49 shades of grey
A singer who was monochromatic long before she started appearing in “Obsession by Calvin Klein” circa 1986-styled music videos, Elina Garanca …
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.
It’s the pictures that got small
“Norma, from Teatro Antico, Taormina, Italy.”
Fully equipped with fire and music
“The Greek drama affords us one character which, had Shakespeare studied it in the three great tragedians of that people, and then, preserving Greek manners as ably as he did Roman, written it from his own heart and mind, might have been worthy to succeed the greatest achievement of the stage.”
The bald mezzo-soprano
She’s been a showgirl, a bubble dancer, a drag king, and of course a maimed statue.
The picture hat of Dorian Gray
La Cieca invites the cher public to gather “just like girlfriends—with hats on…” for this week’s round of discussion re: off-topic and general interest subjects.
Beach, beach, beach
Here’s the thing about puns, Betsy: summer going to enjoy them and summer not.
It’s good to be the king
La Cieca is sure that many, if not all, of the cher public are literally salivating at the prospect of seeing an actual performance of Chabrier’s Le Roi Malgré Lui as it will be presented in its US stage premiere at Bard SummerScape beginning July 27.
Nun der Quiz mich müd gemacht
After a brilliantly collaborative start, the cher public fell just short of deciphering the complete Beim Schlafengehen quiz, though several of you did very well indeed.
JJ au naturel
Our Own JJ has been spending a lot of time outdoors lately, which is such a novelty for him that he felt he really must write about it.
Breaking dawn
When Giuseppe Filianoti isn’t busy being one of the world’s more versatile tenors, he plays detective.
War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Regie is Eurotrash.
Venerable Opera magazine had better watch its ass, since the publication’s “We Hear That” column will probably be getting a “visit” from the Met’s thugs goons legal counsel any minute now.
The Regie Files
With almost frightening speed, floridante2k nailed our most recent Regie quiz.
Steppin’ 2 the Nile Side
La Cieca would like to take this opportunity to extend kudos to Francesca Zambello and the Glimmerglass Festival on what looks to be their season’s first smash hit: a new production of the classic musical Dreamgirls.
On with the motley
La Cieca (right) welcomes the cher public (and you know who you are) to an all-out, no-holds-barred edition of our weekly general interest and off-topic discussion.
Pre-code chat
Betsy Ann Bobolink presents a Betsy Ann Bobolink production of un film de Bétsy Ann Bobolinque.
How monarchic was my sprezzatura!
“Yet the evening’s first words, heard in the set-piece Ombra ma fui—like all of Xerxes’ arias sung with monarchic sprezzatura and amoral relish by Stella Doufexis…”
I’ll see you in my streams
Coming up over the next two weekends: a pair of streamed video performances sure to provide plenty of chat fodder.
Closet drama
I have a confession to make about Britten’s opera Billy Budd: I don’t like it very much.”
Evelyn Lear 1926-2012
American soprano Evelyn Lear died quietly earlier this evening at at Brooke Grove nursing center in Sandy Spring, Maryland. She was 86.
Intermission feature
Stay cool, cher public, as La Cieca (center) invites you all to comment on off-topic and general interest subjects during the week of July 1.
A disc fit for the gods
As we lurch into the month of July, La Cieca (not pictured, one hopes) wants quietly but firmly to draw the attention of her cher public to some of the more interesting releases on audio and video newly available on Amazon.com.
Sky rockets in flight
Says Betsy Ann “Yankee Doodle” Bobolink; “In honor of the upcoming holiday, today’s breakdown will forego the usual F.K. evaluation system in favor of rating each opera according to its ‘Ooo-Aah’ factor. “
Infectious diseuse
Our Own JJ once again is dipping his toe into light entertainment, writing and directing a cabaret act for his old, old, old friend Dorothy Bishop.
The big sleep
It’s time yet once again for a listening quiz, cher public, courtesy of Our Own armerjaquino.