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.
Something contemporary for the cher public: starting at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, the new Philip Glass opera The Perfect American.
In this clip from an Italian quiz show of the 1950s, Toti dal Monte requires not even a whole phrase to identify the unique voice of Magda Olivero.
La Cieca invites the cher public to take a brief respite from the performance of La Alexander to enjoy this week’s discussion of off-topic and general interest subjects.
Here’s a story in which practically nobody in authority comes off well.
La Cieca is delighted to introduce to you, the cher public, our sponsors for the month of February.
The Pierre Audi production of Guillaume Tell has opened at De Nederlandse Opera.
The Met took a gamble on a new production of Rigoletto Monday night—but, dramatically at least, the show crapped out.
The stage production of Rigoletto contains very brief partial nudity, which will not be shown in the Live in HD transmission of the opera.”
Meet parterre’s new tutelary spirit, tenor August Schram, star of Metube.
Take a breather, cher public, and join in the general interest and off-topic conversation in this week’s intermission feature.
This week on Operavore: “Strong Women of Opera.”
Tenor Vittorio Grigolo, easy on the eyes despite the fright wig, is one of the “Hottest Opera Stars Of 2013.”
You know, information wants to be free and all that.
Which opera company that apparently still exists has sent out a casting call for no fewer than 40 supernumeraries to appear naked in an work whose title, ironically, includes a part of the body that is generally not concealed anyway?
In the interest of absolute accuracy (for surely the cher public deserves no less!) La Cieca offers the following correction.
FINAL RSVP REQUEST: La Boheme from The Royal Opera – This Sunday, Jan. 27.
Ah, finally a light begins to break.
The apparently immortal Anja Silja (all those performances of Vec Makropulos must have rubbed off!) is seen here in her newest role, Babulenka in Prokofiev’s Igrok at Oper Frankfurt.
… I’ll just keep on singing until everyone hears it.
In a winter rich with splashy debuts, Friday’s performance of Le Comte Ory introduced a 27-year-old South African charmer who may well be the Met’s next big star.
Another Sunday, another invitation to discuss off-topic and general interest subjects.
Today marks the premiere of the Operavore radio show on WQXR.
Elena Manistina will make her Met debut as Azucena in the Saturday, January 19 evening performance of Verdi’s Il Trovatore, replacing Stephanie Blythe, who is [obviously] ill.
Your doyenne invites you to drop by La Casa della Cieca.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
