summer of love
The Divine Miss Millo sings “Pace, pace” in a concert from August, 1988. (Hey, don’t laugh: we all had hair like that then.)
YouTube
une folle course-poursuite
“Ein Film, das Sie nie vergessen werden,” says the announcer, and this claim may very well be true. Presenting Das Lied der Balalaika, a 1971 attempt by “opera singer” Ivan Rebroff to cross over into… well, it’s difficult to define exactly the genre here. L’homme qui vient de la nuit (as the picture is entitled, […]
happy birthday elena obraztsova
Belated best wishes to the legendary Russian diva, who turned 70 on July 7. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/Ddg2OypBVng” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
webmaestro
This one is dedicated to the wizardly Nick Scholl. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/Y2_u248S9s4″ width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
lohengrenovation?
Trailer for the new Richard Jones production of Lohengrin at the Bavarian State Opera, featuring Jonas Kaufmann‘s role debut as the Swan Knight.
blonde ambition
A snippet of last night’s Traviata from London.
Pina Bausch 1940-2009
The choreographer and opera director died earlier today. She was 68.
ritmo de mambo
Yma Sumac sings Queen of the Night, her way. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/s52AZdm8kVo” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
de l’avenir, donnez-nous des nouvelles
La Cieca has found further proof that time is cyclical. Presenting, from over 60 years ago, a film documentary about a production of Carmen that has not taken place yet — if indeed it ever will!
little myth sunshine
Divine camp from the turn of the century. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/KDJ5X-hdWEM” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
pondmania
Live, from “The Concerthall of Hoorn,” which sounds like a performance venue somewhere in Middle Earth, it’s the return of The Family Pondman! This time Walther and Lonne do a Siegmund/Sieglinde variation on the first act of La bohème.
i sawed what you did
An old clip, but worth reviving: Elizabeth Vidal sings “La méditation de Thaïs.” [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/CM2IYVN-ckY” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
happy birthday jeanette macdonald!
The titian-tressed triller was born 106 years ago today in Philadelphia; appropriately, on Arch Street. Miss MacDonald is heard here in that great, great French grand opera Tsaritsa! [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/a1rI8hcBgIw” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
artificial fire
Rufus Wainwright previews an aria from his opera Prima Donna: “Les feux d’artifice t’appellent: descends dans la rue!”
bella e giovane
First reports indicate major personal successes for Anna Netrebko and Charles Castronovo in last night’s Traviata at San Francisco Opera.
happy birthday rise stevens!
The great mezzo-soprano and advocate for the arts is 96 today! [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/pCYHALudt1k” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /] (The video above is taken from one of Miss Stevens’ occasional appearances with The Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League under the auspices of Mrs. Ricky Ricardo.)
at last!
Cher public, talk among yourselves. La Cieca’s going for a walk!
till the clouds roll by
Is it possible to suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder in the middle of June? La Cieca will lose (what’s left of) her mind if this constant, relentless rain doesn’t let up! [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/NBwXt_06T9w” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
o mon chair amant, je te jure
A snippet from Flatpack: An Opera in Ikea, now playing at the IKEA Wembley, Drury Lane. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/dW2pB7E74eg” width=”425″ height=”261″ wmode=”transparent” /] “The Opera explores issues encountered in everyday modern life and how our consumer decisions and domestic interaction with others are indicators of more profound life choices and personalities. Practically, this focuses on a […]
Happy Birthday, Frederica von Stade!
[kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/o7y3_SZqNi4″ width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
hunger artist
La Cieca’s old, old, old friend Dorothy Bishop launches a revised and heavily retouched version of her show “Sexy, Sassy and Starving!” at Joe’s Pub here in NYC on Saturday, May 30 at 7:30 PM. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/Yr59Cke781M” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
re-enter madame
[kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/HaL0jnNgm4E” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /] That goddess among divas, Madame Vera Galupe-Borszkh, indulges a whim (as divas have been known to do) and returns to grace the stage next week at Symphony Space. Those of you incapable of the hike up to 95th Street may take comfort in the DVD Vera: Life of a […]
ah, cruel, tu m’as trop entendue!
“Miss Susan Alexander, a pretty but hopelessly incompetent amateur, last night opened the new Chicago Opera House in a performance of… (I still can’t pronounce that name, Mr. Kane.) Her singing, happily, is no concern of this department. Of her acting, it is absolutely impossible to say anything except that it represents a new low, […]
Win a Free Ticket to Opening Night at the Met!
Quinn Kelsey and Lise Davidsen star in the Met's new Macbeth. We're giving away one ticket, so screw your courage to the sticking place and enter now!
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).
