Listening and discussion begin at 2:00 PM.

Today’s broadcast documents a performance I attended—to date my only in-person encounter with the District of Columbia’s always interesting and ambitious Washington Concert Opera whose twice-a-season presentations of lesser-performed works have taken up—along with Boston’s Odyssey Opera—where Queler’s now-defunct organization left off. . . .

I haven’t heard Fabiano very often in person but this Corsaro along with a stirring I Lombardi the year before with Angela Meade at Avery Fisher Hall and one of OONY’s final efforts, were both exceptionally fine. But it seems the tenor may be leaving his early Verdi (which recently included Carlo in Giovanna d’Arco in Madrid) for heavier roles with Don Carlo upcoming next month in Paris and during the summer at Covent Garden. Rumors suggest Un Ballo in Maschera and others may be arriving next.

Verdi: Il Corsaro
Washington Concert Opera
9 March 2014
Broadcast

Medora — Nicole Cabell
Gulnàra — Tamara Wilson
Corrado — Michael Fabiano
Seid — Sebastian Catana
Selimo — Patrick Toomey
Giovanni — Eduardo Castro

Conductor — Anthony Walker

This recording was removed at the request of Washington Concert Opera.

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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