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 bitchiness of queens of long ago still echoes through Founders Hall at the Met. Among the expertly restored artist photographs, programs and media clippings featured in the exhibit “Nights at the Opera: 125 Years,” the clear standout for outrageousness is an original poster for the Old Met’s closing night gala, defaced (or, perhaps we […]
You have to hand it to Gérard Mortier: he manages to get press coverage in most unexpected places!
La Cieca has Sylvia Sass will play Maria Callas. Or, to be more specific, Sass will, after a long career built on imitating Callas, literally play the Greek diva when she acts in a French production of the Terrence McNally play Master Class.
Fracked-up femmes Patricia Racette, Susan Graham and Deborah Voigt strike a manly pose backstage at the Met before their appearance in the Placido Domingo anniversary shindig on Sunday. (Photo: Ken Howard / Metropolitan Opera)
Those of you cher public who ordered and enjoyed Decca’s bargain Wagner box may now be interested in a bargain Puccini edition offered by EMI. The set, Puccini: The Operas, retails for $59.98 (less than four bucks a disc) and includes complete performances of:Â
Sopranos Deborah Voigt and Patricia Racette and mezzo-soprano Susan Graham made their drag king debut on Sunday night, and for once the gender confusion has nothing to do with Rufus Wainwright. The trio of songstresses donned tuxes for a spoof of the Three Tenors at a gala honoring Placido Domingo‘s 40th anniversary at the Met. […]
Who says media overexposure isn’t good for the career? Note, for example, how the heavily hyped bass-baritone Erwin Schrott has now made the transition into a dual career as lyric baritone and spinto soprano. And that poor schlub who used to update the blog for Martha Stewart now writes captions for the New York Times!
Sharpen those nails and slather on a fresh coat of “Jungle Red,” ladies, because La Cieca hears that “it’s on” between two of the biggest players in NYC’s opera criticism power gay elite. (Well, admittedly that’s not a large pool of talent, but what they lack in numbers they more than make up for in […]
La Cieca is still goggling at a press release she just received. Cher public, you can talk about this for a while. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE New York City Opera Commissions Philip Glass to Compose an Opera Based on the Life of Walt Disney (New York, NY, September 29, 2008) Following a meeting of New York City Opera’s […]
Congratulations Baritenor for the fastest Regie guess in history: in less than 13 minutes he correctly identified the opera was indeed Turandot. Let’s see how long it takes to come up with a title for this week’s Regie puzzler. Remember, everyone, if you’ve seen the production, reviews or photos, disqualify yourself while others play.
What the Met’s opening night was like for those who (unlike your plebian doyenne) enjoy celebrity status.
Suffering artist Wenarto has decided to take arms against his sea of YouTube troubles and move his act to the less-celebrated but perhaps friendlier venue of Vimeo.com. What could be more fitting than that he should make his debut with a farewell.
“Oh, Mary, was I wasted last night! After a few ‘Rene Flemings’ I was so polluted that I mistook Rufus Wainwright for a girl! Hey, wait a minute. There’s no alcohol in this drink…” [The Martha Blog]
[In fact , this is Washington National Opera’s production of Les pêcheurs de perles with Norah Amsellem and Charles Castronovo, photo by Karin Cooper. La Cieca invites the cher public to supply their own alternative captions.]
La Cieca dedicates this video to pop singer/Broadway belter Clay Aiken. Nice to have you with us, buddy, and it’s about fucking time. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/JjK1k9y7ccY” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
As usual when it’s a Fleming Flapper doing the writing, everything is everyone else‘s fault: poor Renée just sort of wanders in off the street and all this stuff keeps happening to her:
[kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/7HMCZ589eKc” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /] “WHAT in GAY hell was jumping around him?” exclaims a puzzled YouTube fan, and La Cieca agrees that even the gifted Stephen Costello seems nonplussed by, well, all that gay hell. (This clip is from a recent Rigoletto performance.)
In what La Cieca believes is the gayest photograph ever taken, Rufus Wainwright strikes a pose with Faye Dunaway on the red carpet at the Met’s opening night. More heart-warming news from Women’s Wear Daily: Oscar de la Renta will not, after all, boycott the Met as he previously threatened. The designer had complained to […]
I was there in the house and it was a good night. I still think that Mattila and the production were fresher in 2004 with a wider range of colors and dynamics. However, she didn’t sound frayed or at the end of her rope. Some of the louder high notes can get a blanched quality […]
[kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/hen9Gyc6ovs” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /] This next stuff falls under the category of “housekeeping,” and believe you me, it’s not one of La Cieca’s favorite subjects, and if you ever saw her house, you’d know what she means. Anyway, your doyenne has noticed that of late the delightfully freewheeling discussion here has from time […]
“Discovering that music and fragrance have harmony and even individual notes in common has taken me on a delightful journey,” Fleming says. One port of call on this journey: “The Making of ‘The La Voce Renee Fleming Ad’ Promo” video.
Antifashionista Tony Tommasini says (among other things) this morning “You can see for yourself in an online montage linked to this article, not to mention a lavish spread in the current issue of Vogue, with Ms. Fleming modeling all of her designer costumes.” Okay, La Cieca gives up. What “online montage?” Where’s the link?
La Cieca hears that critic/cat lover Alex Ross is one of this year’s recipients of the MacArthur “genius” grant, to be announced later today.
Tuesday morning: A further report from Lindoro Almaviva: Over all the night was a success d’estime. It was a Renee worship night and we got just that. I am sure you will be able to talk in better terms about the singing or lack thereof. My impression is that Renee had an “acting” night, as […]
Exclusive opera reviews, commentary, and top reads
delivered to your email weekly…ish.
