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.
Alan Gordon, embedded journalist, reports from inside the first AGMA/Met negotiation session.
“My opera will be the grandest of all!”
“Her manner is straightforward, even blunt at times, though she is a match for any diplomat.”
The noble Alceste of Kirsten Flagstad is but one of many fascinating live recordings featured in Opera Depot’s May Sale.
This week, Our Own Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin shares a modern classic: Wozzeck from the Opéra national de Paris, featuring Simon Keenlyside.
The first single by MU, “The Bomp Bomp Song,” is now available for download from CD Baby.
Identically-coiffed artistes Klaus Florian Vogt and Renée Fleming prove conclusively that American musical theater is not an international language.
La Cieca hopes any confusion will be cleared up soon enough that you, the cher public, may engage in your weekly round of conversation on general interest and off-topic subjects.
Peter Gelb sent out an email to the “Public Bulletin Board” earlier today, noting that “inaccurate rumors [are] flying around” and attempting to clarify the Met’s position on upcoming union negotiations.
The final day of the Buenos Aires Ring dawns in our latest sampling from the Mike Richter’s trove of CD-ROMs.
“Superstar soprano Deborah Voigt and powerhouse opera and theater director Francesca Zambello, friends for over 25 years, came to 92Y to talk opera, inspiration, artistry and friendship.”
Legendary diva Montserrat Caballé has been charged by Spanish procescutors with tax evasion for failing to declare some 500,000 euros of income for concerts given in Andorra.
“For two days after,” she wrote, “I felt absolutely exhausted, and my eyes hurt me from the glare of the snow. But now I feel splendid, and my lungs feel twice as strong and in fine shape for Salome.”
Peter Gelb talks about the “social rejection” of the Met.
Our Own Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin presents Natalie Dessay in recital.
La Cieca’s old, old, old friend Dorothy Bishop, recently interviewed in Opera News, brings her “Dozen Divas” show to NYC’s Metropolitan Room April 30 and May 5.
Let’s all let down our hair, cher public, those of us for whom this feat is possible, and discuss general interest and off-topic subjects.
Your doyenne is sure all the familiar faces and screen names will be present at 1:00 this afternoon in La Casa della Cieca, as the Met broadcasts Così fan tutte.
The winds of change sweep across the first post-9/11 issue of parterre box, the queer opera zine.
The respective long slumbers of Brünnhilde and La Cieca are finally at an end as we continue “EL Anillo” from the Mike Richter collection with the third act of Siegfried.
Though at the moment we have no indication that there will be a cast change for the final three performances of La Cenerentola at tha Met, La Cieca does think the group mind should apply itself to the pressing question of exactly wbich tenor will appear in the HD telecast on May 10.
“They now say if they can prevent it, Mary will not dance in Minneapolis, even in seven veils, to make no mention of four.”
Our dear and invaluable Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin offers us a new classic this week, a live recording of Anna Netrebko‘s collaboration with Riccardo Muti on Manon Lescaut.
Javier Camerena, “as close to a rock star as the Met has produced from its male roster this season,” has big plans with the company, with at least four roles planned for future seasons.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
