least in theatrical terms) lost its way entirely.

on March 27, 2012 at 10:01 AM
Sound of gnashing teeth noted Sound of gnashing teeth noted

A phrase no one ever thought to see in print…

on March 22, 2012 at 4:37 PM
Lady of the Fake Lady of the Fake

When Verdi’s Macbeth returned to the Met Thursday night, miscasting doomed the revival as surely as any witch’s curse.

on March 19, 2012 at 8:13 AM
And no bones! And no bones!

Apparently, opera fans got the bright side of the bargain: say “Macbeth” in the theater and you court cataclysm; utter the name in the opera house and, as often as not, you merely predict disappointment.

on March 16, 2012 at 11:26 AM
Sensational Sensational

Juan Diego Flórez made an untraditional Nemorino, his small but diamond-bright tenor unlike the luscious lyric voice usually heard in this part.”

on March 07, 2012 at 7:12 AM
Teenager in love Teenager in love

L’elisir d’amore, Donizetti’s evergreen comedy about young love, returned to the Met last night with a strong cast, a high energy level from all the performers, and last but not least, a very full house.

on March 06, 2012 at 11:08 AM
Mein Ross! Sei mir gegrüsst! Mein Ross! Sei mir gegrüsst!

“Pound for pound, ton for ton, it is the most witless and wasteful production in modern operatic history.”

on March 05, 2012 at 10:11 AM
Dessa! Dessa!

La Cieca hears that soprano Latonia Moore will make her Metropolitan Opera debut this Saturday afternoon.

on March 01, 2012 at 6:49 PM
Dark victory Dark victory

“In a season of high-profile duds like Don Giovanni and the Ring, the Met has found a winner in a dark horse, Mussorgsky’s moody Khovanshchina.”

on February 28, 2012 at 10:55 PM
Balk like an Egyptian Balk like an Egyptian

Sondra Radvanovsky will make her Met role debut as the title character in Verdi’s Aida on February 28…

on February 27, 2012 at 3:42 PM
Time to say goodbye Time to say goodbye

La Cieca has just heard some interesting and completely plausible gossip about 2013-14.

on February 24, 2012 at 3:33 PM
The not too distant future The not too distant future

The Met’s top-secret hush-hush season announcement will emerge from the Holy Grail shrine later today.

on February 23, 2012 at 7:05 PM
Armiliato qua, Armiliato là Armiliato qua, Armiliato là

“This is the highest number of performances for a conductor in a single week in Met history.”

on February 14, 2012 at 10:49 AM
Noble salvage Noble salvage

The New Year’s Eve gala at the Met ushering out 2011 was the world premiere of the much-anticipated mash-up The Enchanted Island AKA “baroque opera for those who hate (or at least don’t know) baroque opera.

on January 01, 2012 at 1:44 PM

For this final evening of 2011, La Cieca invites you to a final chat. Starting at 6:30 PM, the cher public are invited to wade into The Enchanted Island, broadcast live from the Met.

on December 31, 2011 at 5:14 PM