Positively teeming with sex Positively teeming with sex

One of my absolute favorite later Cole Porter lyrics.

La Cenerentola La Cenerentola

Assuming Facebook and Instagram will remain inaccessible through the evening, here’s something to amuse you meantimes: La Cenerentola from the Teatro Real in Madrid.

Honoring RBG Honoring RBG

A tribute to an “obsessive” opera fan.

Teach me tonight Teach me tonight

Virtual vocal coach Karen takes on the lean, lovely, lustrous larynx of Dusty Pörn.

It started in Naples It started in Naples

The Teatro San Carlo di Napoli’s lavish outdoor concert series continues with Aida featuring Jonas Kaufmann and Anita Rachvelishvili.

Legendary Legendary

A scene from Les Contes d’Hoffmann with Michael Fabiano, which may or may not be seen soon at L’Opéra national de Paris.

It’s now or Neva It’s now or Neva

In preparation for her much-awaited Met debut, Lise Davidsen sings the arioso from Queen of Spades.

Who’s that girl? Who’s that girl?

Here’s a look at the genuinely sensational performance by Asmik Grigorian in a new Manon Lescaut in Frankfurt.

Slow curtain, the end Slow curtain, the end

La Cieca has discovered a document of Plácido Domingo‘s faute de mieux Metropolitan Opera farewell performance.

Oh the ombra of it all! Oh the ombra of it all!

The expression “gayer than eight guys fucking nine guys” gets thrown around a lot these days…

Of course it is happening inside your head, but why on earth should that mean it is not real? Of course it is happening inside your head, but why on earth should that mean it is not real?

Jakub Józef Orlinski as Harry Potter!

Cult of personality Cult of personality

She makes it into a mash-up of Cours-la-Reine and “A Great Lady Has An Interview.”

Conception Conception

Your doyenne’s origin myth must always be understood to begin with the bite of a radioactive soprano way back in 1976.

Fish are jumping Fish are jumping

The ever-astonishing Cecilia Bartoli riffs on the Gershwins’ “Summertime.”

Rodelinda warrior Rodelinda warrior

Ardent, astonishing, animated Anthony Roth Costanzo has just unveiled the music video for “Vivi, tiranno.”

You mean the butcher, Grandma You mean the butcher, Grandma

La Cieca wishes to be among the first to congratulate Jessye Norman, who has emerged from semi-retirement to leap upon the musical theater bandwagon.

“Ah, mascalzone, presto in prigione! Suzuki, il thè” “Ah, mascalzone, presto in prigione! Suzuki, il thè”

Here’s a set of comments that I think really captures the duality of YouTube — two criticisms of Jonas Kaufmann. I won’t say which I personally find more valid! 

The queen’s speech The queen’s speech

Legendary diva and long-time friend of parterre box Aprile Millo offers a gracious and witty speech in acceptance of the Verdi d’Oro Prize in Busseto.

A Roman under the influence A Roman under the influence

It seems everyone is raving over Calixto Bieito‘s production of L’incoronazione di Poppea at Opernhaus Zürich.

The Royal Opera House’s production of La bohéme (featuring Matthew Polenzani as Rodolfo) goes live on YouTube at 2:15 this afternoon.

From the vault From the vault

La Cieca is delighted to remind her cher public that the parterre YouTube page (called operazine) has been newly refurbished and updated.

Prodigy Prodigy

Maria Callas’s most outstanding Adalgisa, out of all she partnered with, was Fiorenza Cossotto.

You go to my head You go to my head

Finally, medical science offers the answer to the conundrum that has baffled opera fans for decades: what was Renée Fleming thinking?

Tales of the Bavarian baloney pony Tales of the Bavarian baloney pony

In November, everyone wanted to hear more about Jonas Kaufmann‘s Johnson.