Broadcast and discussion begin at 1:00 PM EST.

Our Own Eli Jacobson:

Sondra Radvanovsky has always had a controversial voice which is moving and exciting to some listeners and ugly and grating to others.  She is blessed with blazing high notes but also has a bottled middle and lower register with a timbre that is hooded and sometimes opaque in the middle.

The tone leans toward the metallic and dramatic rather than lush beauty.  Her vibrato is not always even or controlled – it can oscillate fast and sharp or slow and flat.  Last night, the vibrato was even and not prominent. The weird, unique and sometimes alienating qualities in the voice suited the character and vocal writing brilliantly.

Photo: Marty Sohl / Met 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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