La Cieca is singing the praises of her namesake la la, a website that coordinates the trading of previously owned CDs. This is how it works: you list your unwanted CDs on the site, then you select from the 1.8 million titles other members are willing to trade. Every time you choose a disc to be sent, you pay a dollar plus 49 cents postage; every time someone asks for one of your discs, you just drop it in a prepaid mailer. And from that dollar you send to la la, 20 cents will go to the not-for-profit “Z” Foundation, whose mission is to help provide health and dental care for working musicians. Now, the question you’re no doubt asking is, will I find anything on la la that I want to add to my collection? Well, a quick search for Wagner’s Ring yields over 600 ready-to-trade matches, including such goodies as the 1956 Hans Knappertsbusch Bayreuth version on Melodram. Give la la a try, then let La Cieca know how it works for you. And start dreaming about how you’ll use all that shelf space you’ve cleared out!

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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