La Cieca just received the official notice from the Metropolitan Opera that Linda Watson will sing Saturday night’s Isolde.

Your doyenne has received further inside information that the Met has secretly hired an Irish white witch to break the curse on the company’s current staging of the Wagner music drama by setting ablaze the sets and costumes in the prompter box brazier immediately following Saturday night’s performance.  The ceremony will be observed by as many of the singers who have performed Tristan and Isolde in this production as can fit into List Hall.

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