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.
The ineffable Miss Leontyne Price, anthologized as a subject for Chris’s Cache, swept the board in January 2023.
By La Cieca
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Recorded at the Vienna State Opera earlier this month: Anna Netrebko sings her first Aida and Jonas Kaufmann his first Radames at the Vienna State Opera, Elina Garanca makes her long-awaited debut as Amneris, Luca Salsi can be heard as Amonasro.
By La Cieca
This new production of Verdi’s grand opera will star Piero Pretti, Marina Rebeka, Luca Micheletti and Simon Lim.
By La Cieca
Ermonela Jaho takes her leave of the role of Violetta at the Met tonight.
By La Cieca
A first listen to this season’s remarkably strong cast for Poulenc’s masterpiece.
By La Cieca
Live from the Met: Sonya Yoncheva sings the title role of the 19th-century Russian princess, opposite Piotr Beczala as the dashing Count Loris.
By La Cieca
Featuring Golda Schultz as the clever Adina and Javier Camarena as the hapless Nemorino.
By La Cieca
So, give me three good reasons we should not hear Jamie Barton as the mother of Salomé?
By La Cieca
“Sondra Radvanovsky has an unconventional voice that is suited to unconventional characters and is best used in rangy, difficult music,” as heard on today’s Met broadcast.
By La Cieca
On this day in 1955 contralto Marian Anderson made her historic Metropolitan Opera debut.
By La Cieca
Soprano Ermonela Jaho brings her celebrated interpretation of La traviata to the Met at long last.
By La Cieca
The fraught opening night of what surely must be this time around the final hurrah of the Mets old Aida production: That’s what people wanted to read about in December.
By La Cieca
On this day in 1979 the Metropolitan Opera presented a revival of Elektra that failed to live up to former glories.
By La Cieca
From Detroit Opera, divas Angel Blue and Christine Goerke make role debuts, respectively as Aida and Amneris.
By La Cieca
On this day in 1969, the Metropolitan Opera opened its season, delayed more than three months due to prolonged labor-management negotiations.
By La Cieca
Today’s abridged performance begins an hour early.
By La Cieca
Coming soon: an opera adaptation of the cult film Plan 9 from Outer Space.
By La Cieca
Michelle Bradley takes the title role in this live performance from the Met.
By La Cieca
Mezzo Anita Rachvelishvili has canceled all her remaining Met performances of Aida due to illness.
By La Cieca
Luca Salsi, Lisette Oropesa and Stephen Costello star in this live broadcast.
By La Cieca
If you already know the answer to this one, keep it under your hat!
By La Cieca
A live performance from the Vienna State Opera featuring Michael Volle, Georg Zeppenfeld, Wolfgang Koch, David Butt Philip and Hanna-Elisabeth Müller, conducted by Philippe Jordan.
By La Cieca
