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.
“An ‘opera production’ is defined as a collection of sets and costumes plus a list of instructions of movements from one part of the stage to another.”
What better way to welcome Halloween than with that scariest of all operas, Salome, in a performance culled from one of Mike Richter‘s magnificent CD-ROMs?
“Two Boys demonstrates that Mr. Muhly is capable of very great things indeed, offering extended glimpses of the kind of masterpiece he just missed writing here, and, more happily, of the kind of masterpiece I feel confident he will write in the future.”
“A wonderful collection of them in Mary Garden, mushroom and Cossack turban styles; they are trimmed with quills, wings, French flowers and soft messaline ribbon.”
That 60 Minutes piece everyone’s been talking about, with Peter Gelb describing opera as “blood sport,” after the jump.
Sleep soundly tonight, Kasper Holten: your Vêpres Siciliennes casting problem has just been solved!
La Cieca hears that soprano Alex Penda is en route to London on a rescue mission, for which her friends (young or otherwise) are doubtless giving thanks.
Just think of it, cher public, a whole extra hour in which to discuss off-topic and general interest subjects!
With visuals like this, how can anyone say opera is only about singing?
“The Met’s production, originally directed by John Copley, is still a hideous, confusing mess. But with Ms. Meade and Ms. Barton acting with moving subtlety, singing generously and feeling deeply, it was hard to care.”
“Perfection and beauty are identical.”
Serious opera fan and internet pioneer Mike Richter died earlier this week.
Well done, rgz: your Photoshop of the Guilty Pleasures CD cover was just exactly right!
Who knows what to expect from an opera about the Internet?
Not perhaps as enthusiastic a response as La Cieca might have liked to the recent Posa quiz, and no official winner.
La Cieca has it on very good authority that the 2014-2015 Met season will include a revival of Verdi’s Macbeth featuring Anna Netrebko.
“Miss Mary Garden in her dressing room at the Philadelphia Opera House this afternoon, denied that she was soon to marry Prince Movrocordato, as reported in a special cable from Paris in THE NEW YORK TIMES to-day.”
Yes, you’ve heard it already, but you might as well have an official place to talk about it: Marina Poplavskaya goes on tonight in Les Vêpres siciliennes at the Royal Opera House.
Stand not on ceremony, cher public; in fact, don’t stand at all.
A shocking message one teenager sends to another leads to scandal and death in an opera featured in this season’s “Live in HD” series from the Met.
The much-anticipated Stefan Herheim production of Les Vêpres Siciliennes opened last night at the Royal Opera, and the New York Times‘ Zachary Woolfe was something less than completely bowled over.
“No opera has entered the international repertory since the premiere of Turandot in 1926.”
“Don’t sing anything but teensy bits of Mozart until you’re at least 40…”
“Sets, Lights, and Lunacy has it all.”
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
