bizarro_worldFar over on the Upper West Side of Manhattan exists an amazing marvel of the cosmos… the Metropolitan Opera. It is where the opera Tosca is being “prepared” for performance only few days from now.  

The Metropolitan Opera is a whacky version of Earth civilization: here junk is treasure, people say “goodbye” when they arrive, and Bryn Terfel is the only singer to show up reliably for rehearsals.

Well, that’s what La Cieca hears anyway, not the bit about junk is treasure maybe, but, yes, of all people, Terfel has been in town and working hard for over a week now. Meanwhile, maestro Fabio Luisi is due sometime after tomorrow’s final dress, Pat Racette has missed at least one rehearsal (reportedly due to a diva moment) and nobody seems to know where Jonas Kaufmann is. (In the meantime, Marcello Giordani is returning from Rome au pied chaud!)

Keep an eye on this space, cher public, because sometime tells La Cieca there there is going to be some of that “Because Of” illness going a round in the next couple of days.

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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