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.


Madama Butterfly Madama Butterfly

Starring Hui He, Elizabeth DeShong, Bruce Sledge, and Paulo Szot, conducted by Pier Giorgio Morandi. Production by Anthony Minghella. From November 9, 2019.

on July 15, 2021 at 5:15 PM
‘Cries’ baby ‘Cries’ baby

Should the new John Corigliano / Mark Adamo opera The Lord of Cries be renamed The Lord of Crisis?

on July 15, 2021 at 8:14 AM
Tosca Tosca

Starring Shirley Verrett, Luciano Pavarotti, and Cornell MacNeil, conducted by James Conlon. From December 19, 1978.

on July 14, 2021 at 5:30 PM
La Bohème La Bohème

Starring Renata Scotto, Maralin Niska, Luciano Pavarotti, Ingvar Wixell, and Paul Plishka, conducted by J____ L_____. Production by Fabrizio Melano. From March 15, 1977.

on July 13, 2021 at 5:14 PM
Something for everyone Something for everyone

Born on this day in 1913 Broadway’s go-to character actress Despo.

on July 13, 2021 at 4:34 AM
Soft opening Soft opening

As the Met gears up for its first performances in a year and a half. the company is already canceling shows in the early fall.

on July 13, 2021 at 12:22 AM
Manon Lescaut Manon Lescaut

Starring Karita Mattila, Marcello Giordani, and Dwayne Croft, conducted by J____ L_____. From February 16, 2008.

on July 12, 2021 at 4:15 PM
Jenufa Jenufa

From San Francisco Opera with Malin Bystrom, Karita Mattila, William Burden, and Scott Quinn under the baton of Jiri Belohlávek. Directed by Olivier Tambosi.

on July 10, 2021 at 9:47 AM
Salome Salome

Starring Karita Mattila, Ildikó Komlósi, Kim Begley, Joseph Kaiser, and Juha Uusitalo, conducted by Patrick Summers. Production by Jürgen Flimm. From October 11, 2008.

on July 09, 2021 at 5:43 PM
Le nozze di Figaro Le nozze di Figaro

“Le Festival international d’art lyrique d’Aix-en-Provence ouvre son édition 2021 par son identité Mozartienne et dans un irrésistible mélange des genres avec Les Noces de Figaro mises en scène par Lotte de Beer.”

on July 09, 2021 at 2:23 PM
Capriccio Capriccio

Starring Renée Fleming, Sarah Connolly, Joseph Kaiser, Russell Braun, Morten Frank Larsen, and Peter Rose, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis. Production by John Cox. From April 23, 2011.

on July 08, 2021 at 6:00 PM
Tristan und Isolde Tristan und Isolde

This production of the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence features Sir Simon Rattle leading the London Symphony Orchestra. Stuart Skelton and Nina Stemme are in the title roles, with Jamie Barton, Josef Wagner and Franz-Josef Selig. The production is by Simon Stone.

on July 08, 2021 at 6:34 AM
Ariadne auf Naxos Ariadne auf Naxos

Starring Deborah Voigt, Natalie Dessay, Susanne Mentzer, and Richard Margison, conducted by J____ L_____. Production by Elijah Moshinsky. From April 3, 2003.

on July 07, 2021 at 6:14 PM
Elektra Elektra

Starring Nina Stemme, Adrianne Pieczonka, Waltraud Meier, and Eric Owens, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. Production by Patrice Chéreau. From April 30, 2016.

on July 06, 2021 at 6:06 PM
Der Rosenkavalier Der Rosenkavalier

Starring Kiri Te Kanawa, Tatiana Troyanos, Judith Blegen, Luciano Pavarotti, Derek Hammond-Stroud, and Kurt Moll, conducted by J____ L____. Production by Nathaniel Merrill. From October 7, 1982.

on July 05, 2021 at 6:34 PM
La morte verdiana La morte verdiana

An undeniable divide stands between the great idiomatic tradition of operatic performance and the current training models meant to prepare that tradition’s executants.

on July 05, 2021 at 2:16 PM
Ahknaten Ahknaten

Starring Dísella Lárusdóttir, J’Nai Bridges, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Aaron Blake, Will Liverman, Richard Bernstein and Zachary James, conducted by Karen Kamensek. Production by Phelim McDermott. From November 23, 2019.

on July 04, 2021 at 6:11 PM
Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny

Starring Teresa Stratas, Astrid Varnay, Richard Cassilly and Cornell MacNeil, conducted by J____ L_____. From November 27, 1979.

on July 03, 2021 at 5:32 PM
Nixon in China Nixon in China

Starring Kathleen Kim, Janis Kelly, Robert Brubaker, Russell Braun, James Maddalena, and Richard Paul Fink, conducted by John Adams. Production by Peter Sellars. From February 12, 2011.

on July 02, 2021 at 5:19 PM
When I have sung my songs When I have sung my songs

The news of the death of beloved soprano Gianna Rolandi and her adoring obituary by Enzo Bordello attracted the most parterre box readers for the month of June 2021.

on July 01, 2021 at 8:28 AM
The Ghosts of Versailles The Ghosts of Versailles

Starring Teresa Stratas, Hakan Hagegard, Gino Quilico, Graham Clark, Marilyn Horne, and Renée Fleming, conducted by James Levine. Production by Sir Colin Graham. From January 10, 1992.

on June 30, 2021 at 7:04 PM
Doctor Atomic Doctor Atomic

An operatic exploration of a pivotal moment in human history, Doctor Atomic examines the birth of the nuclear age through the eyes of one of its most important midwives, Robert Oppenheimer.

on June 29, 2021 at 7:34 PM
Marnie Marnie

Starring Isabel Leonard, Iestyn Davies, Christopher Maltman, Janis Kelly, and Denyce Graves, conducted by Roberto Spano. Production by Michael Mayer. From November 10, 2018.

on June 28, 2021 at 6:45 PM
La traviata La traviata

Starring Sonya Yoncheva, Michael Fabiano, and Thomas Hampson, conducted by Nicola Luisotti. Production by Willy Decker. From March 11, 2017.

on June 27, 2021 at 5:43 PM
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