Catherine Malfitano just doesn’t slow down. In recent seasons she’s expanded her repertoire to include a bewildering variety of roles: Kundry, Minnie, Carmen, Blitzstein’s Regina, Herodias, the Kostelnicka, Elle in La Voix Humaine (that’s her in the picture). She’s taught master classes. She’s performed a cabaret at Joe’s Pub here in New York. And now she’s directing her first opera, Madama Butterfly at the Central City Opera House — incidentally the site of her professional debut as an opera singer back in 1972 (Nannetta in Falstaff). The Butterfly production, featuring Maria Kanyova in the title role, opens tomorrow night. Cathy, as usual not at a loss for words, talks about her new role as regisseuse in The Rocky Mountain News. The season at Central City also includes Emily Pulley‘s first Vanessa, starting July 2.
In questa regia
By La Cieca 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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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.