parterre: box
Forgive La Cieca’s less-than-avid posting schedule over the last few days, please!
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.
Time, after time
In breaking news today, Margaret Thatcher announces her resignation as British Prime Minister…
Boy meets ghoul
Now New York City Opera has given us a “Così Fan Tutte” starring the undead.
Le sigh
Prepare to swoon, cher public, as the Bayerische Staatsopera presents yet another of their hunk-o-rama webcasts, Eugene Onegin, starring Simon Keenlyside and Pavol Breslik.
Lady of the Fake
When Verdi’s Macbeth returned to the Met Thursday night, miscasting doomed the revival as surely as any witch’s curse.
Aghast
La Cieca hopes her cher public can pull themselves together and enjoy the usual off-topic and general interest comments this week.
The razor’s regie
Well, if there’s a lesson to be learned from our most recent Regie quiz, cher public, it is this: trust your gut.
Bonjour, je veux mon chat
The cher public are reminded that Verdi’s Macbeth will be broadcast and streamed from the Met tonight, and naturally La Casa della Cieca will be open for business.
Lady in the dark
La Cieca (not pictured) would just like to point out…
Death becomes her
The remarkable new/old production of La bohème from Norwegian Opera, directed by Stefan Herheim…
Divina comedy
So this is what it looks like when Faye Dunaway teaches Danielle DeNiese to sing “Vieni t’affretta” from Verdi’s Macbeth.
Critic’s choice
Our Own JJ (pictured, center) hopes all the cher public will take full advantage of this week’s thread for off-topic and general interest discussion.
Take the Monnaie and run
“Though Mr. Herheim’s work is rigorous, it is also fun, and this Rusalka is serious but the opposite of dour.”
Blind screening
Which department at the Met must have had quite a shock at this bit of current news: apparently the son also rises!
What if they gave a Regie and nobody came?
Some, though certainly not many, guesses at the most recent Regie quiz, but no one quite hit upon the identity of the opera in question, Handel’s Alcina.
Sensational
“Juan Diego Flórez made an untraditional Nemorino, his small but diamond-bright tenor unlike the luscious lyric voice usually heard in this part.”
No greater joy
A rare production of Rossini’s Otello, with a perhaps even rarer stage performance by Cecilia Bartoli (in her role debut as Desdemona) should provide an interesting afternoon’s viewing this Thursday.
Mein Ross! Sei mir gegrüsst!
“Pound for pound, ton for ton, it is the most witless and wasteful production in modern operatic history.”
The intermission feature must go on
The cher public is reminded not to touch the ladies of the ensemble as they discuss off-topic and general interest subject during the week of March 4.
What the frock
“Joined by Maestro Kohn, Ms. Gheorghiu was a vision of couture fit for the cover of Vogue.”
Housekeeping
La Cieca (pictured, right) would like to take this opportunity before jumping on this afternoon’s Aïda chat to address a site issue or two.
Boathouse Betty
La Cieca just glimpsed this “save the date” from NYCO’s development department.
Dessa!
La Cieca hears that soprano Latonia Moore will make her Metropolitan Opera debut this Saturday afternoon.