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.
Bundle up warmly, cher public, and enjoy a weather-appropriate selection from the Mike Richter hoard.
“Ogni Cura si doni al diletto / E s’accorra nel magico petto,” the joke went back in the late ’90s. What wags we were!
As if listening live to tonight’s gala Met premiere of Die Fledermaus were not frivolity sufficient unto the end of the calendar year, La Cieca and Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin (pictured above, in no particular order) offer an alternative version of Strauss’s operetta for your amusement.
Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 2014-2015 season will consist of Tannhäuser, The Passenger, Tosca, Porgy and Bess, Il Trovatore, Anna Bolena, Capriccio and Don Giovanni.
“They have a menorah and a Christmas tree,” he said, alluding to their assimilated status.
“But like any production left out in the sun a few decades, it gradually faded into mere decoration.”
“The often black-clad 41-year-old, described as the ‘Nick Cave of classical’…”
La Cieca invites the cher public to engage in lively but non-violent discourse on off-topic and general interest subjects.
Just a reminder, cher public, that the live webcast of La forza del destino from the Bayerische Staatsoper is at noon on Saturday, with concurrent chat at La Casa della Cieca.
“An opera production should look the way the music sounds.” — Lady Valerie Solti
Operetta and film star Marta Eggerth died yesterday in New York. She was 101.
Our good friends at Opera Depot are currently offering a free download of Parsifal conducted by Hans Knappertsbusch at the 1963 Bayreuth Festival.
One of Mike Richter‘s most spectacular achievements was the remastering and digitization of the complete master classes conducted by Maria Callas at the Juilliard School in 1971-1972.
“La Cieca cannot imagine it is much fun to sing ‘Dove sono’ when you’re suffering a fresh case of the Reno jumpy-wumps.”
Robert W. Wilson, the American hedge fund manager and former chairman of New York City Opera, has died, an apparent suicide.
“Samuel Goldfish’s big glass house on the Hudson is liable to need fireproof curtains—and they better be drawn down tight—for there Mary Garden, who says she has never been in a photoplay house in all her life, will start acting in the title role of Thais for the Goldwyn Picture corporation.”
Here’s a seasonal treat from Our Own Jungfer Marianne Leizmetzerin, Martinu’s Hry o Marii (The Miracles of Mary).
“Gelb is said to track sunspot activity for advance warning of possible satellite transmission disruptions.”
La Cieca (right) invites those of you who have a thirst for conversation to enjoy this week’s off-topic and general discussion forum.
“Now, my trip to Munich has been cancelled and I am hoping to be able resell the tickets at face value.”
“Music lovers are in for a treat this Saturday…”
“Verdi revered Shakespeare and would turn over in his grave.”
Our Own JJ (not pictured) counts down his 10 favorite New York opera performances of 2013 in the New York Observer.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
