La Cieca

James Jorden (who writes under the names "La Cieca" and "Our Own JJ") is the founder and editor of parterre box. During his 20 year career as an opera critic he has written for the New York Times, Opera, Gay City News, Opera Now, Musical America and the New York Post. He has also raised his voice in punditry on National Public Radio. From time to time he has directed opera, including three unsuccessful productions of Don Giovanni, a work he hopes to return to someday. Currently he alternates his doyenne duties with writing a weekly column on opera for the New York Observer.


O, swear not by the moon O, swear not by the moon

“For this evening’s performance of Norma (March 22, 2023), Norma will now be sung by Helena Dix, replacing Sonya Yoncheva.”

on March 22, 2023 at 11:56 AM
Virginia Zeani 1925-2023 Virginia Zeani 1925-2023

We have just read the sad news.

on March 20, 2023 at 9:49 PM
Lohengrin Lohengrin

“I greatly enjoyed the musical interpretation as a whole, even if I felt that many of the singers seemed a little lost, mismatched, or out-of-place in François Girard’s production.”

on March 18, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Falstaff Falstaff

“In its current Met revival, happily, Falstaff has everything it needs.”

on March 16, 2023 at 5:13 PM
If it makes you happy If it makes you happy

Protean Anna Netrebko has booked her first performances of Ponchielli’s La Gioconda .

on March 16, 2023 at 10:28 AM
La traviata La traviata

Angel Blue’s “experience in the role shows as the voice sails over the arching lines of Verdi’s cantilena like liquid velvet.”

on March 11, 2023 at 12:00 PM
Norma Norma

Celebrate International Women’s Day 2023 with a broadcast of Bellini’s masterpiece.

on March 08, 2023 at 1:07 PM
Voyna i mir Voyna i mir

Vladimir Jurowski conducts a new production by Dmitri Tcherniakov of Prokofiev’s epic. Streamed live from the Bayerische Staatsoper.

on March 05, 2023 at 8:00 AM
La favorita La favorita

Today’s “Listeners’ Choice” is a broadcast of Donizetti’s opera from March 11, 1978.

on March 04, 2023 at 11:19 AM
Lohengrin Lohengrin

Piotr Beczala is the Grail Knight in tonight’s live broadcast.

on March 02, 2023 at 4:00 PM
This used to be the future This used to be the future

Like all true opera queens, the parterrians live in the time to come. Thus this month’s #1 most read post!

on March 01, 2023 at 12:55 PM
Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

Performance from October 12, 2022.

on February 25, 2023 at 10:00 AM
The Metropolitan Opera’s 2023-2024 season announcment The Metropolitan Opera’s 2023-2024 season announcment

Six contemporary operas, including four Metropolitan premieres, headline the company’s upcoming season, which was announced today at noon.

on February 22, 2023 at 12:00 PM
Don Carlo Don Carlo

A live recording of the four-act version of Verdi’s opera from the fall.

on February 18, 2023 at 10:03 AM
The old work of genius The old work of genius

On this day in 1918 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Bellini’s I puritani featuring soprano Maria Barrientos.

on February 18, 2023 at 8:58 AM
Salome Salome

A live video stream of a new production of Strauss’s opera from the Vienna State Opera.

on February 12, 2023 at 12:00 PM
Emotional vitality Emotional vitality

On this day in 1958 soprano Gloria Davy made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Aida.

on February 12, 2023 at 6:00 AM
Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci

A historic performance from 1970 featuring Leonard Bernstein conducting Grace Bumbry and Franco Corelli in Cavalleria Rusticana, and Fausto Cleva conducting Teresa Stratas and Richard Tucker in Pagliacci.

on February 11, 2023 at 10:00 AM
Rather disarming Rather disarming

On this day in 1968 mezzo-soprano Fiorenza Cossotto made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Amneris.

on February 06, 2023 at 6:00 AM
Macbeth Macbeth

In this historic Met broadcast from 50 years ago, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli leads Sherrill Milnes and Martina Arroyo.

on February 04, 2023 at 10:00 AM
Giulio Cesare Giulio Cesare

Emmanuelle Haïm and Calixto Bieito collaborate on a new production of Handel’s opera seria from the Dutch National Opera.

on February 02, 2023 at 8:00 AM
Post of great Price Post of great Price

The ineffable Miss Leontyne Price, anthologized as a subject for Chris’s Cache, swept the board in January 2023.

on February 01, 2023 at 11:42 AM
Aida Aida

Recorded at the Vienna State Opera earlier this month: Anna Netrebko sings her first Aida and Jonas Kaufmann his first Radames at the Vienna State Opera, Elina Garanca makes her long-awaited debut as Amneris, Luca Salsi can be heard as Amonasro.

on January 29, 2023 at 10:49 AM
I vespri siciliani I vespri siciliani

This new production of Verdi’s grand opera will star Piero Pretti, Marina Rebeka, Luca Micheletti and Simon Lim.

on January 28, 2023 at 10:00 AM
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