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.
“The Met: Live in HD concluded its tenth anniversary season Saturday with a live transmission of Patrice Chéreau’s acclaimed production of Elektra, with an estimated attendance of 48,000 in North America earning a gross of $1,037,000.”
La Cieca would like to ask that you faithful readers take a moment to post your favorite parterre stories on social media.
The most-read stories in April were mostly news, with a little gossip thrown in.
La Cieca (not pictured) welcomes you, cher public, to the real-time chat for this afternoon’s Met broadcast (and HD!) of Elektra, starting at 12:55 PM.
“It started out as something of a dinner party crowd-pleaser.”
Anna Netrebko has withdrawn from the Met’s Norma scheduled for opening night 2017
Welcome, cher public, to the real-time chat for tonight’s Met broadcast of La boheme, starting at 7:25 PM.
Welcome, cher public, to the real-time chat (pictured) for this afternoon’s Met broadcast of Otello, starting at 1:00 PM.
Welcome, cher public, to the real-time chat (pictured) for this evening’s Met broadcast of Die Entführung aus dem Serail, starting at 7:25 PM.
Here’s an extended clip of what the recent concert tour by Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov sounded like.
Welcome, cher public, to the real-time chat for this evening’s Met broadcast of Elektra, starting at 7:55 PM.
La Cieca will go out on limb and predict that the Met’s new music director will be Yannick Nezet-Seguin.
“Maestro James Levine, the Met’s Music Director since 1976, announced that after 40 years in the position, he will retire at the end of the current season, for health reasons,” says the Met press office.
“I currently await, with trepidation, something set in the lavatories of a gay night club,”.”
Welcome, cher public, to the real-time chat for this afternoon’s Met broadcast of Simon Boccanegra, starting at 12:30 PM.
Soprano Ailyn Pérez has been named the recipient of the 11th annual Beverly Sills Artist Award for young singers at the Metropolitan Opera.
La Cieca would have taken him for a leg man, but Roberto Alagna has other ideas.
La Cieca hears that Joseph Calleja will sing Pollione opposite the Norma of Anna Netrebko at the Met for opening night 2017.
“Over the years, I have often been asked why I feel my sexuality is anyone’s business and why I am so open about it in print.”
Soprano Kathleen Battle will return to the stage of the Metropolitan Opera for the first time in more than two decades when she sings a recital there November 13.
The weekly “Montag mit Marianne” stream continues with a performance of Szymanowski’s Krol Roger.
Soprano Tamara Wilson has been named as winner of the 2016 Richard Tucker Award.
“This story has been revised to correct production was Giancarlo del Monaco‘s, not Elijah Moshinsky‘s.”
Welcome, cher public, to the real-time chat for this afternoon’s Met broadcast and HD of Madama Butterfly, starting at 1:00 PM.
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