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.


Renegade princess Renegade princess

Yulia Matochkina will make her Met role debut as Eboli in Verdi’s Don Carlo, replacing Anita Rachvelishvili.

on October 05, 2022 at 12:45 PM
Tosca Tosca

The Puccini evergreen, featuring Aleksandra Kurzak, Michael Fabiano and Luca Salsi.

on October 04, 2022 at 5:00 PM
Infanticide is painless Infanticide is painless

Sondra Radvanovsky‘s mean, moody, magnificent Medea fascinated the cher public as the season kicked in at the end of September.

on October 04, 2022 at 10:00 AM
Rome wasn’t built in a day Rome wasn’t built in a day

On this day in 1968, the Metropolitan Opera debuted a new production of Tosca (the company’s first since 1917!) featuring Birgit Nilsson and Franco Corelli.

on October 04, 2022 at 6:25 AM
Tannhäuser Tannhäuser

Lise Davidsen and Le Gateau Chocolat reunite for this performance from the 2022 Bayreuth Festival.

on October 01, 2022 at 10:00 AM
Fresh princess Fresh princess

Diva of the moment Sondra Radvanovsky previews yet another great role: Puccini’s Turandot.

on September 29, 2022 at 12:47 PM
Medea Medea

Live broadcast of the Metropolitan Opera’s opening night, featuring Sondra Radvanovsky in the title role.

on September 27, 2022 at 3:00 AM
Sexually Druid Sexually Druid

On this day in 2017 the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with a new production of Norma starring Sondra Radvanovsky.

on September 25, 2022 at 8:00 AM
Lohengrin Lohengrin

From the 2022 Bayreuth Festival conducted by Christian Thielemann.

on September 24, 2022 at 10:00 AM
Thaïs Thaïs

Massenet’s opera at that Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris starring Ermonela Jaho.

on September 17, 2022 at 10:41 AM
Carmen Carmen

Live from the Vienna State Opera starring Elina Garanca and Piotr Beczala.

on September 12, 2022 at 9:57 AM
Die Walküre Die Walküre

Live video from the Finnish National Opera and Ballet.

on September 10, 2022 at 7:31 AM
Norma Norma

Karine Deshayes, Michael Spyres and Amina Edris are featured in Bellini’s opera at the Festival d’Aix 2022.

on September 03, 2022 at 10:11 AM
Something to talk about Something to talk about

The cher public (not pictured) made the sizzling month August a time of listening and discussion.

on September 01, 2022 at 10:42 AM
Hamlet Hamlet

John Osborn is featured in the rarely-heard tenor version of Ambroise Thomas’ grand opera.

on August 31, 2022 at 10:00 AM
Aida Aida

From the 2022 Salzburg Festival.

on August 27, 2022 at 10:00 AM
Tristan und Isolde Tristan und Isolde

From Santa Fe Opera, featuring Simon O’Neill and Tamara Wilson.

on August 22, 2022 at 3:11 PM
Turandot Turandot

Gustavo Dudamel conducts this performance from the Bastille Opera.

on August 20, 2022 at 10:00 AM
Il trittico Il trittico

Asmik Grigorian sings all three leading roles in this broadcast from the Salzburg Festival.

on August 13, 2022 at 12:09 PM
Götterdämmerung Götterdämmerung

FInal day of the opening Ring of the 2022 Bayreuth season.

on August 05, 2022 at 10:00 AM
Siegfried Siegfried

Live broadcast from the Bayreuth Festival.

on August 03, 2022 at 10:00 AM
Die Walküre Die Walküre

The second say of Der Ring des Nibelungen, live from the Bayreuth Festival.

on August 01, 2022 at 11:00 AM
Creative differences Creative differences

Beverly Sills and Renée Fleming (not pictured) rightly crown the list of most-read parterre box articles for August 2022.

on August 01, 2022 at 8:00 AM
Das Rheingold Das Rheingold

A live broadcast as the Bayreuth Festival launches a new Ring cycle.

on July 31, 2022 at 10:00 AM
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