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.
Sponsored
MILA comes to New York and San Francisco
Sung in English, Cantonese and Tagalog, Mila explores the cultural diversity of Hong Kong at New York’s Angel Orensanz Center (Dec. 7) and San Francisco’s Wilsey Center for Opera (Dec. 12). The hour-long opera is the creation of Eli Marshall, Candace Chong and Chu Hei Chan, with music director Neal Goren.
On this day in 1982 Eva Marton made her Met role debut as La Gioconda opposite Plácido Domingo, Bruna Baglioni and Cornell MacNeil.
By La Cieca
Vittorio Grigolo has been suspended from the Royal Opera House’s touring production of Faust in Japan.
By La Cieca
The first livestream of the 2019-2020 Metropolitan Opera Season begins at 5:30 for the cher public’s delight!
By La Cieca
From the Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège. The stream goes live at 2:30 PM.
By La Cieca
“Here’s just one more catastrophic crisis — and it seems that at the Met, sufficiently powerful, popular men are beyond reproach.”
By La Cieca
Yusif Eyvazov will sing Calàf in the October 3, 6, 9, and 12 Met performances of Puccini’s Turandot.
By La Cieca
The Metropolitan Opera Guild has come such a long way since the days of dear Mrs. August Belmont!
By La Cieca
Born on this day in 1933 actress Dorothy Loudon.
By La Cieca
“This influx comes during a time in which opera companies around the country… are struggling to compete with the addictive quick-pleasure center that is the smart phone.”
By La Cieca
Happy 74th birthday soprano Jessye Norman.
By La Cieca
Jamie Barton graces the Last Night at the Proms starting at 2:00 PM EDT.
By La Cieca
Fire up your calendars, cher public! The quintet of parterre box scribes who will be reviewing New York area performance are ready to share with you their choices for Must See Opera in the fall of 2019!
By La Cieca
Our Own Jamie Barton graces the Last Night of the Proms with her “queer fat femme energy.”
By La Cieca
Leave it to Opera News to whitewash the revolting reactionary politics of Franco Zeffirelli.
By La Cieca
Sam Neuman shares tips and tricks for behaving like a cultured person at the opera.
By La Cieca
Queen of the Photo Shoot Cecilia Bartoli has done it again.
By La Cieca
The press department at the English National Opera is considering a revamp of the company’s press seating policy.
By La Cieca
Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts this live performance from the Finnish National Opera.
By La Cieca
Happy 54th birthday soprano Angela Gheorghiu.
By La Cieca
La Cieca is informed that the opening night of San Francisco Opera’s Roméo et Juliette was delayed by an “Impeach Trump” demonstration, with hundreds of flyers dropped into the auditorium.
By La Cieca
“Yusif Eyvazov will sing Hermann in the performances of Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades on December 8, 14, and 21, replacing Aleksandrs Antonenko.”
By La Cieca
An “Anti-Harassment Workshop” was scheduled at the Met today in the same room where Plácido Domingo was rehearsing for this season’s revival of Macbeth.
By La Cieca
