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.


Post of great Price Post of great Price

The ineffable Miss Leontyne Price, anthologized as a subject for Chris’s Cache, swept the board in January 2023.

on February 01, 2023 at 11:42 AM
Aida Aida

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.

on January 29, 2023 at 10:49 AM
I vespri siciliani I vespri siciliani

This new production of Verdi’s grand opera will star Piero Pretti, Marina Rebeka, Luca Micheletti and Simon Lim.

on January 28, 2023 at 10:00 AM
La traviata La traviata

Ermonela Jaho takes her leave of the role of Violetta at the Met tonight.

on January 26, 2023 at 5:28 PM
L’elisir d’amore L’elisir d’amore

A sunny opera for a gray winter afternoon.

on January 21, 2023 at 11:10 AM
Dialogues des Carmélites Dialogues des Carmélites

A first listen to this season’s remarkably strong cast for Poulenc’s masterpiece.

on January 18, 2023 at 3:30 PM
Fedora Fedora

Live from the Met: Sonya Yoncheva sings the title role of the 19th-century Russian princess, opposite Piotr Beczala as the dashing Count Loris.

on January 14, 2023 at 10:00 AM
L’elisir d’amore L’elisir d’amore

Featuring Golda Schultz as the clever Adina and Javier Camarena as the hapless Nemorino.

on January 10, 2023 at 3:38 PM
“Ne me refuse pas!” “Ne me refuse pas!”

So, give me three good reasons we should not hear Jamie Barton as the mother of Salomé?

on January 07, 2023 at 6:00 PM
Medea Medea

“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.

on January 07, 2023 at 10:00 AM
“The greatest dream” “The greatest dream”

On this day in 1955 contralto Marian Anderson made her historic Metropolitan Opera debut.

on January 07, 2023 at 6:00 AM
La traviata La traviata

Soprano Ermonela Jaho brings her celebrated interpretation of La traviata to the Met at long last.

on January 05, 2023 at 1:00 PM
Step aside, Texas Step aside, Texas

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.

on January 02, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Brute force Brute force

On this day in 1979 the Metropolitan Opera presented a revival of Elektra that failed to live up to former glories.

on January 02, 2023 at 6:00 AM
Aida Aida

From Detroit Opera, divas Angel Blue and Christine Goerke make role debuts, respectively as Aida and Amneris.

on December 30, 2022 at 3:44 PM
A victorious return A victorious return

On this day in 1969, the Metropolitan Opera opened its season, delayed more than three months due to prolonged labor-management negotiations.

on December 29, 2022 at 6:00 AM
Renegade princess Renegade princess

Happy 41st birthday soprano Sonya Yoncheva.

on December 25, 2022 at 1:31 PM
The Magic Flute The Magic Flute

Today’s abridged performance begins an hour early.

on December 24, 2022 at 9:26 AM
Can you prove that it didn’t happen? Can you prove that it didn’t happen?

Coming soon: an opera adaptation of the cult film Plan 9 from Outer Space.

on December 22, 2022 at 3:48 PM
Aida Aida

Michelle Bradley takes the title role in this live performance from the Met.

on December 21, 2022 at 3:17 PM
Rachvelishvili recedes! Rachvelishvili recedes!

Mezzo Anita Rachvelishvili has canceled all her remaining Met performances of Aida due to illness.

on December 17, 2022 at 1:56 PM
Rigoletto Rigoletto

Luca Salsi, Lisette Oropesa and Stephen Costello star in this live broadcast.

on December 17, 2022 at 8:20 AM
O mio pompino caro O mio pompino caro

If you already know the answer to this one, keep it under your hat!

on December 14, 2022 at 1:23 PM
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

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.

on December 11, 2022 at 9:00 AM
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