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.
It took sharp-eyed reader Weill Fan less than eight hours to recognize our most recent Regie puzzler. The correct answer was (of course) Ariadne auf Naxos. Additional kudos are due to Weill Fan for pinpointing exactly the characters and situations depicted in all three photos. So, will he (she?) be able to name this week’s…
[kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/qvDWwm2MHlI” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /] Many thanks to loyal reader Oliver for pointing us to this astonishing clip of Hildegard Knef singing “Seeräuber Jenny” from Die Dreigroschenoper. True, she was hardly an opera singer; in fact, Ella Fitzgerald once called her “the world’s greatest singer without a voice.” But as this clip demonstrates, La…
Until recently, soprano Diana Damrau was unaware of reports of steroid abuse in the 18th century seraglio. (Photo by Ken Howard, Metropolitan Opera.)
Oh, it’s just a typical day in the life of Shirley Verrett: walking the dog, crooning a few show tunes, going for a sleigh ride in a fur turban, vocalizing in a variety of silk scarves, strolling in the Bois, pounding notes on the Casio, and oh yes, belting out a Gluck aria or two.…
La Cieca thanks you all for your lively conversation during this afternoon’s chat about La Fille du Régiment.
“She asked one time, they said no. She asked a second time – no. At the third time she said Vafanculo [literally, “go f*** yourselfâ€]. You know how many times you sing La Bohème without rehearsal in the world? Roberto “Oil on Troubled Waters” Alagna continues his unique relationship with the media in an interview…
Philip Glass’ 1980 opera “Satyagraha” is a very high-minded work, but it never hides behind its principles. Musically and scenically the Met’s production (seen April 11) would rank as a successful work of art even if its subject matter were less inspirational. Our own JJ’s review appears in the current issue of Gay City News.
Now, stop La Cieca if she’s wrong, but it seems to her that the concept for this production of Carmen is that Escamillo is a 1970s gay clone. Well, no, La Cieca doesn’t get it either. But see for yourself: [kml_flashembed movie=”http://youtube.com/v/6F_hltdh1KE” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
In what La Cieca hopes may be a quiet voice of reason, or, failing that, just for the sake of clarity, she would like to quote from the press release announcing the Met’s program for the summer of 2008. “We are trying something new this summer, which we think will be especially appealing to all…
The accustomed Peter Gelb ballyhoo was not in evidence this morning when the Met very quietly let it be known that the company’s Parks concert series would not take place this summer. According to a rather modest item in today’s New York Times, in lieu of the familiar format of a “tour” of the city’s…
“A bare-chested prisoner, suspended upside down from a rope tied to his ankles, is pushed back and forth by brutish guards with clubs as if he were a human piñata.”
Who else but “Frantic” Franco Bonisolli? [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/Xzg86rNphrI” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
La Cieca is putting her entire nest egg into popcorn futures, since next season opera lovers will rarely emerge from their local movie palace. The Met will do an astonishing 11 HD simulcasts during the 2008-2009 season. Monday, September 22, 2008: Opening Night Gala starring the astonishingly well-preserved Renée Fleming in fully staged performances of La Traviata (Act…
“Sit with your legs extended in a VÂ shape. Place your hands in front of you, between your legs, keeping your arms straight. Now straighten your back and neck, and lift your feet as high as you can.” Well, my dears, if La Cieca had a dollar for every time she’s heard that, she could .…
Ramón Vargas sings the season’s final performance of Un ballo in maschera tomorrow night at the Met, substituting for Salvatore Licitra, who presumably has better things to do elsewhere.
“Camilla” is presumably “charismatic, vocally robust … uncommonly dashing and cagey” Luca Pisaroni. [NYT]
La Cieca has just added a new bit of functionality to the commenting system on parterre.com. As you type your comment into the form box, you will notice that lower on the page there will appear an instant preview of what your comment will look like. This feature is handy for checking spelling, and it…
” . . . he embodied Wozzeck, giving so much that by the end, after Wozzeck murdered Marie in a jealous fit, Mr. Keenlyside had perspired through his shirt.”
So what has so incensed readers of the New York Times that they have fired off a whole page of letters to the editor? Obama’s “bitter” remark? Immigration? DIplomacy with Israel? None of the above, in fact: topic du jour for Monday April 21 is the Met’s new policy on renewals for subscriptions to the…
Chita! Rita! . . . Christa?
Some commenters are more perceptive than others when it comes to the game of Name That Regie. In our previous competition, the quick-witted keithmc and the more cautious Ginevera were both correct: the opera is Cherubini’s Medée, in a production by Krzysztof Warlikowski for La Monnaie. The “Amy Winehouse” sorceress in the black pleather sheath…
A few minutes ago the Met’s website was updated to reflect the key casting news that the role of Lady Macbeth will be sung by Hasmik Papian in the final three performances of Verdi’s Macbeth this season. These three dates were originally assigned to Andrea Gruber, who now officially will sing no performances at the…
So, who’s listening to the broadcast of Satyagraha? Reactions?
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
