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.
La Bohème
Starring Sonya Yoncheva, Susanna Phillips, Michael Fabiano, Lucas Meachem, and Matthew Rose conducted by Marco Armiliato. Production by Franco Zeffirelli. From February 24, 2018.
Dialogues des Carmélites
Starring Isabel Leonard, Adrianne Pieczonka and Karita Mattila, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Production by John Dexter. From May 11, 2019.
Christa Ludwig 1928 – 2021
The renowned interpreter of Wagner, Mozart and Strauss for more than four decades died yesterday.
Fidelio
The first stream of this performance, starring Karita Mattila, Ben Heppner, Falk Struckmann, and René Pape, conducted by James Levine. Production by Jürgen Flimm. From October 28, 2000.
Satyagraha
Starring Rachelle Durkin, Richard Croft, Kim Josephson, and Alfred Walker, conducted by Dante Anzolini. Production by Phelim McDermott. From November 19, 2011.
Simon Boccanegra
First time streaming, starring Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Vasile Moldoveanu, Sherrill Milnes and Paul Plishka, conducted by James Levine. Production by Tito Capobianco. From December 29, 1984.
“The Polish Yma Sumac”
“Czeslawa Gospodarek (née Cieslak), known by her stage name Violetta Villas, was a Polish and international cabaret star, singer, actress, composer and songwriter.”
La Fanciulla del West
Starring Deborah Voigt, Marcello Giordani, and Lucio Gallo, conducted by Nicola Luisotti. Production by Giancarlo Del Monaco. From January 8, 2011.
Tristan und Isolde
Performance of January 18, 2015. Conductor: Peter Schneider. Production: David McVicar
With: Peter Seiffert, Iréne Theorin, Albert Dohmen, Tomasz Konieczny, Petra Lang.
La Clemenza di Tito
Starring Lucy Crowe, Barbara Frittoli, Elina Garanca, Kate Lindsey, Giuseppe Filianoti, and Oren Gradus, conducted by Harry Bicket. Production by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle. From December 1, 2012.
Gold will never fill an empty heart
Born on this day in 1924 actress, director and educator Nina Foch.
Lohengrin
Starring Eva Marton, Leonie Rysanek, Peter Hofmann, Leif Roar, and John Macurdy, conducted by James Levine. Production by August Everding. From January 10, 1986.
Don Carlo
Michael Fabiano appears in the title role of the Spanish crown prince and Ana María Martínez as his beloved, Elisabetta. René Pape sings King Philip II with Mariusz Kwiecien as Carlo’s friend Rodrigo and Nadia Krasteva as Princess Eboli. Former San Francisco Opera Music Director Nicola Luisotti leads the SFO Orchestra.
Parsifal
UPDATE: Now streaming, the new Vienna Parsifal as recorded Sunday April 11.
Turandot
The apex of the Met’s “Greed Is Good” aesthetic, starring Eva Marton, Leona Mitchell, Plácido Domingo, and Paul Plishka, conducted by James Levine. Production by Franco Zeffirelli. From April 4, 1987.
Rusalka
Starring Kristine Opolais, Katarina Dalayman, Jamie Barton, Brandon Jovanovich, and Eric Owens, conducted by Sir Mark Elder. Production by Mary Zimmerman. From February 25, 2017.
La traviata
Starring Ermonela Jaho, Charles Castronovo and Placido Domingo.
Der Fliegende Holländer
In Klaipeda State Music Theatre’s large-scale open-air production, Richard Wagner’s opera is performed mere miles from where the first motifs of The Flying Dutchman were born in the stormy Baltic Sea
Iolanta / Bluebeard’s Castle
Starring Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala in Iolanta, and Nadja Michael and Mikhail Petrenko in Bluebeard’s Castle, conducted by Valery Gergiev. Production by Mariusz Trelinski. From February 14, 2015.
Cendrillon
Starring Kathleen Kim, Joyce DiDonato, Alice Coote, Stephanie Blythe, and Laurent Naouri, conducted by Bertrand de Billy. Production by Laurent Pelly. From April 28, 2018.
Luisa Miller
Starring Sonya Yoncheva, Olesya Petrova, Piotr Beczala, Plácido Domingo, Alexander Vinogradov, and Dmitry Belosselskiy, conducted by Bertrand de Billy. Production by Elijah Moshinsky. From April 14, 2018.
Roméo et Juliette
Starring Anna Netrebko, Roberto Alagna, Nathan Gunn, and Robert Lloyd, conducted by Plácido Domingo. Production by Guy Joosten. From December 15, 2007.
La Bohème
Performance from October 2, 2017: Alexander Soddy conducts Angel Blue (Mimì), Brigitte Kele (Musetta), Dmytro Popov (Rodolfo), Lucas Meachem (Marcello), Duncan Rock (Schaunard), David Soar (Colline), Paul Plishka (Benoit/Alcindoro).
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!
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).
