Video: Celebrating James Jorden Video: Celebrating James Jorden

The parterre team is glad to make available a professionally produced recording of the February 3rd memorial held in honor of parterre box founder James Jorden

on February 16, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Celebrating James Jorden on February 3 Celebrating James Jorden on February 3

Members of cher public are reminded that the upcoming celebration of the life and legacy of parterre box founder James Jorden will be held one week from today (February 3) at 2 PM EST in Adler Hall at the Society for Ethical Culture in New York City.

on January 27, 2024 at 12:00 PM
Yes. I remember Aldeburgh– Yes. I remember Aldeburgh–

Born on this day in 1913 composer Benjamin Britten

on November 22, 2023 at 6:00 AM
Queer and dangerous and exciting Queer and dangerous and exciting

Zack Woolfe of The New York Times remembers James Jorden

on October 04, 2023 at 2:08 PM
James Jorden, 1954-2023 James Jorden, 1954-2023

The writers of the Box and James’s friends are saddened to announce the death of the inimitable founder of Parterre Box

on October 03, 2023 at 5:00 PM
Mattila, two ways Mattila, two ways

“I have almost forgotten what it felt like to sit in a velvet seat at the Met, surrounded by people coughing.”

on July 27, 2020 at 12:43 PM
Teen titans Teen titans

Of the hundreds of opera performances Our Own JJ (not pictured) attended in the 2010s he narrows it down to the ten most glittering highlights.

on December 25, 2019 at 1:05 PM
Out code Out code

Joining the talking and singing heads of Aria Code is Our Own JJ, deconstructing “Mon coeur s’ouvre a ta voix.”

on January 02, 2019 at 9:46 AM
The finale countdown The finale countdown

Our Own JJ catches up with the tail end of the Met season.

on April 30, 2018 at 3:23 PM
An evening in the Sewers An evening in the Sewers

Mean, moody, magnificent Matt Baume (left) hosts a live version of his celebrated podcast The Sewers of Paris this afternoon beginning at 5:00 PM Eastern time.

on February 10, 2018 at 1:55 PM
Heather on the ‘shrill’ Heather on the ‘shrill’

Opera originalist Heather MacDonald is at it again, describing Our Own JJ as “New York’s shrillest advocate for revisionist opera productions.”

on January 20, 2018 at 3:33 PM
You’ve got to climb Mount Everest You’ve got to climb Mount Everest

In this Sunday’s New York Times, Our Own JJ (not pictured except in spirit) examines why Bellini’s Norma should be considered “the Everest of Opera.”

on September 20, 2017 at 11:22 AM
Paul’s campaign Paul’s campaign

Gregory SpearsPaul’s Case is on the way to being commercially recorded.

on September 13, 2017 at 12:14 PM
Mimecraft Mimecraft

Our Own JJ (not pictured) muses on the difficulty of staging Mozart’s greatest opera in his latest piece for the New York Times.

on August 11, 2017 at 5:45 PM
Panache room Panache room

“Roberto Alagna has found his most congenial and emotionally moving role yet: Cyrano de Bergerac.”

on May 03, 2017 at 6:19 PM
I got through all of last year, and I’m here I got through all of last year, and I’m here

“James Jorden always wanted to direct, but when he first moved to New York the closest he could get to the stage was in a low-paying job sweeping up bobby pins.”

on March 23, 2017 at 12:45 PM
Leading lady Leading lady

“She not only sang the difficult leading role, she also directed the opera.”

on February 15, 2017 at 2:24 PM
Women beware women Women beware women

Prototype: Opera/Theatre/Now presented new works in which women were variously gang-raped, eviscerated and executed by firing squad.

on January 10, 2017 at 11:43 AM
The young and the restless The young and the restless

“We want to figure out how to create a nationwide change in how people think opera can be done. \“

on December 07, 2016 at 9:21 AM
Alla pompa che si appresta meco, o schiava, assisterai Alla pompa che si appresta meco, o schiava, assisterai

The celebrated ‘Triumph’ scene… borders on homoerotic porn.

on November 09, 2016 at 3:23 PM
Incomplete artwork Incomplete artwork

“He towered over the listless supporting cast like Daniel Day-Lewis guest-starring in a marionette show.”

on October 06, 2016 at 9:21 AM
Same old, same old Same old, same old

“Just as every downtown shopping street in every major American city now features the same familiar retailers’ names, New York City Opera has no particular artistic identity different from, say, Opera Carolina.”

on September 16, 2016 at 3:58 PM
All fall down All fall down

La Cieca (pictured) asks, what are your eight (or even 10) can’t-miss opera events for the fall?

on August 24, 2016 at 8:10 AM
People may say I can’t write, but no one can ever say I didn’t write People may say I can’t write, but no one can ever say I didn’t write

An aging eccentric—who has for decades occupied a dubious place on the fringes of New York’s musical life—today saw a lifelong dream fulfilled.

on August 09, 2016 at 4:58 PM