La Cieca

James Jorden (who writes under the names "La Cieca" and "Our Own JJ") is the founder and editor of parterre box. During his 20 year career as an opera critic he has written for the New York Times, Opera, Gay City News, Opera Now, Musical America and the New York Post. He has also raised his voice in punditry on National Public Radio. From time to time he has directed opera, including three unsuccessful productions of Don Giovanni, a work he hopes to return to someday. Currently he alternates his doyenne duties with writing a weekly column on opera for the New York Observer.


This used to be the future This used to be the future

Like all true opera queens, the parterrians live in the time to come. Thus this month’s #1 most read post!

on March 01, 2023 at 12:55 PM
Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

Performance from October 12, 2022.

on February 25, 2023 at 10:00 AM
The Metropolitan Opera’s 2023-2024 season announcment The Metropolitan Opera’s 2023-2024 season announcment

Six contemporary operas, including four Metropolitan premieres, headline the company’s upcoming season, which was announced today at noon.

on February 22, 2023 at 12:00 PM
Don Carlo Don Carlo

A live recording of the four-act version of Verdi’s opera from the fall.

on February 18, 2023 at 10:03 AM
The old work of genius The old work of genius

On this day in 1918 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Bellini’s I puritani featuring soprano Maria Barrientos.

on February 18, 2023 at 8:58 AM
Salome Salome

A live video stream of a new production of Strauss’s opera from the Vienna State Opera.

on February 12, 2023 at 12:00 PM
Emotional vitality Emotional vitality

On this day in 1958 soprano Gloria Davy made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Aida.

on February 12, 2023 at 6:00 AM
Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci

A historic performance from 1970 featuring Leonard Bernstein conducting Grace Bumbry and Franco Corelli in Cavalleria Rusticana, and Fausto Cleva conducting Teresa Stratas and Richard Tucker in Pagliacci.

on February 11, 2023 at 10:00 AM
Rather disarming Rather disarming

On this day in 1968 mezzo-soprano Fiorenza Cossotto made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Amneris.

on February 06, 2023 at 6:00 AM
Macbeth Macbeth

In this historic Met broadcast from 50 years ago, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli leads Sherrill Milnes and Martina Arroyo.

on February 04, 2023 at 10:00 AM
Giulio Cesare Giulio Cesare

Emmanuelle Haïm and Calixto Bieito collaborate on a new production of Handel’s opera seria from the Dutch National Opera.

on February 02, 2023 at 8:00 AM
Post of great Price Post of great Price

The ineffable Miss Leontyne Price, anthologized as a subject for Chris’s Cache, swept the board in January 2023.

on February 01, 2023 at 11:42 AM
Aida Aida

Recorded at the Vienna State Opera earlier this month: Anna Netrebko sings her first Aida and Jonas Kaufmann his first Radames at the Vienna State Opera, Elina Garanca makes her long-awaited debut as Amneris, Luca Salsi can be heard as Amonasro.

on January 29, 2023 at 10:49 AM
I vespri siciliani I vespri siciliani

This new production of Verdi’s grand opera will star Piero Pretti, Marina Rebeka, Luca Micheletti and Simon Lim.

on January 28, 2023 at 10:00 AM
La traviata La traviata

Ermonela Jaho takes her leave of the role of Violetta at the Met tonight.

on January 26, 2023 at 5:28 PM
L’elisir d’amore L’elisir d’amore

A sunny opera for a gray winter afternoon.

on January 21, 2023 at 11:10 AM
Dialogues des Carmélites Dialogues des Carmélites

A first listen to this season’s remarkably strong cast for Poulenc’s masterpiece.

on January 18, 2023 at 3:30 PM
Fedora Fedora

Live from the Met: Sonya Yoncheva sings the title role of the 19th-century Russian princess, opposite Piotr Beczala as the dashing Count Loris.

on January 14, 2023 at 10:00 AM
L’elisir d’amore L’elisir d’amore

Featuring Golda Schultz as the clever Adina and Javier Camarena as the hapless Nemorino.

on January 10, 2023 at 3:38 PM
“Ne me refuse pas!” “Ne me refuse pas!”

So, give me three good reasons we should not hear Jamie Barton as the mother of Salomé?

on January 07, 2023 at 6:00 PM
Medea Medea

“Sondra Radvanovsky has an unconventional voice that is suited to unconventional characters and is best used in rangy, difficult music,” as heard on today’s Met broadcast.

on January 07, 2023 at 10:00 AM
“The greatest dream” “The greatest dream”

On this day in 1955 contralto Marian Anderson made her historic Metropolitan Opera debut.

on January 07, 2023 at 6:00 AM
La traviata La traviata

Soprano Ermonela Jaho brings her celebrated interpretation of La traviata to the Met at long last.

on January 05, 2023 at 1:00 PM
Step aside, Texas Step aside, Texas

The fraught opening night of what surely must be this time around the final hurrah of the Mets old Aida production: That’s what people wanted to read about in December.

on January 02, 2023 at 7:00 AM
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