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 Met website just announced this week’s set of winners in the “$25 Weekend Ticket” lottery. La Cieca counts 260 pairs of ducats awarded for the December 12 Tristan und Isolde and 50 for the following night’s Don Giovanni. Your doyenne is interested to hear if any of you cher public participated in this week’s…
It turns out that La Cieca’s fanciful prediction (of what Renée Fleming would wear from the Christian Lacroix collection) was not so far off after all! More images from the Met’s Thaïs after the jump.Â
Counter Critic eschews false modesty long enough to offer a proposal for the New York City Opera.
Extended clips of the La Scala Don Carlo as telecast on Sunday night — after the jump.
La Cieca thanks her cher public for joining her last night for yet another of your doyenne’s notorious online live chats. Starting at 7:45 PM, La Cieca and approximately 50 members of the parterre posse indulged in a little catty camaraderie during the Sirius and RealNetworks broadcast of Massenet’s fin-de-siècle fantasia. UPDATE (Friday): La Cieca’s…
Glimpses of last night’s Don Carlo prima at La Scala:
A foundation created by the late soprano Birgit Nilsson will award a prize of one million dollars this year to an “outstanding achievement of a concert or opera singer, a classical or opera conductor, or a specific production by an opera company.” The first award winner was chosen by Ms. Nilsson herself and the foundation…
Maestro Daniele Gatti enters the pit at La Scala for the second act of Don Carlo.
Next week in New York will be notable for more than just Renée Fleming‘s first local whack at Thaïs. In fact, the night of Wednesday December 10 promises the convergence of two of La Cieca’s favorite demoiselles of dementia, Jessye Normous and Dorothy Bishop performing within minute and blocks of each other. La Bishop’s show,…
La Cieca has just heard that as of this afternoon, La Scala has dismissed Giuseppe Filianoti from their opening night new production of Don Carlos (scheduled for a worldwide telecast Sunday) and replaced him for the entire run of performances with American tenor Stuart Neill. Per La Cieca’s source, at the Thursday open dress rehearsal…
“Belgian Gerard Mortier said Thursday he hopes to turn Madrid’s Teatro Real into one of Europe’s top opera houses when he takes over as artistic director, adding that many of his productions would be from the 20th century.” [via AFP]
“In response to the recession, the Metropolitan Opera’s Board of Directors has decided to subsidize some of the best seats for weekend evening performances for the duration of the opera season. Approximately 16,000 prime seats in the Orchestra and Grand Tier, ranging in price from $295 to $140, will be available for $25 through a…
According to the Met’s website, Gary Lehman is singing Tristan in tomorrow’s broadcast. At this rate, he’s going to end up one of the most recorded Heldentenors in history!
Doyenne of operatic tradition Montserrat Caballé offers her opinions on the art of her compatriot Calixto Bieito. (And what a very fair and balanced attitude the lady has!) [kml_flashembed movie=”http://de.youtube.com/v/IzYXu68wKfo” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /] And La Cieca herself heard from an old. old, old friend who has sung a leading role in one of Bieito’s…
[probably NSFW!] [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/tVOvQuy2IIk” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
The very first issue of parterre box (the queer opera zine) was published on December 3, 1993, the 70th anniversary of the of birth Maria Callas. And so that must mean that parterre box is exactly 15 years old today! To kick off what La Cieca devoutly hopes will be festivities, here is an interview…
Gary Lehman sings Tristan tonight at the Met, replacing the ailing Peter Seiffert.
A loyal reader reports seeing this blurb in the “normally staid” program book of the Los Angeles Opera: THE FLY BREAKS UNIQUE RECORD House management at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion reports that the lobby staff regularly sold out of binoculars for every performance of The Fly. Sales were reported to be especially brisk after the…
Some disturbing speculations from a reader in Vienna: Just in case you are one of those opera lovers who believe that Deborah Voigt has one of the greatest voices ever, don’t read any further and press “delete”. I just heard her Salome at the Vienna Staatsoper. It was a disaster. The audience booed her ferociously,…
The genre-defying art of Florence Foster Jenkins is reborn in her namesake, Katherine. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/XFVhHL75PQg” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
For those of you who are perhaps still wondering how (or whether) Medea ends. Medea, Acts 2 and 3
Our Own Gualtier Maldè reports: The Met’s orchestra and audience have found a new conductor to love: Daniel Barenboim.  The debutante conductor got a huge ovation before he even lifted his baton. Lots of applause for Danny B. all night from an adoring audience including a generous amount at his final bow. There was lots of touchy feely…
La Cieca thanks all of you for joining her for tonight’s chat! If you enjoyed tonight’s event, please drop by La Cieca’s Holiday Store.
Some of you cher public will no doubt see the pendulum as swinging too far in the other direction, but La Cieca finds this particularly convincing and exciting deptiction of the relationship between Don Giovanni and Leporello a refreshing change of pace after the listless staging of Mozart’s masterpiece currently in the Met’s repertory. The…
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
