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.
Starring Christine Goerke, Eva-Maria Westbroek, Jamie Barton, Stuart Skelton, Greer Grimsley, and Günther Groissböck, conducted by Philippe Jordan. From March 30, 2019.
A Baroque Valentine’s with Opera Lafayette | Feb | DC & NYC
Celebrate love in all its guises with tender ballads, amorous duets, cheeky verses, and bawdy drinking songs plus food, cocktails and wine.
Continuing its celebration of the operas Handel wrote for Covent Garden, The Royal Opera presents Ariodante in concert.
Starring Natalie Dessay, Joseph Calleja, Ludovic Tézier, and Kwangchul Youn, conducted by Patrick Summers. From March 19, 2011.
La Cieca (pictured) wishes her cher public a sensible and safe “Cyber Monday” shopping experience!
Starring Nina Stemme, Adrianne Pieczonka, Waltraud Meier, and Eric Owens, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. From April 30, 2016.
Starring Marlis Petersen, Jennifer Larmore, Simon Keenlyside, and James Morris, conducted by Louis Langrée. From March 27, 2010.
Conductor: Christian Thielemann; Director: Vincent Huguet; With: Stephen Gould, Camilla Nylund, Evelyn Herlitzius, Sebastian Holecek, Wolfgang Koch, Nina Stemme, Maria Nazarova.
Born on this day in 1900 actress and politician Helen Gahagan Douglas.
Starring Isabel Leonard, Iestyn Davies and Christopher Maltman, conducted by Roberto Spano. From November 10, 2018.
“The Met Stars Live in Concert performance featuring soprano Sonya Yoncheva, which was rescheduled for this Saturday, November 28, has now been moved to Saturday, February 27, 2021, as Ms. Yoncheva is still ill (with a non-Covid illness).” Thus speaks the Met’s press department.
Starring Sondra Radvanovsky, Dolora Zajick, Marcelo Álvarez and Dmitri Hvorostovsky, conducted by Marco Armiliato.
From the Vienna State Opera: Franz Welser-Möst leads Doris Soffel, Ricarda Merbeth, Camilla Nylund, Jörg Schneider, Derek Welton and Marcus Pelz.
The full five-act “Paris” version, in French, features Michele Pertusi, Jonas Kaufmann, Igor Golovatenko, Roberto Scandiuzzi, Malin Byström and Eve-Maud Hubeaux. Conducted by Bertrand de Billy at the Vienna State Opera.
Zeljko Lucic and Aleksandra Kurzak star in Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto, conducted by renowned maestro Nicola Luisotti.
Born on this day in 1924 actress Geraldine Page.
Lise Davidsen and Erin Morley star in this 2017 performance from the Vienna State Opera.
The catch: Employees would have to agree to a 30 percent cut in pay, half of which would be restored once the Met’s box office returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Starring Isabel Leonard, Adrianne Pieczonka and Karita Mattila, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. From May 11, 2019.
From the Vienna State Opera: Carlos Kleiber conducts Felicity Lott, Kurt Moll, Anne Sofie von Otter, Gottfried Hornik, Barbara Bonney, Heinz Zednik and Waldemar Kmentt.
Emanuel Ax, Anderson Cooper, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Katie Couric, Renée Fleming, David Foster, Josh Groban, John Lithgow, Kelli O’Hara, Stephen Sondheim, Emma Thompson and John Williams are among the special guests.
From the Vienna State Opera: Alain Altinoglu leads Joyce DiDonato, Anna Caterina Antonacci, Adam Plachetka, Dominika Kovacs-Galavics, Amadeo D’Aleo, Tamara Dornelas, Brandon Jovanovich, Rachel Frenkel, Wolfram Igor Derntl, Alexandru Moisiuc and Peter Kellner.
Starring Renée Fleming, Emily Magee, Dolora Zajick, Piotr Beczala and John Relyea, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. From February 8, 2014.
Michael Boder leads Herwig Pecoraro, Waltraud Meier, Lise Lindstrom, Michael Volle and Carlos Osuna.
Note Mariah Carey tribute artist Jonas Kaufmann is heard as Gounod’s philosopher.
Tell us: What was the best of 2025?
Parterre Box concludes the thrilling first year of Talk of the Town by inviting your lightning rod opinions on several more categories of operatic argumentation.
