Those of you cher public who ordered and enjoyed Decca’s bargain Wagner box may now be interested in a bargain Puccini edition offered by EMI.

The set, Puccini: The Operas, retails for $59.98 (less than four bucks a disc) and includes complete performances of: 

  • Manon Lescaut (Montserrat Caballe, Placido Domingo, New Philharmonia, Bruno Bartoletti)
  • La boheme (Mirella Freni, Nicolai Gedda, Rome Opera Orchestra, Thomas Schippers)
  • Tosca (Maria Callas, Carlo Bergonzi, Tito Gobbi, Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, Georges Pretre)
  • Madama Butterfly (Victoria de los Angeles, Jussi Bjorling, Rome Opera Orchestra, Gabriele Santini)
  • La fanciulla del West (Birgit Nilsson, Joao Gibin, La Scala Orchestra, Lovro von Matacic)
  • La rondine (Robert Alagna, Angela Gheorghiu, London Symphony Orchestra, Antonio Pappano)
  • Il tabarro (Neil Shicoff, Maria Guleghina, London Symphony Orchestra, Antonio Pappano)
  • Suor Angelica (Cristina Gallardo-Domas, Philharmonia Orchestra, Antonio Pappano)
  • Gianni Schicchi (Tito Gobbi, Victoria de los Angeles, Rome Opera Orchestra, Gabriele Santini)
  • Turandot (Birgit Nilsson, Franco Corelli, Renata Scotto, Rome Opera Orchestra, Francesco Molinari Pradelli)

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.

Comments