“Ne me refuse pas!”
So, give me three good reasons we should not hear Jamie Barton as the mother of Salomé?
By
La Cieca
As I am sure many of the cher public will recall, La Cieca has long been an advocate of the Metropolitan Opera’s presenting rareish works in concert with starry casts, and how she has (with a little help from Radio France) conceived of an ideal work to anchor a first season of such concerts.
The Met should offer Massenet’s Hérodiade with Nicole Car (Salomé), Jamie Barton (Hérodiade), Matthew Polenzani (Jean), Étienne Dupuis (Hérode) and Christian Van Horn (Phanuel), conducted of course by Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
So, my dears, what are your nominations for that golden combination of neglected work/A-list opera stars you would like to see in concert form at the Met?
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.
