Different people look at things from different points of view: a fact so familiar it’s the refrain of one of the songs from the beloved music musical Lost Horizon. So La Cieca will have no quarrels if you don’t agree with her choices of must-see programming for the upcoming week.

How often do you get a chance to hear Honegger’s Jeanne d’Arc au bûcher anyway? So Carnegie Hall is the place to be tonight. On November 20, catch Juilliard’s last performance of Kommilitonen!, worth a listen even without any impromptu “epilogue” by Occupy protesters. November 21 is a rare dark night, cherish it. November 22 sees the return of Zeffirelli’s Bohème to the Met; those sets can’t last forever. Maybe Renée Fleming will pull herself together for Rodelinda at the Met on the 23rd; if not, there’s always Andreas Scholl and Iestyn Davies to tickle your fancy. For Thanksgiving Day on the 24, La Cieca suggests you organize a flash mob to sing the “Pilgrim’s Chorus” from Tannhäuser and post a video of the event on YouTube; staged from Hanson’s Merry Mount are also acceptable. And on Friday the 25th, those of you who can’t sneak into the final dress rehearsal of the Met’s Faust might consider hitting TKTS for discounts seats to Follies on Broadway, an imperfect revival but a rare chance to see La Cieca’s favorite musical.

More details of the week on the New York Opera Calendar.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87OOjDc51x0&start=10

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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