Our Own Betsy (seen at left in an “unretouched” photo) declares, “Good evening, horror-lovers, and welcome to Tales from the Box.  This is your Olde Box-Keeper with a gruesome fewsome to feed your screamin’ Mimìs.  Tonight we pay tribute to the upcoming prima at the Met of Fausit, in which an old man pays for a roll in the hay with the village virgin by spending eternity listening to a drippy tap in the next apartment.”  

11:00-2:15 LRT KLASIKA: MITRIDENTALDATE from Munich — 3 F.K. — Listen to Barry Banks without novocaine!

11:00-1:00 NRK KLASSISK : A Gerald Finley rectal — 2 F.K. Amateur proctology is all the rage in the Home Counties, right, Vicar?

1:00-3:00 CONCERTZENDER: Wilhelm de Fesch’s JOSEPH — No data to rate.  Potiphar’s wife wouldn’t be so bad if she had a little less phar in her pot.

1:00-5:00 FRANCE MUSIQUE: DECAPULETI E I MONTECCHI from Lyon — 3 F.K. Any more of Evelino Pido’s conducting and you’ll be praying for the blade to fall.

1:00-4:00 NRK KLASSIK and NRK P2: Tchaikovsly’s VOYEVODA — No data to rate.  Voy has lost his Voda, and must face the hostility in the village toward the vodaless.

1:00-5:00 RADIO CLASSICA DE ESPANA: Glinka’s RUSTMAN AND CAMILLA – No data to rate.  A dedicated Parterre-poster and her never-ending struggle against deteriorating metal.

1:00-5:00 RTP ANTENA 2: MAN AND LET’S GO – Met, March 23, 1968 — 1 F.K. Marriage to a restless wife proves to be Hell on Earth for a terminal tarrier.

1:00-5:00 VPR, WCLV: PETER GRINDER from Houston — 3 F.K. Not content with ball-busting, Ellen Orford ratchets it up a notch.

1:00-4:30 WETA: TANNHOWSER from Bayreuth, 2011 — 4 F.K. Neil Patrick “Doogie” Harris will never live this one down.

1:00-4:30 WCFL, KBIAZ, WABE: THE FLAYING DUTCHMAN from ROH — 4 F.K. A serial hog-butcher in old New York.
1:00-4:30 WFMT Network: TOSSCAP from Houston — 2 F.K. Annapolis graduates have to assume the identity of the person whose hat they get back.

2:00-4:30 CESKY ROZHLAS VLTAVA: MOSCA – Met, 1962 — 1 F.K.  The tempestuous Roman diva is replaced by the servant guy from Volpone, causing great consternation in the Super Str8 Baron Scarpia.

2:00-4:30 DEUTSCHLANDRADIO KULTUR: THE TURN OF THE THUMBSCREW — 2 F.K. The conductor chooses rrreeeaallll ssllllooowww tempi so that you have to listen to eeevvvrrryyyy note.

2:00-6:00 ESPACE 2: THE MIKADO from Chicago — 3 F.K. “Elliptical billiard balls” says it all.

2:00-6:00 KLARA: L’INFLUENZA DI TITO — 3 F.K. Colin Davis leads this production from Orange, arranged for theorbo and catarrh.

2:00-7:00 LYRIC FM: WHETHER from ROH — 4 F.K.   “Will Villazon make it through it, or will he explode?”

2:00-5:00 RADIO CLOVENIA TRETJI: THE MAKROPULOS CASKET from Florence — 2 F.K. Cooped up in a very small place with Angela Denoke.

2:00-5:30 RADIO STEPHANSDOM: WILLIAM TAIL — 3 F.K.  An arrow in the ass is a helluva way for a father to behave.

Chat (if you dare!) at 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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