The showgirl must go on
Last night’s complete concert version of Die Csárdásfürstin from Dresden is viewable, after the jump.
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.
Ah, con tal morbo ogni speranza è morta
Ludovic Tézier is continuing to recover from an illness.
The doyenne’s lament
As we trudge into the final week of 2014, La Cieca can only echo her Doppelgängerin in the vintage cartoon above.
“This is the effective part, where I turn and sell it with a look!”
“…the dialogue, not to mention the dancing, will offer a truly new showcase for Ms. Fleming’s abilities.”
Orange is the new spinto
Opera star Montserrat Caballé has reached a deal with the public prosecutor to receive a six-month prison sentence and a €240,000 fine for defrauding the Spanish tax office.
“I meant to do that”
What does rankle your doyenne is the “Special Freddie” awarded to Christine Goerke, whose response is, well, perhaps a trifle less than completely ingenuous.
Extra! Extra! They’re drawing a red line around the biggest scoop of the decade!
America’s own Renée Fleming (“Eight-lane-highway broad!”- New York Times) is going to plant her own tree on Broadway in the spring of 2015.
Unheard prayers
Our Own Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin gets serious for a moment, or rather for about an hour and a half, with a performance of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis led by Christian Thielemann.
Serious business
La Cieca (left) reminds her cher public that it is time once again for conversation about off-topic and general interest discussion on the very important and weighty subject of The Opera.
Mystery guests
Perhaps what was most exciting about last week at the Met was that there was nothing conventionally “special” going on.
The oldest rule in the book
Something a little out of the ordinary from Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin this week: David Del Tredici‘s Final Alice, featuring the “original cast.”
Irene Dalis 1925-2014
The American mezzo-soprano and impresario died today in San Jose after a long illness. She was 89.
No late seating
Your tardy doyenne (pictured) invites the cher public to make the most of what remains of this week to enjoy off-topic and general interest discussions.
It’s complicated
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg is a problematic opera—or, rather, it is an opera that has, in the last century or so, become problematic.
A star is reborn?
The New York City Opera Board has signed an agreement to transfer its name and intellectual property to NYCO Renaissance, Ltd.
Not without my daughter
From our dear Junfger Marianne Leitmetzerin, and early example of the art of maestro James Levine (not pictured.)
He is a camera
One of the nicest of parterrians, coloraturafan has launched an exciting new video project and he could use a little help from you, the cher public.
Later on, we’ll conspire
It’s that time of year again, cher public: those crisp short days when you decide to stay home and make all your gift selections from La Cieca’s Shoppe of Holiday Delights.
The artist is delusional
“Marina Abramovic plans to start filming her ‘Seven Deaths’ project next summer, 25 years after she first conceived the idea of playing her heroine, the opera singer Maria Callas.”
I will gladly pay you Tuesday for fundraising today
A faithful parterrian sends a copy of a fundraising letter from Opera Orchestra of New York.
Getting and spending
La Cieca is sure that the cher public (pictured), just like all other red-blooded Americans or foreign nationals, will spend the day today doing their “Cyber Monday” shopping.
An old-fashioned wedding
Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin notes: while this performance of Janácek’s Jenufafeatures the same three principal singers from the legendary Carnegie Hall concert of 1988, the fact that it is a staged performance raises the temperature even higher.
Too, too much
The cher public are invited to lose control as they discuss off-topic and general interest subjects.