La Cieca
James Jorden (who writes under the names "La Cieca" and "Our Own JJ") is the founder and editor of parterre box. During his 20 year career as an opera critic he has written for the New York Times, Opera, Gay City News, Opera Now, Musical America and the New York Post. He has also raised his voice in punditry on National Public Radio. From time to time he has directed opera, including three unsuccessful productions of Don Giovanni, a work he hopes to return to someday. Currently he alternates his doyenne duties with writing a weekly column on opera for the New York Observer.
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The conundrum “Whose side is Anna Netrebko on?” fascinated the readers of parterre box in March.
By La Cieca
Happy 82nd birthday to actress Penelope Keith.
By La Cieca
Ailyn Pérez is Tatiana opposite Igor Golovatenko in the title role of the urbane nobleman who rejects her, much to his later dismay.
By La Cieca
Two thrilling sopranos join forces as Nina Stemme reprises her acclaimed portrayal of the title heroine and Lise Davidsen makes her role debut as Chrysothemis.
By La Cieca
Philippe Jordan conducts Christian Gerhaher, Sean Panikkar, Jörg Schneider, Dmitry Belosselskiy and Anja Kampe in a live performance from the Vienna State Opera.
By La Cieca
Anna Netrebko has issued a statement explicitly condemning the war in Ukraine.
By La Cieca
Happy 73rd birthday actress, comedian, talk show host, and singer Vicki Lawrence.
By La Cieca
Ailyn Pérez makes her role debut as Tatiana opposite Igor Golovatenko in the title role of the urbane nobleman who rejects her, much to his later dismay.
By La Cieca
“Eleonora Buratto will make her role debut as Elisabeth de Valois in Verdi’s Don Carlo in the 2022–23 season, replacing Anna Netrebko for the first five performances of the run.”
By La Cieca
RAI TV5 will televise Ai Weiwei’s production from the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma.
By La Cieca
Michael Fabiano makes his role debut as Calaf in this performance from the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma.
By La Cieca
The Bard Conservatory Orchestra joins an exciting principal cast of singers in a semi-staged performance of Richard Strauss’s once infamous, now famous opera, directed by R. B. Schlather.
By La Cieca
Captivating soprano Elza van den Heever sings her first Handel at the Met, making her role debut as the title heroine of the composer’s stunning Baroque drama. Harry Bicket conducts.
By La Cieca
From the Metropolitan Opera, Matthew Polenzani, Sonya Yoncheva, Jamie Barton, Etienne Dupuis, Eric Owens and John Relyea.
By La Cieca
Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Ségui will lead the Met Orchestra and Chorus and star soloists.
By La Cieca
Krassimira Stoyanova, Oksana Volkova, Francesco Meli, Georg Zeppenfeld and Quinn Kelsey; conducted by Christian Thielemann.
By La Cieca
For this live broadcast, Marek Janowski conducts Lise Davidsen, Brandon Jovanovich, Brenda Rae, Sean Michael Plumb and Isabel Leonard.
By La Cieca
Soprano Elza van den Heever makes her role debut as the title heroine. Harry Bicket conducts a cast that also features mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, countertenors Iestyn Davies and Anthony Roth Costanzo, tenor Paul Appleby, and bass-baritone Adam Plachetka.
By La Cieca
The Metropolitan Opera announced today “A Concert for Ukraine” on Monday, March 14, at 6:00pm ET, with Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin leading the Met Orchestra and Chorus.
By La Cieca
The Bayerische Staatsoper streams its new production of Britten’s tragedy. Conductor: Edward Gardner. Production: Stefan Herheim.
By La Cieca
From January 6, 1973: Richard Bonynge; Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Regina Resnik, Fernando Corena
By La Cieca
“Plus, he never laid a glove on those kids.” — Jonas Kaufmann, probably.
By La Cieca
