La Cieca is as puzzled as everyone else about the mysterious disappearance of the DGG DVD of Don Giovanni (Met telecast with Terfel, Fleming, Levine – you know the one). The disc was released on May 10, then only days later DGG recalled it. Now there’s not a copy to be bought anywhere, and early adopters are carefully hoarding what promises to be a major collector’s item. So what happened? Is there a glitch in the subtitles? Was Terfel’s incessant cooch-grabbing considered too TV-14 for wide release? Does Jimmy want to go back and do it over with slower tempi? Or is this some clever marketing ploy to motivate operalovers to inflate opening weekend numbers?

La Cieca

James Jorden (who wrote under the names "La Cieca" and "Our Own JJ") was the founder and editor of parterre box. During his 20 year career as an opera critic he wrote for the New York Times, Opera, Gay City News, Opera Now, Musical America and the New York Post. He also raised his voice in punditry on National Public Radio. From time to time he directed opera, including three unsuccessful productions of Don Giovanni. He also contributed a regular column on opera for the New York Observer. James died in October 2023.

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