La Cieca
James Jorden (who writes under the names "La Cieca" and "Our Own JJ") is the founder and editor of parterre box. During his 20 year career as an opera critic he has written for the New York Times, Opera, Gay City News, Opera Now, Musical America and the New York Post. He has also raised his voice in punditry on National Public Radio. From time to time he has directed opera, including three unsuccessful productions of Don Giovanni, a work he hopes to return to someday. Currently he alternates his doyenne duties with writing a weekly column on opera for the New York Observer.
Tobias Kratzer’s “novel… wrenching” (New York Times) 2019 production of Tannhäuser as a wildly contemporary parable of art and freedom.
Jonas Kaufmann and Anja Harteros star, with Kirill Petrenko conducting a Krzysztof Warlikowski production.
From the 2016 Bayreuth Festival with Music Director Marek Janowski and Stage Director Frank Castorf.
All-star gala at the Bayerische Staatsoper honoring the regime of Nikolaus Bachler.
Baritone Christopher Maltman stars as Count di Luna against the breathtaking backdrop of the ancient Roman Circus Maximus.
Baritone Norman Garrett, mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, and tenor Matthew White are featured.
The final presentation of the Met’s Nightly Opera Streams features Sondra Radvanovsky, Kathleen Kim, Stephanie Blythe, Marcelo Álvarez, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky, conducted by Fabio Luisi. Production by David Alden. From December 8, 2012.
Live from the 2021 Bayreuth Festival, featuring Asmik Grigorian and John Lundgren, conducted by Oksana Lyniv.
Starring Anna Netrebko, Dolora Zajick, Yonghoon Lee, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky, conducted by Marco Armiliato. Production by David McVicar. From October 3, 2015.
With Matthew Polenzani, Hanna-Elisabeth Müller, Olga Kulchynska, Emily D’Angelo and Martin Mitterrutzner.
Born on this day in 1921 tenor Giuseppe Di Stefano.
Starring Natalie Dessay, Felicity Palmer, Juan Diego Flórez, and Alessandro Corbelli, conducted by Marco Armiliato. Production by Laurent Pelly. From April 26, 2008.
Starring Erin Morley, Hibla Gerzmava, Kate Lindsey, Christine Rice, V______ G______, and Thomas Hampson, conducted by Yves Abel. Production by Bartlett Sher. From January 31, 2015.
Starring Diana Damrau, Matthew Polenzani, Mariusz Kwiecien, and Nicolas Testé, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda. Production by Penny Woolcock. From January 16, 2016.
Starring Tatiana Troyanos, Jean Kraft, P______ D______, and Vern Shinall; Teresa Stratas, P______ D______, Sherrill Milnes, and Allan Monk, conducted by J____ L_____. Production by Franco Zeffirelli. From April 5, 1978.
Starring Renée Fleming, Cecilia Bartoli, Susanne Mentzer, Dwayne Croft, and Bryn Terfel, conducted by J____ L_____. Production by Jonathan Miller. From November 11, 1998.
Born on this day in 1868 socialite and soprano Florence Foster Jenkins.
Starring Nina Stemme, Anita Hartig, Marco Berti, and Alexander Tsymbalyuk, conducted by Paolo Carignani. Production by Franco Zeffirelli. From January 30, 2016.
In tribute to the late Graham Vick, a full-scale production of Rossini’s opera seria from the 2019 Pesaro Festival.
Born on this day in 1941 R&B singer Martha Reeves.
Starring Angela Gheorghiu, Lisette Oropesa, Roberto Alagna, Marius Brenciu, and Samuel Ramey, conducted by Marco Armiliato. Production by Nicolas Joël. From January 10, 2009.
Susan Graham, Bryan Hymel and Anna Caterina Antonacci star in this production from San Francisco Opera.
Starring Barbara Daniels, P______ D______, and Sherrill Milnes, conducted by Leonard Slatkin. Production by Giancarlo Del Monaco. From April 8, 1992.