And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind
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?
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.
“Special appearance by TV’s Ann B. Davis”
“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.
Name that Rodolfo
“Francesco Demuro and Michael Fabiano will sing the role of Rodolfo in the remaining 2014 performances of La Bohème.
Rossini crescendo
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.
Separated at side part
“NeNe wants to be Nay-Nay; Nay-Nay wants to be NeNe…”
Grisette is the word
“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!”
Demuro felice
“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.”
Danish modern
From our most esteemed Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin, a 2012 performance of Schoenberg’s Gurre-Lieder conducted by Zubin Mehta.
Robes de soirée
Put on your Sunday clothes, cher public, in preparation for a nice long discussion of off-topic and general interest subjects.
Woman behind bars
The increasingly protean Jessye Norman intones the classic American anthem “Midnight Special.”
Dog bites man, part infinity
“The soup is hot; the soup is cold; Norman Lebrecht got it wrong again.”
Let the shortfall! When it crumbles we will stand tall, face it all together
“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.”
Break the internet
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.
Une étoile est Renée
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.
Profitons bien de la jeunesse
Was it really only seven years ago that Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón were being a Traumpaar in Manon?
The little black dress
La Cieca invites the cher public (pictured) to discuss off-topic and general interest subjects.
The girl can’t help it
Join La Cieca and the parterriani this afternoon for a chat during the premiere of Manon Lescaut from the Bayerische Staatsoper.
No! pazzo son! Guardate!
“La nonna rock è impazzita per Jonas Kaufmann definito il più bel tenore del mondo.”
Einspring awakening
“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.”
Heil and farewell
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.
The seven percent solution
You figured it out a fortnight ago, cher public.
Rolling along
Show Boat continues to communicate, even in the less than perfect circumstances of this latest revival.
Now she tells us
“Soprano Renee Fleming at 55: ‘I May Leave Well Enough Alone'”