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.
Now, you know La Cieca likes taking a confrontational attitude with operatic authority figures as much as any other gadfly. But she is going to say that this Jeremy Gerard may be carrying the bitch-slapping just a wee bit too far in his current Bloomberg.com screed on the New York City Opera’s year-long hiatus (“City […]
Excerpt from Madama Butterfly, 18 October 1974, San Francisco, CA. Cio-Cio-San: Renata Scotto; Suzuki: Judith Forst.
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Bryn Terfel has returned to the Royal Opera after “a break from opera during which he sang concerts, saw his family and indulged a passion for sport.” [via Reuters]
Angel Taormina is back and she’s remixed!
If Florida Grand Opera can survive the critics, the company need have no fear of the recession! Singing, direction sink opera Leah Partridge provides fleeting sparks in lackluster “Lakme”
Angela Gheorghiu has canceled tonight’s performance of Rondine at the Met; presumably Maureen O’Flynn Katie Van Kooten will go on.
Courtesy of a particularly dear member of the cher public, La Cieca brings to you the printable Met Season Calendar for 2009-2010. Download PDF.
Those of you who have been fretting about the recent decline in dowdy, badly-coiffed divas who buy their gowns online will be happy to know that Fiorenza Cedolins is bucking the trend. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/CEzNJPYyKX0″ width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
Two weeks later, and the drollery just keeps a-drippin’ in the competition to provide some explanation for a rather curious opera scene depicting a lady apparently trying to drown a chambermaid in a hotel bathtub. The snappiest comeback, in La Cieca’s opinion, issued from wotan_in_inman, “We’ll disguise ourselves to fool both the Count and Figaro. […]
La Cieca proudly presents the latest Unnatural Act of Opera, a 1974 concert performance of Salome. Salome Narraboth: George Shirley; Jokanaan: Norman Bailey; Salome: Birgit Nilsson; Herodes: Ragnar Ulfung; Herodias: Ruth Hesse; Page: Sandra Walker. Carnegie Hall, New York. December 18, 1974. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti.
La Cieca hears that Sondra Radvanovsky is not, in fact, making her Met farewell this year, but will return to the company in future seasons. Your doyenne is not sure what lesson to take away from this experience: either that whining to the media prematurely makes you look like a fool later on, or else […]
UPDATE:Â “Joining City Opera will be Director of Artistic Planning Edward Yim, perhaps best known for playing an integral role in the exciting and highly successful multidisciplinary programming at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Casting Advisor Steven Blier, an eminent pianist and vocal coach who is equally at home in the traditional operatic repertoire and […]
“In Adriana Lecouvreur, Domingo manages to portray plausibly a character young enough to be his grandson. He is the dashing Count Maurizio, who is entangled in a romantic triangle with the celebrated actress Adriana and a scheming princess. The count’s excuse for two-timing Adriana is perhaps the most original in the history of cheating. He’s […]
Florida Grand Opera announced today that Music Director Stewart Robertson has decided to relinquish his position at the conclusion of the current season in May 2009. It should be noted Robertson has not completely pried his mouth off the American teat, as he will continue as Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Florida based Atlantic […]
Placido Domingo has been named the winner of the first $1 million Birgit Nilsson Prize for achievements in classical music. [via AP]
Sharp-eyed reader Sadie Salome writes: It seems I was the only one spent much of last night’s letter scene peering through her binoculars at Karita Mattila‘s fine acting, because I see no report on your site of last night’s mishap (and if it isn’t on your site, then it obviously hasn’t been reported anywhere!) As you […]
Our Own JJ is shown here “wrangling” the dancers for his friend Dorothy Bishop‘s cabaret show last night at Splash. There were supposed to be only two dancers, which is more than enough to fill the very small Splash window ledge of a stage. But three showed up: E.J., Alain and Michele. La Bishop is […]
“Gypsy camp! Almost a dance outright! Sweaty musclemen! Rhythmically coordinated swings! Throbbing … impetuous … distinctive … alluring … dusky … creamy … robust … restless … full of yearning … hard-edged!” [After Dark NYT]
La Cieca thinks any revival of Adriana Lecouvreur is reason for rejoicing, though this photo made her stop and wonder: since when does Hillary Clinton sing verismo? Oh, all right, it’s La Cieca’s little joke. Our Secretary of State has not sung any opera role, recently anyhow. The Hillary lookalike is none other than Nelly […]
Let’s talk about chest: theories, recollections, examples, caveats… All about chest, in fact. To start the conversational ball rolling, here’s what some celebrated mid 20th century divas have to say about the subject of chest voice. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/j2hd_2m1qXE” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /] Chest nut Charlie Handelman has so much to say on “voce di petto” […]
Sirius XM Radio will avoid bankruptcy thanks to a half-billion dollar loan from Liberty Media. The “bailout” assures that the satellite company’s Metropolitan Opera Radio will stay on the air for now. [via Washington Post]
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