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.


Edita Gruberova 1946-2021 Edita Gruberova 1946-2021

The Slovak soprano, whose career spanned more than 50 years, died yesterday in Zurich. She was 74.

on October 19, 2021 at 7:45 AM
Turandot Turandot

Christine Goerke and Yusif Eyvazov star in a live broadcast from the Met.

on October 12, 2021 at 5:49 PM
Broadway baby Broadway baby

Happy 53rd birthday to actress, comedian and singer Jane Krakowski.

on October 11, 2021 at 8:00 AM
Jenufa Jenufa

Asmik Grigorian as Jenufa in her Covent Garden debut and Karita Mattila as the Kostelnicka lead a star cast with conductor Henrik Nánási.

on October 09, 2021 at 11:54 AM
Jazzing around and painting the town Jazzing around and painting the town

Born on this day in 1880 singer and vaudevillian Nora Bayes.

on October 08, 2021 at 10:00 AM
Boris Godunov Boris Godunov

Bass René Pape, the world’s reigning Boris, reprises his overwhelming portrayal of the tortured tsar caught between grasping ambition and crippling paranoia. The original 1869 version runs two-and-a-quarter hours with no intermission.

on October 05, 2021 at 5:34 PM
La Cenerentola La Cenerentola

Assuming Facebook and Instagram will remain inaccessible through the evening, here’s something to amuse you meantimes: La Cenerentola from the Teatro Real in Madrid.

on October 04, 2021 at 4:06 PM
Nerone Nerone

This rare performance of Arrigo Boito‘s sprawling Roman epic was recorded at the Bregenz Festival in July 2021.

on October 02, 2021 at 11:00 AM
Great balls of ‘Fire’ Great balls of ‘Fire’

The Met’s premiere of Terence Blanchard‘s Fire Shut Up in My Bones dominated the top ten list of most popular articles on parterre box in September.

on October 01, 2021 at 12:35 PM
Fire Shut Up in My Bones Fire Shut Up in My Bones

The Metropolitan Opera’s opening night for 2021 features the the historic company premiere of Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones.

on September 27, 2021 at 2:35 PM
Standing in the shadow of love Standing in the shadow of love

Pop culture diva Kim Kardashian seized the opportunity of Sunday night’s Met gala to perform a scene from a lesser-known Richard Strauss opera, Der Schatten ohne Frau.

on September 15, 2021 at 8:15 AM
Valiant is the word for Gladys Valiant is the word for Gladys

Born on this day in 1904 actress Gladys George.

on September 13, 2021 at 12:39 AM
Salome Salome

Simone Young conducts a new production by Andreas Homoki from the Opernhaus Zürich.

on September 12, 2021 at 10:03 AM
String of pearls String of pearls

Born on this day in 1938 mezzo-soprano Tatiana Troyanos.

on September 12, 2021 at 6:23 AM
Requiem Requiem

In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the Met presents Verdi’s Requiem, with Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducting the extraordinary Met Orchestra and Chorus.

on September 11, 2021 at 4:52 PM
Disney princess Disney princess

Born on this day in 1919 dancer Marge Champion.

on September 02, 2021 at 8:00 AM
Gamine attractions Gamine attractions

On this day in 1951, the film An American in Paris debuted in London.

on August 26, 2021 at 10:21 AM
Met, Orchestra reach agreement Met, Orchestra reach agreement

A new collective bargaining agreement between the Metropolitan Opera and its orchestra, the last of the Met’s three largest unions to reach an agreement, was ratified today.

on August 24, 2021 at 12:48 PM
Gala Rossini Gala Rossini

Featuring Juan Diego Flórez, Marina Monzó, Marta Pluda, Manuel Amati, Giorgio Caoduro, Nicolò Donini, Matteo Roma, Sergey Romanovsky, Pietro Spagnoli and Jack Swanson.

on August 22, 2021 at 11:50 AM
While you were sleeping While you were sleeping

Jennifer Hudson “honors” Aretha Franklin by singing “Nessun dorma.”

on August 21, 2021 at 6:37 PM
Götterdämmerung Götterdämmerung

Frank Castorf’s staging of the Ring, premiered in 2013 and filmed in 2016, provoked controversy right from the beginning. Marek Janowski’s musical reading was unanimously praised

on August 21, 2021 at 11:25 AM
Run for cover Run for cover

The cover for Anna Netrebko‘s new CD is…

on August 20, 2021 at 10:40 AM
Diane Zola departs Diane Zola departs

La Cieca has received a copy of a message, apparently from the Metropolitan Opera, announcing the departure of Diane Zola from the company.

on August 19, 2021 at 6:34 PM
Benjamin Bernheim in recital Benjamin Bernheim in recital

From the Salzburg Festival, the tenor sings sings Chausson, Schumann, Brahms and Britten, with Mathieu Pordoy.

on August 17, 2021 at 10:09 AM
Page 11 of 2911...789101112131415...291