It’s Saturday afternoon, which of course means only one thing, the parterre chat, which today will be focused on Verdi’s Il trovatore, starring, in the demanding dual roles of Leonora and Conte di Luna, Joyce DiDonato

Okay, joke: DiDonato isn’t singing either of those parts today, or ever. Her next Met broadcast appearance won’t be until next week for Ariadne auf Naxos. However, she will be present in spirit during today’s chat, as the marvelous mezzo’s management has graciously agreed to award two “Diva/Divo” t-shirts, autographed by the artist, to a pair of random chatters this afternoon.

La Cieca will hold a virtual drawing from the list of online chatters at two random times during the broadcast time (approximately 1:00 – 3:45 pm) and each of these lucky chatterboxes will receive a shirt.

The chat takes place, as always in La Casa della 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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