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.
Gli arabi nelle Gallie ossia Il trionfo della fede
Giovanni Pacini’s 1827 opera, revived for the first time since the 19th century.
Semele
Broadcast live from Munich with a number of members of the cast who will appear in the impending Met presentation of this piece.
A lady with a song
Born on this day in 1920 or so actor Yul Brynner.
Il Turco in Italia
Alex Esposito and Lisette Oropesa star at the Teatro Real de Madrid.
Theme park
On this day in 1967 the Metropolitan Opera presented its first “Met in the Parks” performance in Crocheron Park, Bayside, Queens. La bohème featured Anna Moffo, Sandor Konya, Laurel Hurley and Frank Guarrera.
Carmen
For your Friday evening chatting pleasure, a video from the Opéra Comique, Paris.
El último sueño de Frida y Diego
“Gabriela Lena Frank‘s score for Frida y Diego was nothing short of extraordinary, at times recalling Béla Bartók (in her treatment for climaxes) or Giacomo Puccini (in her handling of choruses), but the musical idioms were certainly her own. I particularly mesmerized by many instrumental solos peppered throughout the score (most particularly the bassoon and violin solos), and Frank used such device to define the characters, almost in a way of leitmotif.”
Wrong side of the tracks
Renowned musical artist Jonas Kaufmann has returned to his first true love, recording dated kitsch.
Die Frau ohne Schatten
Tonight’s chat is late (10:00 PM EDT / 7:00 PM PDT) and based on a pay-per-view event, but….
La bohème
The final Free Live Audio Stream of the Met’s 2022-2023 season.
Die Zauberflöte
“I’ve never laughed so much nor been so moved by a Zauberflöte until Simon McBurney’s where even its Busby Berkeley-flavored finale brought tears to my eyes.”
Getting better and better
Once again, La Cieca thanks you for your concern and patience during May 2023.
Der Fliegende Holländer
Tomasz Konieczny stars as the accursed Dutchman in Wagner’s haunting ghost story.
Die Zauberflöte
“Following her sublime Met debut two weeks ago leading Don Giovanni, Nathalie Stutzmann once again led a fleet and transparent reading full of ravishing detail.”
Aida
The troubled run of Verdi’s opera at the Met this season is almost over.
Don Giovanni
“One consistent feature was a tendency across the cast to tip from recitative into aria with no pause for breath or thought. The effect was almost naturalistic—if such a thing were possible in opera—and was just one example of the many ways in which the night’s music felt fresh, even urgent.”
Grace Bumbry 1937-2023
In voice, artistic sensibility and glamour, the singer was every inch a diva.
Ein Feldlager in Schlesien
Giacomo Meyerbeer’s Singspiel in three acts, as broadcast from Bonn Opera.
La bohème
Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Puccini’s timeless tragedy for the first time at the Met, leading a cast that stars Eleonora Buratto and Stephen Costello.
Don GIovanni
Peter Mattei heads a luxe cast conducted by Nathalie Stutzmann.
On the mend
La Cieca was most gratified to see that the cher public kept visiting parterre.com and commenting on every topic under the sun during her mid-April bout of illness!
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).
Win a Free Ticket to Opening Night at the Met!
Quinn Kelsey and Lise Davidsen star in the Met's new Macbeth. We're giving away one ticket, so screw your courage to the sticking place and enter now!
