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.


The Magic Flute The Magic Flute

“The Met’s abridged, English-language version of Mozart’s magical fairy tale is a classic holiday treat for audiences of all ages.”

on December 18, 2021 at 12:00 PM
Cinderella Cinderella

Presented with an all-new English translation in an abridged 90 minutes, with mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard as its rags-to-riches princess.

on December 17, 2021 at 4:05 PM
Tosca Tosca

Yannick Nézet-Séguin leads Sondra Radvanovsky (Tosca), Brian Jagde (Cavaradossi), George Gagnidze (Scarpia) and Patrick Carfizzi (Sacristan).

on December 11, 2021 at 11:52 AM
The Magic Flute The Magic Flute

Rolando Villazón makes an exciting role debut as the lovable lout Papageno.”

on December 10, 2021 at 5:43 PM
Macbeth Macbeth

Riccardo Chailly conducts a new production of Verdi’s tragedy featuring Luca Salsi, Anna Netrebko, Ildar Abdrazakov and Francesco Meli.

on December 07, 2021 at 10:49 AM
Don Giovanni Don Giovanni

Featured in a new Barrie Kosky production: Kyle Ketelsen, Ain Anger, Hanna-Elisabeth Müller, Stanislas de Barbeyrac, Kate Lindsey, Philippe Sly, Patricia Nolz and Peter Kellner.

on December 05, 2021 at 11:13 AM
Eurydice Eurydice

Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Erin Morley (Eurydice), Joshua Hopkins (Orpheus), Jakub Józef Orlinski (Orpheus’s Double), Nathan Berg (Father) and Barry Banks (Hades).

on December 04, 2021 at 12:00 PM
Tosca Tosca

Yannick Nézet-Séguin leads Sondra Radvanovsky (Tosca), Brian Jagde (Cavaradossi), George Gagnidze (Scarpia) and  Patrick Carfizzi (Sacristan).

on December 02, 2021 at 3:54 PM
Coasting on Bohemia Coasting on Bohemia

The Met’s antiquated production of La bohéme proved as popular with our readers as  it did with audiences last  month!

on December 01, 2021 at 10:26 AM
La traviata La traviata

Lisette Oropesa stars in Verdi’s tragic masterpiece at the Royal Opera House, with Liparit Avetisyan and Christian Gerhaher.

on November 27, 2021 at 1:31 PM
Stephen Sondheim 1930-2021 Stephen Sondheim 1930-2021

The master of Broadway musical theater died suddenly earlier today at his home in Connecticut.

on November 26, 2021 at 5:12 PM
Eurydice Eurydice

Matthew Aucoin and librettist Sarah Ruhl’s reimagination of the ancient Orpheus myth, told from Eurydice’s point of view. Erin Morley stars in the title role, with Yannick Nézet-Séguin on the podium.

on November 23, 2021 at 5:10 PM
Theodora Theodora

A concert performance featuring Lisette Oropesa, Joyce DiDonato and Michael Spyres, with Il Pomo d’Oro Choir and Orchestra conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev.

on November 22, 2021 at 12:00 PM
“It’s just that she loves too much” “It’s just that she loves too much”

Born on this day in 1920 actress Gene Tierney.

on November 19, 2021 at 10:15 AM
The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess

The classic American opera features many artists from the triumphant 2019–20 production’s Grammy Award-winning cast. Eric Owens and Angel Blue star as the title couple, with conductor David Robertson on the podium.

on November 18, 2021 at 6:30 PM
La bohème La bohème

Conductor Eun Sun Kim, who became music director of San Francisco Opera this fall, makes her Met debut.

on November 09, 2021 at 5:44 PM
Porgy and Bess Porgy and Bess

The classic American opera features many artists from the triumphant 2019–20 production’s Grammy Award-winning cast. Eric Owens and Angel Blue star as the title couple, with conductor David Robertson on the podium.

on November 03, 2021 at 7:14 PM
Edmea Edmea

Wexford Festival Opera 2021 presents Alfredo Catalani’s Edmea.

on October 30, 2021 at 11:56 AM
Adriana Lecouvreur Adriana Lecouvreur

Ermonela Jaho, Elina Garanca, Brian Jagde and Nicola Alaimo star in a live performance from the Vienna State Opera.

on October 29, 2021 at 9:55 AM
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

Antonio Pappano conducts Michael Volle, Lise Davidsen, Klaus Florian Vogt and Johannes Martin Kränzle.

on October 26, 2021 at 4:29 PM
Hey, babe Hey, babe

Born on this day in 1946 actress and superstar Holly Woodlawn.

on October 26, 2021 at 8:50 AM
Lucrezia Borgia Lucrezia Borgia

In tribute to Edita Gruberova, a 2010 performance of one of her favorite later-career vehicles, Lucrezia Borgia.

on October 24, 2021 at 11:29 AM
Fire Shut Up in My Bones Fire Shut Up in My Bones

An audio stream of tonight’s sold-out Met performance.

on October 19, 2021 at 4:00 PM
Disjointed Disjointed

La Cieca hears that Anna Netrebko has cancelled her November performances of Nabucco in Vienna to schedule shoulder surgery.

on October 19, 2021 at 11:44 AM
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