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 winner of the Which Witch quiz is Lindoro, who will receive Cult Opera of the 1970s.Â
Just in time for Halloween, an all-new profile by Anne Midgette, “The Undead Diva: Renée Fleming Has Virtuosity Under Control.”
You voted, cher public, and La Cieca delivers on her campaign promises. Herewith the three most-requested mystery Ulricas. Use these sound clips wisely in formulating your entries in the Which Witch competition. Ulrica #3 Ulrica #8 Ulrica #11
Washington National Opera has posted a preview clip of their Lucrezia Borgia (opening on Saturday), and La Cieca predicts they have a hit on their hands. Renée Fleming, though she looks far too young to have a grown son, seems to be singing in a more straighforward and honest way. Hunkentenor Vittorio Grigolo charms even…
In this, as in so many things, La Cieca follows the lead of friendly firebrand Maury D’Annato. Your doyenne calls on you, cher public, to help defeat California’s Proposition 8, a measure that, according to some legal scholars, could nullify thousands of existing marriages. Even in a best-case scenario, this measure would rob same-sex couples…
La Cieca is surprised to note that with only a day left in the spectacular Which Witch competition, there are only a few official entries, with a tie (10 correct each) between the top two contenders. It may be that your doyenne got a little cocky this time around and made the quiz impossibly difficult…
Un petit oiseau (dans la charmille) has just whispered to La Cieca that mythic diva Madame Vera Galupe-Borszkh will emerge briefly from semi-retirement on Halloween night as a surprise guest during the Sirius broadcast of La traviata from the Met. To avoid any confusion, La Cieca should note that “La Dementia” will not be singing…
The legendary dramatic tenor is 82 years old today. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/yyLUIxpg-KY” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /] Joining Vickers for this 1967 clip from Die Walküre is Gundula “They tried to make me go to rehab” Janowitz.
A bit of Salome from the Royal Opera, with a somewhat less skittish sense of cinematography than what we got from the Met’s HD! [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/nBAbXZptfIk” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /] Finally a chance to see Naked Busker Guy Duncan Meadows in action! (And, forgive La Cieca for saying so, but if your leading lady sounds…
Next week at The Morgan Library and Museum, New York City Opera General Manager-Designate Gerard Mortier will discuss his vision of opera. The lecture, entitled “The Excitement of 20th-Century Opera,” will focus on classic works composed by Claude Debussy, Leos Janácek, Olivier Messiaen, Karol Szymanowski, Mieczyslaw Weinberg, and others. Tickets for the program, scheduled for…
The Metropolitan Opera led all U.S. arts organizations in fundraising from private sources with $128.1 million in 2007, according to a survey of 400 nonprofits by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. [via Bloomberg]
[kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/akQ4Uhp0DOw” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /] CORRECTION: In the words of the immortal Anna Russell, La Cieca will now shriek, “I can’t count!” There are in fact 13 singers included in the “Which Witch” quiz/competition, not 11 as your doyenne previously announced. Math is hard!
“There is nothing like young performers to refresh older pieces.” [NYT]
It’s the Brokeback Ballet from Krzysztof Warlikowski‘s production of Yevgeny Onegin!
For the week of Halloween, La Cieca offers her cher public a particularly SPOOKY competition. First, listen to the composite clip below of various artists singing Ulrica’s aria from Un ballo in maschera. Then, if you think you can identify all 13 singers, do so via email to [email protected]. The first email received with all…
Biting the hand that feeds her, La Cieca notes this amazon.com listing for a new project on which La Gheorghiu wears more than one hat.
Magnificent singing actress (and longtime parterre fave) Anna Caterina Antonacci casts a spell in the title role of Cherubini’s Medea in this week’s edition of Unnatural Acts of Opera. Medea, Act 1 Medea: Anna Caterina Antonacci, Giasone: Giuseppe Filianoti, Glauce: Cinzia Forte, Creonte: Giovanni Battista Parodi, Neris: Sara Mingardo, Il capo della guardia: Diego Matamoros,…
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So, this is what La Cieca gathers in the way of hearsay and rumor about the “future” of the New York City Opera. According to an NYCO insider, in the wake of La Cieca’s speculation that Gérard Mortier might not be taking on the NYCO job after all, “total chaos ensued,” spurring an emergency meeting…
The scene: a university voice studio’s master class. The guest: Carol Vaness. The diva/pedagogue opines that a young singer is “pressing on the sound.” Y.S.: [thinks for a moment] You know, you’re right! C.V.: [unsmiling] Of course I’m right. I’m famous.
Okay, okay, La Cieca admits that this photo is not from an opera production. (In fact, it’s a scene from the new Cirque du Soleil show opening soon in New York.) However, if this were a scene from a Regie opera production, what opera would it be? As Leontyne Price reported that Richard Tucker used…
At a time of year when most opera company employees are hectically rushing about producing opera, the administrative staff of the New York City Opera enjoyed a two-day “furlough” last week. Meanwhile, the company’s finance officials frantically passed the hat among “board members, private donors and other sources†to meet this week’s payroll. [via NYT]
Climaxing “a two-year search,” Glimmerglass Opera has pulled off the unique coup of persuading a British music director to lead an American music festival. According to the New York Times, David Angus, whose international credits include the Glyndebourne Festival, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Mozart Players, will succeed his compatriot Stewart Robertson at…
“Each year seems to bring a fresh height for Fleming. Not since the sunny days of Beverly Sills has an American opera singer enjoyed so much popularity. And not since the brief, heady reign of Maria Callas has a soprano provided so much glamour to go with all the vocal appeal.” Tim Smith, in the…
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
