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.
Mariella Devia will augment her already vast bel canto repertoire next year with the role of roles: Bellini’s Norma.
La Cieca is starting a new series of Words Critics Need to Stop Using.
The guest soloist at the the Wiener Opernball was just introduced as “Rumäniens Antwort auf Anna Netrebko, Angela Gheorghiu.”
The comprimario tenor, veteran of 2,928 performances at the Met, died earlier today. He was 82.
“This is the highest number of performances for a conductor in a single week in Met history.”
“New York City Opera performed La Traviata at BAM Sunday afternoon. That’s who, what, where and when. But this was a performance without a ‘why’.”
Will robots replace prompters? Will random number generators replace stage directors?
Congratulations and thanks to all the many, many parterriani who participated in the second annual Bühnenweihfestspielkrieg…
“Less than 24 hours after the death of pop-star Whitney Houston, the color-blind casting of Violetta Valery…. gave the 159-year old opera a jolt of relevance.”
“No tenors, no arias, no orchestra pit, no plot. Can You, My Mother really be called an opera?”
La Cieca invites the cher public to discuss off-topic and general interest subjects during the week of February 12.
Kyle Ketelsen and Bryn Terfel will sing four performances each of the role of Leporello in upcoming Met performances of Don Giovanni.
A reminder, cher public, that the Bühnenweihfestspielkrieg will finish tomorrow afternoon at the end of the broadcast/HD performance of Götterdämmerung from the Met.
After an earlier outage, parterre.com is now restored 100% .
Which opera production set off fireworks at the very first rehearsal when a leading lady was fired on the spot?
Congratulations to America’s Diva Renée Fleming, starring in the world premiere of Henri Dutilleux‘s opera buffa Absolutely Fabulous.
“Katarina Dalayman will sing the role of Brünnhilde in this evening’s performance of Wagner’s Götterdämmerung…
You’d think the intermission here at parterre are as long as those at the Met’s Ernani…
La Cieca hears that Anna Netrebko will sing her first Norma at Covent Garden in 2016.
“A revival of Verdi’s Ernani at the Met on Thursday proved tastefully understated. In other words, it missed the point entirely.”
“Revelation comes in the strangest places.”
La Cieca asks: what do Julia Migenes, Carol Neblett, Joyce Castle, Marilyn Zschau and Linda Roarke-Strummer have in common?
The cover art says it all. Dmitri Hvorostovsky, his mouth a grim line, gazes sidelong at the title of his latest album
Rachmaninov Romances.
Following up on last year’s popular Bühnenweihfestspielkrieg competition, a challenge to be detailed after the jump.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
