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 Cieca knows little of the ways and means of gala-giving, so you tell her: what does it mean when NYCO’s Spring Gala is already available for half price on “luxury discount” website Gilt Groupe?
Repertory for “Bel Canto at Caramoor” 2011: H.M.S. Pinafore and Guillaume Tell.
“Though Bernstein’s own marriage had its complexities (he was bisexual)…” [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Opera Chic reported a couple of days ago that “[t]he Italian mezzo married her longtime boyfriend, big buff Swiss bass-baritone, Oliver Widmer. However, there is no official confirmation of the nuptials, and a closer reading of the Chic’s purported source for the news suggests that Bartoli and her beau are “just good friends,” as we…
The evergreen American diva was born February 10, 1927.
“The L.A. Phil’s new season is up, too, and the big news there is (for me anyway) the premiere of a new sacred oratorio by John Adams, entitled The Gospel According to the Other Mary. Maybe he gave it that title to distinguish it from a forthcoming work by Mark Adamo. “What? No, I meant…
“…LA Opera’s 2010/11 25th Anniversary Season will continue with Benjamin Britten’s suspenseful masterpiece The Turn of the Screw, opening at 7:30pm on Saturday, March 12, 2011 . . . . Irish mezzo-soprano Anne Murray makes her Company debut as the housekeeper Mrs. Grose, the governess’ only ally.” (Los Angeles Opera press release)
As perhaps you may have heard hinted hereabouts, “Gary Lehman and Stephen Gould will sing the role of Siegfried in the Met’s 2011-12 season performances of Wagner’s Siegfried and Götterdämmerung, replacing Ben Heppner who has retired the role from his repertory.” That’s according to a release from the Met’s press office less than an hour…
La Cieca is delighted to note that philanthropist Agnes Varis (not pictured, obviously) will subsidize 500 premium seats at Avery Fisher Hall for the Opera Orchestra of New York’s performance of Meyerbeer’s L’Africaine conducted by Music Director Eve Queler on March 2, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
La Cieca hears that the continuation of the Ring cycle at the Met next season will go on without the participation of Ben Heppner. We’ll have more details next week when the Met makes their season announcement, but La Cieca’s impression is that the two Siegfrieds are at the moment some combination of Gary Lehman…
Gather around to chat tonight, cher public, during yet another La boheme.
Faithful reader Sadie Salome writes, “Don’t know if you saw last night’s marketing email from the Met promoting their Valentine’s Day e-card website: “This Valentine’s day fall in love at the Met Opera.” Well, I did not like their schmaltzy selection of cards, so I made some of my own from my favorite romantic opera…
Courtesy of contextual ad placement, here’s a quick and easy way to remember the meaning of the German term “Kulturbanause.”
Our most recent Regie quiz was just too easy! Among many correct guesses ipomoea was first to discern Carmen amongst the pit bulls and jockstraps, followed closely by Billys Butt and WeillFan offering important refinements to the original theory. The production for Opera North was by Daniel Kramer. No dogs in the current quiz, but…
As La Cieca always so magnanimously says, “E vo gridando: pace! E vo gridando: chat!” The subject of today’s discussion is Simon Boccanegra, live from the Met at 1:00 pm.
“A milestone in history, a hyped Met premiere and a gaggle of A-list artists added up to something less than a sensation Wednesday night when the Metropolitan Opera offered its first performance of John Adams’ Nixon in China.” [New York Post]
Overheard after last night’s performance of Nixon in China: “That’s the first time I’ve heard the word ‘motherfuckers’ shouted from the Met stage since John Dexter resigned.”
All this talk about girls and ladies prompted La Cieca to turn (not for the first time!) to Brad Wilber’s Met Futures Page, freshly updated just a couple of days ago. So detailed and fascinating is Brad’s vision of the future that La Cieca is inspired to invite the cher public to play a little…
Which girl proved so popular that she will return next year, all grown up into a lady?
La Cieca (not pictured) invites the cher public to a meeting of the minds this evening at 8:00 pm during the Metropolitan Opera premiere of Nixon in China.
Many happy returns to two big-voiced, big-haired sopranos who are still very much with us!
The golden-voiced gay icon was born 89 years ago today.
La Cieca (pictured) is going to go out on a limb here, cher public, based on bits and pieces of gossip, a hard fact or two, and her own occasionally flawed powers of ratiocination. Her prediction: James Levine will retire as Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 season.…
Today’s afternoon chat should be a special treat for the legions of Radvandovskyites out there in Extended Parterriana. The Tosca palaver will begin at 1:00 pm.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
