By La Cieca 
Says the Met press office, “Gregory Kunde will sing Samson in the March 16, 19, and 23 performances of Saint-Saëns’s Samson et Dalila, replacing Aleksandrs Antonenko, who is ill.”
The press release continues, “[Kunde] made his Met debut in 1987 as des Grieux in Massenet’s Manon followed by performances as Prince Ramiro in Rossini’s La Cenerentola and, in his most recent performance with the company, Arturo in Bellini’s I Puritani in 2007.” [Emphasis added.]
Photo: Ken Howard / Met Opera
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.
Parterre Box concludes the thrilling first year of Talk of the Town by inviting your lightning rod opinions on several more categories of operatic argumentation.
