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.
“If the headline is big enough, it makes the news big enough”
For those of you who might have overlooked the fact that James Levine is conducting tomorrow night at the Met, the New York Times will get you up to speed this morning with no fewer than four (4) features on the return of “somebody who may be the greatest opera conductor in history.”
There’s no business like snow business
Tonight at long last brings us to our first Met livechat of the season, cher public.
Who’s that woman?
You have voted, cher public, a total of 2,265 times, and you’ve decided!
Nunsense
So Christine Brewer has fired her agent at IMG for, the soprano says, “multi-booking” her next spring for The Sound of Music at Lyric Opera of Chicago and a concert gig with the St. Louis Symphony.
Opening night
As we approach the evening that starts the New York social season, La Cieca invites the cher public (representative members pictured above) to engage in discussion on general interest and off-topic subjects.
Von Kopf bis Fuss
La Cieca is happy to present the following readymade blind item.
Cricket’s notebook
“From Cambridge, where I live, to Glyndebourne should take 2 hours and 10 minutes, according to Google: down the M11, then the M25, almost to Brighton on the M23, and then through or round Lewes until the first sign to Glyndebourne, two and a half miles before you get there.”
Queer canard
“That [Tchaikovsky] committed suicide cannot be doubted, but what precipitated this suicide has not been conclusively established…”
Pushkin comes to shove
Onegin, which opens the Met’s season on Monday, has taken an unusually precipitous tumble…
The private life of implants
“The queen of tabloid TV arrived at BAM Tuesday night in Anna Nicole, an opera brimming with wit and good taste. In other words, they got Anna Nicole all wrong.”
Happy Birthday Anna Netrebko
The Met’s new Tatiana is 42 today.
It won’t be easy, you’ll think it strange
“Some people said I have to say more,” Netrebko said.
Conjured from the bowels of hell
“JEALOUSY, revenge, hopeless romance and a breathtaking wall of fire bring epic operas Aida and La Boheme to life in award-winning opera producer Ellen Kent’s new tour.”
Spasimi d’amore
“When Vanni Marcoux as Scarpia in Tosca pursued Mary Garden, a Floria Tosca, around his room on the stage at the Boston Opera House a week ago Monday night, seized her in an amorous frenzy and threw her upon a couch, a part of cultured Boston gasped.”
Ina moment now
La Cieca hears that soprano Pretty Yende, a standout Met debutante last season in Le Comte Ory, has signed with the company for for four roles over the next three years: Pamina and Lucia in 2014-2015, Adina in 2015-2016 and Rosina in 2016-2017.
