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.
Resilient tenor Rolando Villazón makes a guest appearance on the TV talent search show “Musical Showstar 2008.” In a serious mood, RV performs “The Impossible Dream,” but then things turn very silly indeed when host Thomas Gottschalk (the Ryan Seacrest of Germany) joins the tenor for a production number from Monty Python’s Spamalot. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/Xdtfqvj-Gr8″…
In her classic romp Goin’ to Town, Mae West quipped, “When I’m good, I’m very good. But, when I’m bad, I’m better.” While Leontyne Price has never been quite so quick with the one-liners as dear Mae, she certainly can demonstrate the truth of La West’s epigram. Here, in a clip from a 1982 performance…
[Our Own Gualtier Maldè reports from this afternoon’s dress rehearsal of La Fille du Régiment] The Met has another hit on its hands — though not a totally new one, this production and cast already having triumphed at Covent Garden and the Vienna Staatsoper. Laurent Pelly (who vies with Davide Alagna and Mark Streshinsky as…
A gaggle of picadors from the Royal Opera demonstrate some of the choreography that didn’t make it onto the stage in this Francesca Zambello production of Carmen. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://youtube.com/v/ilDKRCbne6M” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
So we may chat about something besides Miss Battle and the Pope, La Cieca offers you a quiz she’s been keeping in the vault for just such an occasion. It’s devised by Our Own Sanford, and it features 12 vocalists performing the “Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5.” Hint: the first voice you hear is that of…
Miss Battle sings for the Pope. Discuss. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://youtube.com/v/M959EKqr_N8″ width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
La Cieca sheepishly announces the long-overdue return of Unnatural Acts of Opera and a very belated birthday greeting. Tristan und Isolde, Act 2
La Cieca completes today’s Cleavage Trifecta with the following video discovered on YouTube: [kml_flashembed movie=”http://youtube.com/v/50nOUj64uNE” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
Dear Addison DeWitt once said, “You have a point. An idiotic one, but a point.” Actually he didn’t say it to La Cieca, but that’s neither here nor there. Since your doyenne is what you might call pathologically determined to see both sides of every questions, she’s going to reopen the can of worms here…
Now here’s some political news La Cieca can follow with interest: Merkel surprises with daring décolleté at Oslo opera That how The Local described German Chancellor Angela Merkel‘s appearance as a special guest at Saturday night’s gala celebrating the opening of Den Norske Opera’s new auditorium. It seems Die Kanzlerin racked up a double handful…
Flash phenomenon Izzy Anderson returns with an all-new choice of repertoire, and La Cieca has the exclusive. In fact, your doyenne’s old, old, old friend Wenarto created two variant versions of Izzy’s aria, and La Cieca was hard-pressed (ahem!) to choose between them. True, the take seen below features far better singing, but in the…
He who guesses first guesses best, as Ping teaches us: our most recent Regiequiz did indeed depict Mozart’s Idomeneo. Now, don’t everybody guess at once this time around!
The legendary diva celebrates her 75th birthday today. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-2989150895689621204″ width=”400″ height=”326″ wmode=”transparent” /]
 Followers of trash TV will no doubt recognize the following clip from “Real Housewives of New York City,” in which big-boned socialite Alex and her gayish husband Simon prepare to attend opening night at the Metropolitan Opera … in a stretch limo …
La Cieca was disappointed to hear the news that the New York City Opera next season will present only a few concert performances. Well, in point of fact, she’s surprised that they’re performing at all, but the real problem is that she already had a mental picture of an NYCO Antony and Cleopatra starring Teddy…
Two of the cher public (thanks, Paul and Michael!) have tipped La Cieca to what may be the ne plus ultra of operatic Regie, a new production of Un ballo in maschera in Erfurt. According to an article in the Telegraph, This “different . . . provocative” staging of the Verdi warhorse sets the tale…
Fabio Armiliato takes a bis of “Ch’ella mi creda” during an April 8, 2008 performance of La fancuilla del West.
Okay, the Boheme was too easy. This opera might be a bit more challenging. Guesses? (PS — remember, cher public, if you recognize the production, shhh!)
“Qual petto percota non vegga il pugnal!
La Cieca has learned that there will be no Richard Tucker Award bestowed in 2008. This is only the third time in its 30 year history the Tucker Foundation has not granted this honor. The foundation will, however, give Richard Tucker Career Grant prizes to sopranos Susanna Phillips and Angela Meade and baritone Timothy Mix.…
La Cieca has just heard that that veteran thespian Marian Seldes will make her Metropolitan Opera debut on April 21 as the Duchess of Krakenthorp in the company’s new production of Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment, replacing Zoe Caldwell, who is ill. La Seldes will play the Duchess for the entire run of performances through…
In what will surely be a highlight of the 2008-2009 musical season here in Gotham, mean, moody, magnificent (and blogorific!) Aprile Millo is set to perform the title role in Cherubini’s Medée with Opera Orchestra of New York under the baton of Eve Queler. Other presentations in the concert company’s repertoire do not perhaps set…
So, what’s the opera? (If you can’t guess right away, La Cieca will add more photos.)
In all the publicity surrounding last week’s memorials to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a far more put-upon martyr has been virtually ignored by the mainstream media. Celebrated freedom fighter Franco Zeffirelli is making veiled suggestions (through a “friend”) that, should the Met mothball such “masterpieces” as his 20-year-old Tosca production, supporters of the octogenarian…
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
