“A Christmas Carol by Iain Bell… Dickens authority Simon Callow… Sir Nicholas Hytner’s Magic Flute and Lee Blakeley’s Sweeney Todd…. John Cox’s Otello… Michael Grandage’s hit staging of Madame Butterfly…. Iain Paterson’s first staged portrayal of Wotan…. Dramatic soprano Susan Bullock, who made waves with her star turn at London’s Last Night of the Proms in 2011, makes her first foray into musical theater in her role debut as Todd’s partner in crime, Mrs. Lovett…. South Africa’s Jacques Imbrailo returns as Guglielmo, a role he has sung to acclaim at Glyndebourne…. New Zealand–born tenor Simon O’Neill…” Wow, English National Opera sure is offering an amazing home-grown season this year… oh, wait.

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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