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.
Why would it be crazy for you to believe that recent rumor? Is it because the gentleman in question is already enjoying a happy preview of his next romantic relationship?
“Labor disputes are threatening to delay the broadcast of Renee Fleming’s first-ever holiday special, ‘Christmas in New York,’ ” a source close to the production tells Confidenti@l.
“Francesco Demuro and Michael Fabiano will sing the role of Rodolfo in the remaining 2014 performances of La Bohème.
Sooner or later, Our Own JJ gets around to discussing the Met’s Barbiere di Siviglia and Juilliard’s Turco in Italia in this week’s New York Observer.
“NeNe wants to be Nay-Nay; Nay-Nay wants to be NeNe…”
“In case you missed it on Saturday, we took a look at early rehearsals for the new production of The Merry Widow, starring Renée Fleming and, in this clip, Kelli O’Hara!”
“Italian tenor Francesco Demuro will make his Met debut in the role of Rodolfo in this evening’s performance of La Bohème, replacing Charles Castronovo who is ill.”
From our most esteemed Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin, a 2012 performance of Schoenberg’s Gurre-Lieder conducted by Zubin Mehta.
Put on your Sunday clothes, cher public, in preparation for a nice long discussion of off-topic and general interest subjects.
The increasingly protean Jessye Norman intones the classic American anthem “Midnight Special.”
“The soup is hot; the soup is cold; Norman Lebrecht got it wrong again.”
“In a fiscal year that challenged the nation’s largest performing arts organization to find a more sustainable financial model for the future, the Metropolitan Opera incurred an estimated $22 million budget shortfall for the 2013-14 season.”
The Met has just announced it is revising once again its rush ticket policy, doing away the “lottery” system in place earlier this season and instead going to a “first come, first served” online sale daily.
She hopes to star on Broadway in a production of Living on Love, a farce she performed in this past summer at the Williamstown Theater Festival in Massachusetts.
Was it really only seven years ago that Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón were being a Traumpaar in Manon?
La Cieca invites the cher public (pictured) to discuss off-topic and general interest subjects.
It’s a Wagner lover’s dream!
Join La Cieca and the parterriani this afternoon for a chat during the premiere of Manon Lescaut from the Bayerische Staatsoper.
“La nonna rock è impazzita per Jonas Kaufmann definito il più bel tenore del mondo.”
“In a last-minute substitution, American tenor Bryan Hymel will sing the role of Rodolfo in this evening’s performance of La Bohème, replacing Ramón Vargas, who is ill.”
The Bayreuth Festival has decided to walk away from a new Parsifal production directed by Jonathan Meese for 2016 because the budget has spiraled out of control. Andris Nelsons is still on board to conduct.
You figured it out a fortnight ago, cher public.
Show Boat continues to communicate, even in the less than perfect circumstances of this latest revival.
“Soprano Renee Fleming at 55: ‘I May Leave Well Enough Alone'”
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
