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.
When is good enough not quite good enough?
The above showed up on the Met’s website.
The Met’s performance of Don Carlo Friday night was a tragedy, but not for the reason Verdi intended.
There is applause at the end of the opera, not none at all.
Take a break from eating sweets, cher public, to participate in this week’s discussion of off-topic and general interest subjects.
Following up on last night’s information dump of the (overdue?) Met season announcement for 2013-2014, La Cieca has obtained a somewhat more detailed rundown.
“One of the things I’m gradually learning as I’m coming up my the 20th anniversary of writing about opera for publication is that you have to be wary about making Pronouncements.”
Promiscuous — it’s not a pretty word. But when a matron in black underwear cavorts with two dozen naked hunks, what else can you call her?
Like the hero of Parsifal, who finds the Holy Grail after a lifetime of frustrated wandering, the Met’s audience was finally rewarded for its patience.
A parterre reader just back from the matinee of Powder Her Face relates this story of two elderly ladies seated in the second row…
Sempiternal soprano Edita Gruberova celebrates her “45th stage anniversary” tomorrow, Monday February 18 with a performance of Alaide in Bellini’s La Straniera live from the Vienna Musikverein.
La Cieca invites the cher public (pictured) to discuss off-topic and general interest subjects.
A reminder, cher public, La Casa della Cieca opens early this evening (5:55 PM EST, to be precise).
Winter Met sensation Pretty Yende does another jump-in this weekend, again in Le Comte Ory, but this time at the Theater an der Wien.
The new Boris Godunov from the Bayerische Staatsoper (directed by Calixto Bieito and conducted by Kent Nagano) looks absolutely remarkable.
The French countertenor is 35 years old today.
A member of the cher public writes La Cieca suggesting that parterre readers attending the first night of the Met’s Parsifal might want to meet and/or greet.
Now it seems the NYCO’s Duchess of Argyll will have to make do with a mere 25 lovers in the company’s production of Powder Her Face—instead of the originally planned 88.
Which artist who’s no longer in denial about waning abilities is about to withdraw (or be withdrawn) from the next (and probably last) Met project?
Here’s your chance to discuss off-topic and general interest subjects and maybe make time for a waltz or two, cher public.
“Teddy Tahu Rhodes, who determined in rehearsals that the role was no longer suitable for his voice.”
The announcement of the 2013-2014 season at Lyric Opera of Chicago is not good news at all.
If it’s in the New York Times, it must be true, right?
Director Daniel Moshel (not pictured) who created the YouTube sensation MeTube, sat down recently—and virtually—to chat with La Cieca (also not pictured.)
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
