In other news, President Taft today…
“Mary Garden, the famous opera singer who gained particular fame through her rendition of Salome, is to become a nun…”
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.
See and be seen
Take a look around you, cher public, and perhaps find someone in the next box to discuss off-topic and general interest subjects.
Cogito argo sum
The front runner in our devilishly difficult “D’amor sull’ali” quiz is Giasone (pictured), with 22 of 30 singers correctly identified.
Regina Resnik 1922-2013
The American mezzo-soprano, director, filmmaker and teacher Regina Resnik has died.
High concept
Well, my dears, if you thought Frank Castorf‘s Ring or Stefan Herheim‘s Meistersinger were outré, then wait until you get a load of the radical take on Don Carlos by Peter Stein for the Salzburg Festival!
Met: We love the gays; won’t protest Putin
“The Met is proud of its history as a creative base for LGBT singers, conductors, directors, designers, and choreographers.”
A multiplicity of mezzos
Wonder no more! Says the Met press office, “Elina Garanca has withdrawn from her 2013-14 Met engagements because she is pregnant with her second child, who is due this winter.”
Season of no witch
Deborah Voigt, “unfortunately ill,” will not sing her first Ortrud this Sunday at the Festival de Lanaudière. According to the festival’s press office, a replacement will be named later today.
Una voce lontana
here in the US, you can 
Ces soupçons, ces soupçons
La Cieca hears a rumor, currently unconfirmed, that Elina Garanca is pregnant and will cancel her participation in the Met’s new production of Werther this season.
Amazing!
“As one of opera’s most controversial artists, Grace-Melzia Bumbry continues to make headlines.”
Soon their duet will become a trio
La Cieca hears that congratulations are in order to Aleksandra Kurzak and Roberto Alagna, who are expecting their first baby in February.
Waiting in the wings
The Met’s season-opening production of Eugene Onegin will be directed by Fiona Shaw,
No nudes is good news
“Mary Garden has adopted sea massages instead of nude bathing as a means of reducing.”
Camino unreal?
Peter Gelb says Calixto Bieito will direct at the Met.
Lady of the house
How’s about a little light summer chat Tuesday afternoon starting at 2:15 EDT, when parterre fave Danielle de Niese headlines Don Pasquale, webcast live from the Glyndebourne Festival?
And Tony goes to…
La Cieca spies spotted the New York Times‘ Anthony Tommasini at the opening of the Salzburg Meistersinger, which indicates his review should be appearing by tomorrow at the latest.
Pre-curtain
Here’s your opportunity, cher public, to discuss off-topic and general interest subjects the first week of August.
Ladies in the dark
And now, cher public, the vocal identification quiz in excelsis, Leonora’s great Act IV scena from Il trovatore, as sung by 25 sopranos (and five tenors).
Smile, Darn Ya, Smile!
Wagner’s Meistersinger, in a witty, sumptuous performance (thanks to Stefan Herheim and Daniele Gatti, respectively) is now being streamed on 3sat.online, available, so far as La Cieca can tell, wherever the internet reaches.
After the fall
Wendy White is suing the for a 2011 accident on stage during a performance of Faust.
Leveraged canard
“Sing on your vocal interest, not your vocal principal!”
Uh, no, they’re saying “Boo-runnhilde, Boo-runnhilde”
If the Frank Castorf production of the Ring at Bayreuth accomplished nothing else, it will be the popularization in classical music circles of the term “boovation.”