Great ladyGiven the number of startling developments in the world of opera as faithfully reported here on parterre box, the most-read stories in April were mostly news, with a little gossip thrown in. Far and away the most popular post this month was Dark of the moon, about Anna Netrebko‘s serial cancellations of her performances of the role of Norma, with 14,302 pageviews. The complete top ten for the month follows the jump. 

  1. Dark of the moon (Anna cancels Norma.)
  2. “Das Ende! Das Ende!” (James Levine retires.)
  3. She never sings anything twice (Angela Gheorghiu goes missing.)
  4. Bleak house (Elektra, reviewed.)
  5. Not only with words, but with lively gestures (Survey of Elektra on video.)
  6. Anvil chorus (Rupert Christiansen‘s knickers twisted. Again.)
  7. Why have you kept me waiting so long? (Kathleen Battle returns to the Met.)
  8. Young guns (Yannick Nézet-Séguin for Met musical director?)
  9. Number one with a bullet (Jonas Kaufmann sings Der Freischütz.)
  10. Shake rattle and role (Anniversary of San Francisco earthquake.)

And here’s a handy chart of day-to-day traffic during the month:

May 2016

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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