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’s question here is exactly what we should be expecting Fabio Luisi to do as a “Guest” at the Met over the next few years? Will he get his own projects, or is going be end up relegated to being Jimmy’s standby (Der Levinespringer)?
This story involves money, so it’s impossible for La Cieca to understand. Nina, darling, would you hasten to our aid?
Which Met title-roler will be declared “ill” by week’s end? (You should know your time is up when the company starts hearing auditioners sing your big aria!)
Fabulous Fabio Luisi (left) has just been named Principal Guest Conductor at the Met, only the second maestro to be so titled in the company’s history. [NY Times]
It’s official: Elizabeth Futral will sing the role of Ophélie in Washington National Opera’s production of Hamlet, replacing Diana Damrau who, according to the company’s press release, “is pregnant with her first child [and] has been advised by her doctors to avoid strenuous activity and air travel, thus preventing her from being in Washington.”
Per the Met’s press office: “In this evening’s performance of Rossini’s Armida, Barry Banks will sing the role of Gernando, replacing José Manuel Zapata, who is ill. Banks will also sing the role of Carlo, which he was already scheduled to perform.”
Remember those figures you read yesterday in the New York Times citing salaries of the heads of the Metropolitan Opera, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and New York City Opera? Well, not so much. In fact, Zarin Mehta‘s reported compensation was off by only 230%. [NYT]
They are actually doing this, my dears, and with that cast! And it’s staged! Any cher pube in the environs of Liège next June is begged, entreated, and cajoled to give us a fuller report!
A charticle to interest Nina Munk and, perhaps, others of the cher public.
La Cieca just heard that Diana Damrau has canceled her engagement in Hamlet with the Washington National Opera. Heading the “star-studded” cast for this production will now be Liam Bonner / Michael Chioldi, TBA, Samuel Ramey, Elizabeth Bishop and John Tessier.
This is post number 3,000 on parterre.com.
Congratulate yourselves, cher public, as another parterre turn of phrase has entered the general lexicon.
In the well-reasoned words of Strephon, “Perruques and puffs. Rococo frou-frou seen through a 19th Century sensibility” must indicate Mignon. Director Jean-Louis Benoit staged the sentimental classic in sets by Laurent Peduzzi and costumes by Thibaut Welchlin at the Opéra Comique.
The chat for today’s much-anticipated broadcast of Tosca chat will begin at 12:30, in preparation for the 1:00 start time.
The real problem with opera today, according to Marcelo “Mouth of the South” Àlvarez? Could it be tubby tenors with teeny voices? Actually, no. The problem is… blogs.
Live chat at for tonight’s Fliegende Holländer at the usual place.
Those among the cher public inclined toward philanthropy and/or star-gazing will want to check out the details on a gala fundraising dinner and concert for the Marcello Giordani Foundation on May 7. The evening will feature performances from young singers and a litotic “Lifetime Achievement Award” presented to Magda Olivero (in virtual attendance via videoconferencing…
The very first clip was uploaded to the revolutionary video-sharing site only five years ago today!
“I agree that Gelb has had problems actually identifying what’s going to make a successful production. But I submit that the real problem is exactly the same problem the Met had under Gelb’s predecessor, Joe Volpe: not that the company engages unusual directors, but that it doesn’t let them actually do what they’re good at.…
The legendary mezzo-soprano is 75 today.
La Cieca has no word on this yet, but she is sure that reliable baritone is going to get a lot of stage time at the Met the last few weeks of the season — probably as much as he’s had since the 20th century!
La Cieca’s delight at the success of her colleague The Omniscient Mussel is equaled only by her bitter envy for the success of her colleague The Omniscient Mussel. TOM, you see, has built upon the success of last year’s #operaplot competition by signing up a slew of new opera houses to offer prize packages for…
A member of the cher public who attended yesterday’s Met Guild luncheon honoring Frederica von Stade reports: “Evelyn Lear went so far as to call [Flicka] ‘Mother Teresa — a saint.’ As part of his homage, Thomas Hampson sang one of the Cherubino arias — it was really sweet.
La Cieca hears that two spectacular events crowned last night’s performance of La sonnambula at the Vienna State Opera.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
