Three Metropolitan Opera premieres on this date:

In 1884 Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots (Marcella Sembrich, Italo Campanini and Christine Nilsson singing in Italian)

In 1913 Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov (Adamo Didur, Paul Althouse and Louise Homer singing in Italian)
In 2001 Prokofiev’s The Gambler (Vladimir Galouzine, Olga Guryakova and Elena Obraztsova conducted by Valery Gergiev)
Happy 75th birthday soprano Diana Soviero.

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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