Opera pump
Happy birthday to baritone Zachary Gordin, cover boy for this year’s Barihunk Wall Calendar.
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.
“Where was Liam Joshua?”
Anyone looking for orgiastic obscenity in Calixto Bieito‘s production of Carmen at the London Coliseum, will be bitterly disappointed, writes Rupert Christiansen.
Rose to the occasion
Count on Gotham Chamber Opera to spice up the spring season.
Evil mutants
Lyric Opera of Chicago announced today that the respected stage, film and television actor Patrick Stewart will co-host The Second City Guide to the Opera on Saturday, January 5 with internationally renowned soprano and Lyric Opera creative consultant Renée Fleming.
Working “Tito”
After an uneven start to the season, the Met brought its A game Friday to a superb revival of Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito.
Powers that will make martial law seem like anarchy
That’s the kind of casting abilities you’ve got, cher public, two of you in particular, who are the winners of the Manchurian Candidate competition.
Dreams I know will never come true
New York City Opera has announced complete casting for the spring 2013 season.
Manca la diva
La Cieca has just heard that Angela Gheorghiu has become indisposed after the first act of Tosca at the San Francisco Opera.
Half full
Opera Orchestra of New York has announced their 2012-2013 season of only two performances.
Why, oh why?
“Alden Drops the Ballo: His Milquetoast Take on Verdi’s Classic Fizzles at the Met”
It is what she would have wanted
Due to wellness, it is with deep contentedness that Marina Poplavskaya will after all sing the role of Alice in Robert le Diable.
Small scale
In art, less is more — at least most of the time.
I see by your outfit that you are a cowboy
Freud, who hails from London, spent five years as the general director of Houston Grand Opera and is no stranger to bolo ties and 10-gallon Stetsons.
Swedish frisson
Last week’s freak nor’easter set the tone for Thursday’s chilly new production of Un Ballo in Maschera at the Met.
Balance of tiara
Gather around, cher public (pictured), to discuss off-topic and general interest subjects in this weeks’ Intermission Feature.
I’ve been working on the regie road
Remember, remember, the first of November, the Occupy regie and quiz!
Depth perception
Which singing couple is about to get involved in a messy scandal of the sort they usually experience only when performing together on the opera stage?
Ugh! Neve!
La Cieca celebrates (if that is the word) the first snowfall of the season in New York in the traditional manner.
Opera queen
Now that the cold war thriller The Manchurian Candidate is on track to become an opera, La Cieca naturally will turn to you, the cher public, for casting advice for the upcoming opus.
Down for the count
The battle of the sexes ended in an upset the other night in Le Nozze di Figaro.
The man behind the mask
Recently your doyenne engaged in an email-based interview with David Alden, director of the Met’s new production of Un ballo in maschera, opening on Thursday.
The long dark intermission feature of the soul
As we fall back to standard time, La Cieca invites to to while away all those hours of darkness with discussion of off-topic and general interest subjects.
Anna macchia è qui tuttora
It’s confirmed!