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.

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
Billy Budd Billy Budd

Starring Philip Langridge, Dwayne Croft, and James Morris, conducted by Steuart Bedford. Production by John Dexter. From March 11, 1997.

on June 26, 2021 at 5:56 PM
Turandot Turandot

Starring Christine Goerke, Eleonora Buratto, Yusif Eyvazov, and James Morris, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Production by Franco Zeffirelli. From October 12, 2019.

on June 25, 2021 at 5:55 PM
This Island We Made This Island We Made

A haunting lullaby formed from the memories and individual relationships of its collaborators—acclaimed composer Angélica Negrón, drag superstar Sasha Velour, and renowned filmmaker Matthew PlacekThe Island We Made is a uniquely intimate art-opera film.

on June 25, 2021 at 1:32 PM
Tosca Tosca

Starring Patricia Racette, Roberto Alagna, George Gagnidze, and John Del Carlo, conducted by Riccardo Frizza. Production by Luc Bondy. From November 9, 2013.

on June 24, 2021 at 5:50 PM
Maria Stuarda Maria Stuarda

Starring Elza van den Heever, Joyce DiDonato, Matthew Polenzani, Joshua Hopkins, and Matthew Rose, conducted by Maurizio Benini. Production by Sir David McVicar. From January 19, 2013.

on June 23, 2021 at 5:47 PM
Rusalka Rusalka

Starring Kristine Opolais, Katarina Dalayman, Jamie Barton, Brandon Jovanovich, and Eric Owens, conducted by Sir Mark Elder. Production by Mary Zimmerman. From February 25, 2017.

on June 22, 2021 at 4:58 PM
Dragoon race Dragoon race

Jamie Barton makes her highly-anticipated debut as Carmen opposite the legendary Stephanie Blythe as her alter ego Blythely Oratonio. As Don José!

on June 22, 2021 at 12:59 PM
The Exterminating Angel The Exterminating Angel

Starring Audrey Luna, Amanda Echalaz, Sally Matthews, Sophie Bevan, Alice Coote, Christine Rice, Iestyn Davies, Joseph Kaiser, Frédéric Antoun, David Portillo, David Adam Moore, Rod Gilfry, Kevin Burdette, Christian Van Horn, and Sir John Tomlinson, conducted by Thomas Adès. Production by Tom Cairns. From November 18, 2017.

on June 21, 2021 at 4:01 PM
Luisa Miller Luisa Miller

Starring Renata Scotto, P____ D_____, Sherrill Milnes, Bonaldo Giaiotti, and James Morris, conducted by J____ L_____. Production by Nathaniel Merrill. From January 20, 1979.

on June 20, 2021 at 5:44 PM