Awl line
An appropriately ginormous discussion of Elektra and other operatic matters at that place where the cool kids hang out, The Awl.
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.
The Imaginarium of Dr. LaCieca
La Cieca (pictured) asks you to join her for a journey to a parallel universe where many of the things you see and hear will be familiar to you, whilst other details will seem so bizarre as to seem the merest raving of a lunatic. (This last role, a bit but a juicy one, will by […]
Chronic and a cutie
“Satisfy your sweet tooth with an hour full of can’t-miss Christmas cookie recipes! Bake brownies topped with festive green sprinkles with rapper Snoop Dogg… and prepare scrumptious spritz sugar cookies with soprano Renee Fleming.” [The Martha Stewart Show]
E avanti a chat tremava tutta Roma
La Cieca proposes an “experimental” chat tonight during the PBS/Channel 13 showing of Tosca as recorded at the Met earlier this year. The telecast begins at 9:00, and La Cieca would like to try out the coveritlive chat interface during the show. (So be here around 9:00 pm, ready to comment…)
Hoffnung Festival
In celebration of the 239th birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven (thanks, Camille!) La Cieca invites the cher public to share their favorite versions of the “Abscheulicher!” from Fidelio — or, for that matter, other personal Beethoven faves. La Cieca’s pick after the jump.
Amuse-bouche
“It’s no spoiler to reveal that, at the end of Hansel and Gretel, the kids defeat the witch. In the Met’s production of Humperdinck’s fairy-tale opera, the singers of the title roles steal the show, as well.” [NY POST]
Nothing to see here
Which famous family may be first in line to attend the Met’s Hansel and Gretel next week?
Last soprano standing
“As for Elektra — one of the most strenuous of opera roles — the Met seemed to have settled for a singer who could survive the ordeal.” [NY Post]
Duelling Divinas
“A-list stars Anne Hathaway and Penélope Cruz are rumoured to be in talks about taking the lead role in a joint British and Italian venture that will focus on the singer’s tempestuous relationship with the Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.” [The Guardian]
Chi è quella regie bionda lassù?
As anotherjj was quick to deduce, the lady in the kitchenette was indeed Cio-Cio-San. La Cieca will note in passing that she searched through perhaps three dozen productions of Madama Butterfly until she could find one that didn’t immediately give the game away. No matter where one goes, the Japanese Tragedy is going to feature […]
Breaking! Alagnas still married!
According to an Angela Gheorghiu fansite (and what more reliable source could La Cieca ask?), the raven-tressed diva stated in an interview on Romanian television that she and current husband Roberto Alagna have no current plans to change their current matrimonial status.
Fortune’s fool
Have you heard the most recent update on the Franco Zeffirelli outburst earlier this week at the Rome Opera?
Canteen confidential
Which married divo and “adored” diva were seen playing grab-ass as they left the canteen, presumably to return to rehearsal, only to lose their way for at least 20 minutes, evoking a frantic call over the house wire imploring their return to level C?
Kill Aegisth, Vol. 2
“Rache serviert genießt man am besten kalt!”
Melodramatic: the Gathering
Cher public, La Cieca welcomes you to the season’s first chat, coinciding with the Toll Brothers-Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network’s Saturday matinee broadcast. This afternoon’s opera is of course Puccini’s Il trittico. Chatting begins at noon in preparation for a 12:30 pm curtain time.
Wo bleibt der Chat?
Here’s the place for all your chatting needs, cher public, during tonight’s broadcast of Elektra from the Met. The official chat begins at 7:45 pm for an 8:00 curtain.
The words “ao vivo” are thrown around a lot these days…
Long before there was Miranda, there was “La Perle Noire du Brésil,” Natalia De Andrade.
Woolfe whistle
La Cieca’s old, old, old friend Zachary Woolfe will take to the airwaves tomorrow morning to discuss, among other less titillating topics, the controversial omission of pastied boobage from the Met’s impending HD of Les Contes d’Hoffmann. You can hear Zack on WQXR’s Arts File at 8:30am, on 105.9FM or wqxr.org.
Smooth criminal
“Michael Jackson was the true postmodern castrato,” says Cecilia Bartoli. [El País]
To boldly go where too many regies have gone before
Okay, La Cieca is finally ready to add another hard and fast “don’t” to her Rules for Stage Directors. To wit: Even if a scene calls for something fantastical, and even if the mezzo doesn’t actually walk out of the production when she first sees the costume… if your imagery immediately and inevitably screams “Star […]
Reading, writing and regie
The dreaded Regie rears its ugly head in an unexpected venue: a children’s Christmas pageant! “Humbug teachers at a primary school have come under fire for re-writing this year’s Christmas pantomime of Hansel and Gretel – to make them hooded yobs. “The fairytale characters have been re-cast as violent thugs who terrorise their neighbourhood and […]
Scourge of women
“I cannot clothe them! I need models!” Miuccia Prada “reportedly groaned” when confronted with “curvy” supers hired for the Met’s new production of Attila. [Page Six]
“It’s about this whale…”
Preternaturally boyish composer Jake Heggie is putting finishing touches on his orchestration for his opera Moby-Dick. The cetacean tuner, “huge strings” and all, is set for an April debut in Dallas. [KERA]
Jacques off
“…the director doesn’t end with the ties between Offenbach and Hoffman. He connects the thematic dots, as if it were logically inevitable, to Kafka, who — wait for it — was also a Jew! This is indeed true, but Mr. Sher could just have easily have chosen Norman Podhoretz.” [NY Observer]