Your doyenne dusts off her singing pipes and then welcomes a guest from the Great White Way into our luxurious new Sunnyside studios, all as introduction to the third act of Adriana Lecouvreur starring Magda Olivero, on this week’s Unnatural Acts of Opera. Adriana Lecouvreur, Act 3
Since there’s nothing new on Sirius, no HD telecast, or a new Unnatural Acts of Opera tonight, La Cieca thought we might revisit the golden age of two decades ago for a classic performance of The Dentist of Seville. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/Yqj8GcTPfhY” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
La Cieca presents the second act of Adriana Lecouvreur, starring the incomparable Magda Olivero. Unnatural Acts of Opera Quick reminder for the new year: if you’re enjoying the podcasts or whatever else you may find on parterre.com, please consider helping to support the site by clicking on the “Donate” button in the left column.
La Cieca returns, “rested” after her long absence, for an all-new edition of Unnatural Acts of Opera. The theme for 2009 is “The Greatest Pirates,” and, assisted by the many suggestions of the cher public, La Cieca has selected a prime specimen of live dementia for her first offering of 2009. The New Unnatural Acts…
As we approach the new year, La Cieca is gearing herself up to revive the recently dormant Unnatural Acts of Opera. Your doyenne was thinking that an interesting theme for 2009 might be “The Greatest Pirates,” i.e., the most important and impressive live, non-commerical recorded documents of opera. La Cieca is now accepting nominations from…
For those of you who are perhaps still wondering how (or whether) Medea ends. Medea, Acts 2 and 3
Magnificent singing actress (and longtime parterre fave) Anna Caterina Antonacci casts a spell in the title role of Cherubini’s Medea in this week’s edition of Unnatural Acts of Opera. Medea, Act 1 Medea: Anna Caterina Antonacci, Giasone: Giuseppe Filianoti, Glauce: Cinzia Forte, Creonte: Giovanni Battista Parodi, Neris: Sara Mingardo, Il capo della guardia: Diego Matamoros,…
The second half of the historic Dual/Duel Diva Concert at Carnegie Hall on January 31, 1982. Grace Bumbry and Shirley Verrett Concert Part 2 Concert in Honor of Marian Anderson Verdi: Aida Cilea: Adriana Lecouvreur Verdi: Otello Bellini: Norma Encore of Norma duet Opera Orchestra of New York; Eve Queler. Carnegie Hall, New York, 31…
Sharing the stage another diva in one’s identical fach always puts a girl on her mettle, La Cieca has always said, and no better proof of that just-invented shibboleth is there than this week’s edition of Unnatural Acts of Opera. Grace Bumbry and Shirley Verrett grace the stage of Carnegie Hall on January 31, 1982,…
Some very interesting responses to our previous Regie quiz included a correct one from Melot’s Younger Brother. The opera was indeed Król Roger, a fascinating work which (in audio form) will soon grace Unnatural Acts of Opera. Now, cher public, it’s up to you to decide whether our puzzler this week is the sort of…
The final act of Wagner’s Lohengrin, along with a preview from La Cieca of Monday’s festivities. Lohengrin, Act 3 Â
Undaunted by Hurricane Hannah, La Cieca continues her presentation of Lohengrin at Unnatural Acts of Opera. Lohengrin: Jess Thomas Elsa: Claire Watson Telramund: Walter Berry Ortrud: Christa Ludwig Koenig Heinrich: Martti Talvela Heerrufer: Eberhard Waechter Vienna State Opera, Karl Boehm, 1965. Lohengrin Act 2
In honor of the 158th anniversary of the premiere of Lohengrin, Unnatural Acts of Opera presents a performance of the Wagnerian work from Vienna in 1965 under the baton of Dr. Karl Böhm. Lohengrin, Act 1
La Cieca braves tornado warnings (tornado warnings!) to bring her cher public the final Unnatural Acts of Thomas’ Hamlet. Hamlet Acts 4 and 5
La Cieca puts on the trousers (which is more than she can say for some of the cher public) and highlights her versatility by playing a male role! But even your doyenne’s dulcet speaking voice is no match for Simon Keenlyside‘s robust (ahem!) performance of the operatic Dane. Hamlet Act 3
Another serving of Hamlet, courtesy of Unnatural Acts of Opera. Hamlet (Thomas) Act 2
The grandeur of Unnatural Acts of Opera continues with a podcast of Hamlet by Ambroïse Ambroise Thomas. Hamlet, Act 1 Hamlet: Simon Keenlyside; Claudius: Robert Lloyd; Gertrude: Yvonne Naef; Ophelie: Natalie Dessay; Laerte: Yann Beuron; Le Spectre: Markus Hollop; Marcellus: Edgaras Montvidas; Horatio: Graeme Broadbent; Polonius: Jonathan May; Gravediggers: Darren Jeffery, Matthew Beale. Orchestra of…
Finally, the closing acts of Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots are presented by your dilatory doyenne on Unnatural Acts of Opera. Les Huguenots Acts 4 and 5
As New York City cools down, Unnatural Acts of Opera heats up with the second and third acts of Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots. Les Huguenots, Acts 2 and 3
Since French Grand Opera won the poll, La Cieca will show a little extra love for dear old Richard Strauss in the coming weeks. How better to start the alternative festivities than with a clip from Die Frau ohne Schatten featuring the legendary teaming of Inge Borkh, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Martha Mödl and Ingrid Bjoner? [kml_flashembed…
The polls are closed and the results are in: the winner of this year’s Unnatural Acts of Opera Summer Festival is French Grand Opera. To kick off the festival we have that most grand of all grand operas, Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots. Les Huguenots, Act One Raoul de Nangis – Marcello Giordani Valentine – Annalisa Raspaglosi…
The first two days of polling, 555 of you voted for your choice for the theme of this summer’s Unnatural Acts of Opera Festival. The result: a dead heat at 28% each between the two leading contenders Now comes the runoff, with you, cher public, making the final choice. The polls close Thursday at noon,…
Not a single comment about this week’s podcast? Was La Cieca’s little attempt at humor really so feeble as all that? Or has the cher public tired of Montserrat Caballé‘s Donizetti?
… a dream that is not about a cow, or even about you, baby. But that’s about all it doesn’t involve. Eventually La Cieca gets around to introducing the final act of Lucrezia Borgia and some other stuff. Lucrezia Borgia, Act 2
Tell us: What was the best of 2025?
Parterre Box concludes the thrilling first year of Talk of the Town by inviting your lightning rod opinions on several more categories of operatic argumentation.
