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.
Born on this day in 1890 designer Elsa Schiaparelli.
Starring Susan Graham, Marcello Giordani and John Relyea, conducted by James Levine. From November 22, 2008.
Jean-Paul Fouchécourt is an irresistibly self-absorbed sea-nymph in Rameau’s Platée which also features a dazzling star-turn by Mireille Delunsch as La Folie.
Born on this day in 1873 opera and stage director Max Reinhardt.
Starring Diana Damrau, Vittorio Grigolo, Elliot Madore and Mikhail Petrenko, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda. From January 21, 2017.
Virtual vocal coach Karen takes on the lean, lovely, lustrous larynx of Dusty Pörn.
One of Mariella Devia‘s earliest New York successes: Delibes’s Lakmé with Nicolai Gedda and Paul Plishka.
Anna Netrebko, Piotr Beczala and Paulo Szot star in this performance conducted by Fabio Luisi. Transmitted live on April 7, 2012.
In tribute to soprano Christiane Eda-Pierre, who died September 5.
Here’s ineffable Lainie Kazan, putting the “MDA” in the MDA Labor Day Telethon.
Starring Audrey Luna, Isabel Leonard, Iestyn Davies, Alek Shrader, Alan Oke, William Burden, Toby Spence and Simon Keenlyside, conducted by Thomas Adès. From November 10, 2012.
An opera project by Marina Abramovic (2020) from the Bayerische Staatsoper.
Starring Angel Blue, Golda Schultz, Latonia Moore, Denyce Graves, Frederick Ballentine, Eric Owens, Alfred Walker and Donovan Singletary, conducted by David Robertson. From February 1, 2020.
Barbara Hannigan sings Poulenc’s monodrama led by Esa-Pekka Salonen.
Starring Marlis Petersen, Susan Graham, Daniel Brenna, Paul Groves, Johan Reuter and Franz Grundheber, conducted by Lothar Koenigs. From November 21, 2015.
“Peter Mattei, one of my two favorite baritones these days, in an unexpected title role, Britten’s Billy Budd.”
Starring Kathleen Kim, Janis Kelly, Robert Brubaker, Russell Braun, James Maddalena and Richard Paul Fink, conducted by John Adams. From February 12, 2011.
Renée Fleming garnered a most un-unvdivaesque flurry of pageviews in August.
Samuel Barber’s gothic melodrama starring the great Carol Vaness.
Starring Patricia Racette, Anthony Dean Griffey and Anthony Michaels-Moore, conducted by Donald Runnicles. From March 15, 2008.
In lieu of the geoblocked COVID Fan Tutte, here’s Berg’s Wozzeck featuring the incongruously glamorous Karita Mattila and Sir Simon Keenlyside as the doomed couple conducted by Sir Mark Elder.
Starring Nina Stemme, Adrianne Pieczonka, Waltraud Meier, Burkhard Ulrich and Eric Owens, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. From April 30, 2016.
In consonance with the Met’s evening programming this week of “20th Century and Beyond” works, we are proud to offer for your afternoon listening discussion Stravinsky’s opera-oratorio whatever-it-is featuring Jessye Norman.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
