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.
The best things in life are free, cher public, including discussion of off-topic and general interest subjects.
“This is wrong, wrong, wrong and a betrayal of the spirit of ENO’s Founding Fathers.”
Friend of the box Andrew Whitfield (not pictured) is celebrating his birthday by slashing prices in half on everything in the Opera Depot catalog for the rest of the week.
Miss Jessye Norman (not pictured!) grants what can only be described as the definitively definitive Diva Interview.
Some thoughts about the perishability of opera productions follow.
Our own publisher and New York Observer scribe Julie Jordan James Jorden plays pundit again for WQXR’s “Conducting Business.”
Feel free to waltz or to discuss off-topic or general interest subjects, cher public.
So, in the Michigan Opera Theatre production of The Merry Widow, is Deborah Voigt channeling Joan Sutherland…
The classic Tintin tale Les Bijoux de la Castafiore has been adapted into an opera for presentation in September 2015 at at Hulpe Castle in Belgium.
Long rumored, here it is: Anna Netrebko sings “Suicidio!” from La Gioconda!
Our Own JJ crunches the numbers at the Met and LoftOpera in the New York Observer.
Met press office: Salvatore Cordella will sing Edgardo in this evening’s performance of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, replacing Joseph Calleja, who is ill.
Jonas Kaufmann in a wifebeater is but one of the attractions of the Salzburg Festival production of Cavalleria rusticana, a telecast of which you can peruse after the jump.
Two questions answered in a single YouTube video.
For those of you who are following these things, Michael Fabiano is currently in London.
As you may have heard, cher public, Joseph Calleja canceled last night’s Lucia performance at the Met after the first act. So… well, see the headline above.
Long-time parterre fave Catherine Malfitano takes the stage at Manhattan School of Music in a new role, Madame Armfeldt in A Little Night Music, May 12-14.
Musicologist, translator and above all critic Andrew Porter has died.
Michael Fabiano will make his Met role debut as Edgardo in this evening’s performance of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, replacing Joseph Calleja, who is ill. So says the Met press department, no fooling.
Susan Graham (pictured) and Piotr Beczala are the latest additions to the roster of “WQXR Presents Metropolitan Opera Spring Highlights,” at The Greene Space on Monday, April 6 at 7:00 PM.
You think opera and advertising don’t mix? They do if it’s parterre.com!
On this day in 2015 editorial doyenne La Cieca booked premium seats for a theater party to see the waggish comedy bombshell Living on Love.
“Renée: ‘It’s a comedy, a farce, and I’ve become addicted to making people laugh’.”
Enough with the polite formalities, cher public, and on with the weekly discussion of off-topic and general interest subjects.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
