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.
For those who are interested, the following clip will help establish the tonality of Rolando Villazòn‘s final aria last night. Rolando’s key (This clip was sent to La Cieca by a member of the cher public who prefers to remain anonymous. The clip is provided for discussion purposes only.)
“It’s been long enough, Ephraim.” JudyCast has decided to join the human race again!
A new feature just introduced on the Met’s website allows customers to view and select exact seats available for a given performance. It’s handy for those of us in the audience who prefer a certain row or area, but another less obvious benefit is that the online maps offer a snapshot of how ticket sales […]
Your doyenne dusts off her singing pipes and then welcomes a guest from the Great White Way into our luxurious new Sunnyside studios, all as introduction to the third act of Adriana Lecouvreur starring Magda Olivero, on this week’s Unnatural Acts of Opera. Adriana Lecouvreur, Act 3
All the way from exotic Portland, Operaman writes: Yesterday I attended the Met HD transmission of Orfeo ed Euridice and, once I have told you my reactions and feelings about this show, I cannot wait to hear what members of your cher public who saw or heard it have to say about it. And I […]
Far too easy, or at least far too straightforward, was last week’s Regie quiz. From the very beginning Lindoro and many others recognized Pfitzner’s Palestrina. The very handsome production was seen recently at the Bavarian State Opera. Christian Stückl was the director and Stefan Hageneier the designer. Is this week’s quiz a trifle more challenging? […]
But you might call it deconstruction avant la lettre. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/rarkvZ4Cc0A” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
La Cieca is perhaps a little slow on the uptake these days. Your dimwitted doyenne only just noticed (when it was pointed out to her, that is) that the conductor for Anna Netrebko‘s return to the stage at the Mariinsky on January 14 was Keri-Lynn Wilson. Ms. Wilson is of course not only a distinguished […]
Heldentenordiva Jon Villars (center, in mohawk) “basically fired himself by walking off the stage” at a public dress rehearsal for the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Fidelio. According to a report in The Globe and Mail, Villars stormed off stage immediately after conductor Gregor Buhl “loudly sang out a few phrases of the tenor’s part” […]
La Cieca is naturally drawn to a headline reading “Upheaval at the Opera House” as bees to honey or ugly to a bear. Imagine her surprise, then, when the titular upheaval has nothing to do with Dallas Opera, the New York City Opera, La Scala, or even the Met. So far as she can make […]
Vivian Della Chiesa, “Toscanini’s favorite soprano,” died on Tuesday. She was 94. Della Chiesa is heard in the Trio from I Lombardi with Jan Peerce and Nicola Moscona, conducted by Arturo Toscanini, in a radio concert from January 31, 1943. “Qui posa il fianco… Qual volutta trascorrere”
“Dancing in the streets exaggerates only a bit. In Dallas, any tears shed over his departure would barely fill a thimble.” Jeremy Gerard sums up the reaction of George Steel‘s departure from Dallas in Bloomberg News.
Gerard “La Môme” Mortier told Le Monde yesterday that he has “no regrets” walking away from the New York City Opera. The wily Belgian impresario added, “But through it all, when there was doubt, I ate it up and spit it out. I faced it all and I stood tall; and did it my way.” […]
Since there’s nothing new on Sirius, no HD telecast, or a new Unnatural Acts of Opera tonight, La Cieca thought we might revisit the golden age of two decades ago for a classic performance of The Dentist of Seville. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/Yqj8GcTPfhY” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
In today’s Dallas Morning News, Scott Cantrell explains how Stephen Costello “steals [an] aging queen’s heart.”
Is there a grassroots “Draft Placido Domingo” movement afoot, or is there genuine hostility to Peter Gelb somewhere in the Met administration? Page Six goes on the rant today, with quotes from a source who is already mourning the demise of that Franco Zeffirelli Tosca, nine months before it’s officially out of the repertoire.
La Cieca wishes her dear, dear, dear friend many happy returns, and reminds her cher public that Charlie’s podcasts (gleaned from his vastissimo collection) are about the best opera you can find anywhere on the web.
La Cieca wants to take this opportunity to offer her best wishes to the 44th President of the United States.
The people have spoken, and so from henceforth George Steel will be known by his, whatchamacallit, you know, his sobriquet, which (per your decree) is “The Man of Steel.” La Cieca thought she should review at least a couple of the biggest challenges facing The Man of Steel as he and the NYCO begin a restoration project […]
La Cieca’s dear friend Donald Collup discovers and conflates operatic “oddities” into a popular series of party discs collectively entitled “Shall I Go On?” Here, ahead even of Mr. Collup, La Cieca presents the first notable Oddity of 2009, which was forwarded to your doyenne by a member of the cher public who prefers to […]
Before we start our daily Steelathon, La Cieca wants to ask you, cher public: which nickname should your doyenne use in future for the NYCO’s new honcho: “Two-Face” or “The Man of Steel?” Okay, so our first story of the day is an editorial in the New York Times welcoming, well, you know who to […]
Well played, Tannengrin: your guess of Lucia di Lammermoor for our most recent Regie quiz was right on the mark. Hunkentenor fanciers among you will be interested to hear that the shirtless stripling in the third photo is Edgardo, in the person of Vittorio Grigolo. La Cieca cannot offer even seminudity in this week’s quiz, […]
La Cieca’s nemesis, with the eyes of the world watching, goes on her best behavior. (Well, except for that one note at 2:16, but nobody’s perfect.) Ah, if only this were change we could believe in! [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/eg_xFto88bQ” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
Dramatic mezzo Ildikó Komlósi and traumatic mess Elizabeth Taylor.
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