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.
Surely this is the zenith of the history of the footnote.
La Cieca is delighted to announce that the video of the Glyndebourne production of Donizetti’s Poliuto will be streamed beginning Sunday, August 16th at noon EDT.
Yusif Eyvazov will make his Met debut singing the role of Calàf in the performances of Puccini’s Turandot on November 7 matinee and November 12.
“The British like good tunes, not pretentious noise.”
Geraldine Farrar has gone and the Gerry-flappers are disconsolate.
It’s official: in the Met’s new production of Otello, Aleksandrs Antonenko “will not use blackface makeup… breaking with a performance tradition of more than a century.”
Tony Award winners Kelli O’Hara (The King and I) and Victoria Clark (Gigi) will reunite onstage in a new production of the opera Dido and Aeneas.
“Few operas better represent a moment such as ours, when stability and long-held certainties are hard to come by, particularly in regard to sexuality.”
Exclusively for you, the loyal parterriani, here’s a sneak preview video from Joyce and Tony: Live at Wigmore Hall.
La Cieca hears that Anna Netrebko‘s forthcoming Verismo CD will include the complete Act Four of Manon Lescaut.
Let’s hear it for our parterre advertisers for the month of August: Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart presents Written on Skin and Bard SummerScape presents The Wreckers!
This afternoon at 2:20 PM EDT (20:20 CET), the Bayerische Staatsoper presents a live webcast of a sold-out performance of Giacomo Puccini’s Manon Lescaut starring Kristine Opolais and Jonas Kaufmann.
The above is, bar none, the greatest headline ever written.
A leap forward of more than a century to present the Francis Poulenc opera Dialogues des Carmélites sounded ominous.
Madeline Kahn‘s 1968 interpretation of “Glitter and Be Gay” has been widely disseminated.
Fleming will have only about 700 people to captivate tonight when she performs at Walk Festival Hall for the Grand Teton Music Festival.
For your Wednesday listening enjoyment, here’s a BBC broadcast of the Gala Farewell to Sir David Webster (pictured, left) at the Royal Opera House on July 9, 1970.
George Gagnidze and Zeljko Lucic will share the title role of Verdi’s Rigoletto at the Met this fall, replacing Simon Keenlyside…
There is no snow in Bayreuth. There is no rain in Oberfranken.
Our dear friends over at Opera Depot are slashing prices in half on all their live recordings from the Bayreuth Festival this week.
Part of what makes opera seem, at least, a camp art form is that fans of the genre have such inconsistent taste.
“The Art House in Provincetown, MA, headed by Mark Cortale, will present Metropolitan Opera Star Deborah Voigt in ‘Voigt Lessons’ created by Terrence McNally, Francesca Zambello and Deborah Voigt, for one night only on August 2 at 6:30 PM.”
Just when you though it was impossible to have any less respect for Francesca Zambello…
La Cieca wants to be the first to congratulate Renée Fleming on her latest achievement: being named as the new “Gillian Girl” following the retirement of Anne Welles.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
