Cold and flu season starts a little early this year, as the Met’s press office reports “Wolfgang Koch has withdrawn from the Metropolitan Opera’s fall performances of Puccini’s Tosca, due to illness. Zeljko Lucic will now sing the role of Scarpia in the season premiere performance on October 25, and Claudio Sgura will sing the remaining six performances of the fall run.”

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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