Brief pause
While we’re waiting for the webcast from Glyndebourne, cher public (and afterward, of course) please talk quietly among yourselves about off-topic and general interest subjects.
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.
Dell’abisso
The news from New York has been rather dire these last few weeks, cher public; La Cieca is the first to admit that.
Fra le tazze più viva è la webchat
Coming up on Sunday, La Cieca (not pictured) will host a live chat during the webcast of La traviata from the Glyndebourne Festival.
“Observer” story pushed off front page
“Camilla hopes the new work will make opera ‘more mainstream.'”
Contrariwise
“The dark clouds hovering over Mr. Gelb should not obscure his very real achievements.”
Timor di me? Security!
“Anna Netrebko (Leonora) is seen during the Il Trovatore photo rehearsal on August 4, 2014 in Salzburg, Austria.”
Breaking apart
I guess we can assume the season is going to happen, because the cast changes are already starting, and the Met’s press office is on it, you guys.
Only connect…
La Cieca has discovered that the independent auditor chosen by the Met, AGMA and Local 802 to report on the company’s finances, Eugene Keilin, is a major donor to the Met, giving at least $25,000 in 2011-2012 according to that season’s Annual Report.
Yours, mine and ours
Our own Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin goes all-American with a performance of The Ballad of Baby Doe starring Ruth Ann Swenson, James Morris and Judith Forst.
Restoring Clara’s notes
Whilst the theatrical doctor attempts to restore the voice of Mrs. Billington, you, the cher public, are asked to fill up the time with discussion of off-topic and general interest subjects.
Namenlos in Lieb’ umfangen
SiriusXM is broadcasting right now a 1981 performance of Tristan und Isolde featuring Gwyneth Jones (pictured) and Spas Wenkoff, with James Levine conducting the work that season for the first time in his career.
There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about
Those of you who read this site faithfully (and I know there are one or two of you) will be interested to know that a boycott of parterre.com has been organized by fellow blogger Bari-Chunks.
Blood and Sandow
Friend and friend-in-law of parterre box Greg Sandow pours the oil of calm and rational analysis upon the troubled waters of the Met’s current labor negotiations in the most recent installment of his always excellent (not to mention eponymous) blog.
Back from the dead?
AGMA and Local 802 have agreed to the Met’s proposal that Allison Beck, a representative of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, be appointed immediately to mediate negotiations, working with both sides to find a compromise agreement.
Campus radical
“Mr. Burden did his best to wrestle with what looked like a disused Dale Chihuly chandelier, but…”
And another thing
The MET Orchestra musicians who, we are assured, ‘love the Metropolitan Opera and want it to succeed” have revised their PPT deck to identify what they claim is an additional $1.2 million in cost savings to the company…
Hosenschlange
Die langen schwarzen Haare nach hinten gegelt, in schwarzer Hose und Hemd und Schlangenmustermantel zeigt er bodygebuildete Muskeln, die gut und gerne darauf schließen lassen, dass er auch Ähnliches in der Hose haben könnte.
Rough trade and regie
Meet Tobias Kratzer (left) who is scheduled to direct Tannhäuser for Bayreuth in 2019.
Calpesta il mio cadavere!
This week, Our Own Jungfer Marianne Leizmetzerin turns her vigilant ears to the recent past to take in a performance of Il trovatore featuring Anna Netrebko and Plácido Domingo.
Dog days
As the clock continues to tick on the Met’s impending labor crisis, La Cieca is sure the cher public will have plenty to say about off-topic and general interest subjects.
Carlo Bergonzi 1924-2014
The legendary and beloved Italian tenor died earlier today. He was 90.
Fun with graphs
La Cieca has come into possession of an interesting presentation, with fonts and everything, from Local 802, American Federation of Musicians, and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, outlining their solution for the current financial crisis at the Metropolitan Opera.
Barn yesterday
Christine Goerke is the Prima Donna in this scene from Francesca Zambello‘s Glimmerglass production of Ariadne auf Upstate New York, and Did I Mention That the Komponist is a Dyke?
Séance on a partly cloudy afternoon
Your conduit to the spirit world, La Cieca, isn’t feeling quite as clairvoyante as usual today, cher public, so she’s going to ask your help in predicting what will happen in the course of the Met’s current labor negotiations.