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.
On this day in 1991 soprano Deborah Voigt made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Amelia.
By La Cieca
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Opera Lafayette presents John Blow’s Venus and Adonis
Renowned French lutenist Thomas Dunford returns as musical director of Venus and Adonis, a work which prefigured Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. Mezzo-soprano Lea Desandre and bass-baritone Douglas Williams return to Opera Lafayette’s stage in the title roles, and soprano Sarah Shafer makes her company debut as Cupid.
An “opera critic” is still terrified of productions that closed a generation ago.
By La Cieca
A second helping of The Gershwins’ gorgeous folk opera from the Met.
By La Cieca
Separated at smirk: base George Sanders and bass René Pape.
By La Cieca
“I showed up at dress rehearsal and doggone it, they were doing Turandot instead. Was my face ever red!”
By La Cieca
On this day in 1976 soprano Hildegard Behrens made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Giorgetta in Il tabarro.
By La Cieca
Here’s a look at the genuinely sensational performance by Asmik Grigorian in a new Manon Lescaut in Frankfurt.
By La Cieca
Puccini’s perennial tearjerker returns to the Met repertoire tonight.
By La Cieca
It is reported that the tenor died suddenly today of a heart attack in his home in Augusta, Sicily.
By La Cieca
Met diva of the moment Anna Pirozzi sings the title role in this broadcast from the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona.
By La Cieca
“In none of this was he ever anything close to perfect. Great artists never are. Without their devils there would be no angels.”
By La Cieca
Join us, cher public and stranger alike, for tonight’s broadcast.
By La Cieca
Which soprano, who’s so talented you’d think her career would go on forever, has quietly decided to retire following her current not every eventful season?
By La Cieca
“The opera superstar Plácido Domingo resigned from his position as general director of Los Angeles Opera and withdrew from his upcoming performances there on Wednesday. ” [New York Times]
By La Cieca
High concept! Joyce DiDonato is Mrs. Roper!
By La Cieca
Surely no one can be surprised to learn that the departure of Plácido Domingo from the Met was the most-read story on parterre box for the month of September.
By La Cieca
That’s right, it’s September 30, 2019 and Venomous Fishwife Norman Lebrecht claims this is the first time in his entire life he has heard that some people might find Turandot offensive.
By La Cieca
The Grammy winning opera and concert singer is dead. She was 74.
By La Cieca
Bass-baritone Craig Colclough makes his Met debut tonight in the title role of Macbeth.
By La Cieca
This overabundance of detail serves only to set La Cieca wondering who protested Ms. Davis.
By La Cieca
La Cieca has discovered a document of Plácido Domingo‘s faute de mieux Metropolitan Opera farewell performance.
By La Cieca
Rising tenor TBA is now scheduled for the role of Alfredo in La traviata at the Met, replacing Vittorio Grigolo, who has been suspended for personnel reasons.
By La Cieca
