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.

Don Carlos Don Carlos

Network Broadcast Premiere of French-language version

on March 26, 2022 at 10:32 AM
Eugene Onegin Eugene Onegin

Ailyn Pérez makes her role debut as Tatiana opposite Igor Golovatenko in the title role of the urbane nobleman who rejects her, much to his later dismay.

on March 25, 2022 at 4:00 PM
Enter the queen Enter the queen

Eleonora Buratto will make her role debut as Elisabeth de Valois in Verdi’s Don Carlo in the 2022–23 season, replacing Anna Netrebko for the first five performances of the run.”

on March 25, 2022 at 12:47 PM
Turandot Turandot

RAI TV5 will televise Ai Weiwei’s production from the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma.

on March 24, 2022 at 12:00 PM
Turandot Turandot

Michael Fabiano makes his role debut as Calaf in this performance from the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma.

on March 22, 2022 at 1:56 PM
Salome Salome

The Bard Conservatory Orchestra joins an exciting principal cast of singers in a semi-staged performance of Richard Strauss’s once infamous, now famous opera, directed by R. B. Schlather.

on March 20, 2022 at 11:00 AM
Rodelinda Rodelinda

Captivating soprano Elza van den Heever sings her first Handel at the Met, making her role debut as the title heroine of the composer’s stunning Baroque drama. Harry Bicket conducts.

on March 19, 2022 at 11:00 AM
Don Carlos Don Carlos

From the Metropolitan Opera, Matthew Polenzani, Sonya Yoncheva, Jamie Barton, Etienne Dupuis, Eric Owens and John Relyea.

on March 18, 2022 at 4:00 PM
A Concert for Ukraine A Concert for Ukraine

Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Ségui will lead the Met Orchestra and Chorus and star soloists.

on March 14, 2022 at 5:07 PM
Aida Aida

Krassimira Stoyanova, Oksana Volkova, Francesco Meli, Georg Zeppenfeld and Quinn Kelsey; conducted by Christian Thielemann.

on March 13, 2022 at 9:00 AM
Ariadne auf Naxos Ariadne auf Naxos

For this live broadcast, Marek Janowski conducts Lise Davidsen, Brandon Jovanovich, Brenda Rae, Sean Michael Plumb and Isabel Leonard.

on March 12, 2022 at 10:00 AM
Rodelinda Rodelinda

Soprano Elza van den Heever makes her role debut as the title heroine. Harry Bicket conducts a cast that also features mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, countertenors Iestyn Davies and Anthony Roth Costanzo, tenor Paul Appleby, and bass-baritone Adam Plachetka.

on March 11, 2022 at 4:41 PM
The Met supports Ukraine The Met supports Ukraine

The Metropolitan Opera announced today “A Concert for Ukraine” on Monday, March 14, at 6:00pm ET, with Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin leading the Met Orchestra and Chorus.

on March 07, 2022 at 2:50 PM
Peter Grimes Peter Grimes

The Bayerische Staatsoper streams its new production of Britten’s tragedy. Conductor: Edward Gardner.  Production: Stefan Herheim.

on March 06, 2022 at 12:15 AM
La fille du régiment La fille du régiment

From January 6, 1973:  Richard Bonynge; Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Regina Resnik, Fernando Corena

on March 05, 2022 at 12:26 PM
“He’s not gay, he’s just autistic” “He’s not gay, he’s just autistic”

“Plus, he never laid a glove on those kids.” — Jonas Kaufmann, probably.

on March 04, 2022 at 1:47 PM
The Met and Anna Netrebko part ways The Met and Anna Netrebko part ways

“It is a great artistic loss for the Met and for opera,” said Met General Manager Peter Gelb.

on March 03, 2022 at 11:15 AM
A word from our sponsors A word from our sponsors

Thanks once again to our advertisers, who make free access to parterre box possible.

on March 01, 2022 at 11:24 AM
Anna: ‘Au revoir’ Anna: ‘Au revoir’

In a busy flurry of Instagram posts earlier today, Anna Netrebko announced a temporary withdrawal from her performing career.

on March 01, 2022 at 10:57 AM
Our retrospection will be all to the future Our retrospection will be all to the future

The Met’s new season, including Medea with Sondra Radvanovsky, set parterrian tongues wagging during the month of February 2022.

on March 01, 2022 at 10:37 AM
Don Carlos Don Carlos

Yannick Nézet-Séguin leads Matthew Polenzani in the title role, Sonya Yoncheva as Élisabeth de Valois, Jamie Barton as Eboli, Etienne Dupuis as Rodrigue, Eric Owens as Philippe II and John Relyea as the Grand Inquisitor.

on February 28, 2022 at 12:30 PM
Groundbreaking Artists on the Air Groundbreaking Artists on the Air

Highlights showcase the Met’s most revered African American stars.

on February 26, 2022 at 10:00 AM
The Metropolitan Opera’s 2022-2023 season announcement The Metropolitan Opera’s 2022-2023 season announcement

The Metropolitan Opera’s 2022-2023 season will offer seven new productions including the world-premiere staging of The Hours and the company premieres of Champion and Medea.

on February 23, 2022 at 12:00 PM
Antonietta Stella 1929-2022 Antonietta Stella 1929-2022

The celebrated Italian soprano died yesterday. She was 92.

on February 23, 2022 at 9:54 AM