The blind leading the blind
Which usually calm superstar’s running, jumping or standing (not to mention conducting) will have to be put on hold for at least two weeks while he goes under the knife at a Manhattan hospital?
La Cieca
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.
Where’s the fire?
“Everyone complains about how there is no great singing in opera anymore, but last week’s performances suggest that’s not so. The singing today is mostly fine; it’s everything else that’s the problem.”
And we are back!
The commenting system has been mended, so the cher public (pictured) may now get back to doing what they do best.
Travels with my rant
It appears that La Cieca’s long-winded, likely drunken ravings late last Friday week attracted the most visitors last week, doubtless motivated by Schadenfreude.
“There seems to be no sign of intelligent life anywhere”
Venomous Fishwife Norman Lebrecht now doesn’t know the difference between Anton Chekhov and Konstantin Stanislavsky.
Foundling
Lianna Haroutounian will sing the role of Amelia Grimaldi in all performances of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra at the Met this season: April 1, 5, 9 matinee, 13, and 16.”
Her tiara is broken
“The curtain was descending rapidly on the last act of La Traviata, which was sung by the Metropolitan Opera company, when Miss Farrar stepped too far toward the footlights to bow to the audience.”
“What gets me…!”
What gets me, La Cieca snaps, is not so much that Levine bit off more than he could chew, because that’s old news.
The cat didn’t come back
“Along with every other music journalist in New York, I was blindsided by this news. If ever there was a company that appeared the picture of fiscal and artistic good health, it was Gotham.”
For the ladies
“The anvil scene is enlivened for female members of the audience by the importation of lusty non-singing blacksmiths.”
Number one with an axe
Here you are, cher public, your ten most popular parterre box postings (by numbers of pageviews) for the week of September 27-October 3, 2015.
Sack the entire washing-up staff
On this day in 1969 the first episode of Monty Python’s Flying Circus aired on BBC One.
Joseph Gordon-Who?
This weekend Il Trovatore outgrossed the The Walk, a new IMAX film directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ben Kingsley.
Go hollanderize it for some other dame
Born on this day in 1880 journalist and author Damon Runyon.
The Friday afternoon news dump in excelsis
“Met Music Director James Levine has decided to lighten his workload by removing the new production of Berg’s Lulu from his schedule so that he may focus his energies completely on Wagner’s epic drama Tannhäuser.”
Cavalier treatment
“Roberto Aronica will sing Cavaradossi in the first five performances of Puccini’s Tosca at the Met this season—October 16, 21, 24 matinee, 29, and November 2—replacing Massimo Giordano, who is ill.”
Storm warning
Forget the hurricane preparations for a few hours this afternoon and enjoy the live webcast of Les Contes d’Hoffmann from the Komische Oper Berlin, starting at 12:55 PM.
Mlle. Destinn in huff
“The Kaiser’s Royal Opera of Berlin, which has been a hotbed of jealous intrigue ever since the invasion of American singers began a few years ago, is agitated afresh.”
A quell’amor ch’è palpito
Yes, obviously it’s La traviata, but where?
Fine dell’opera
Gotham Chamber Opera is ceasing operations and will be closing.
Prison break
“Taylor Stayton will sing the role of Percy in this evening’s performance of Donizetti’s Anna Bolena, replacing Stephen Costello, who is ill,” says the Met press office.
Coffee break
La Cieca (pictured, in her dreams) would like to pause just a moment in her editrixing duties for a spot of housekeeping.
Beige like me
Leave it to the New York Times to present a hard-hitting, no-holds-barred debate on the explosive subject of race, with Anthony Tommasini and Ben Brantley boldly in agreement throughout.
Fanale ultimo
Tenor Paolo Fanale rehearses the Rossini Stabat Mater with Jesús López Cobos and L’Orchestre de Paris.