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.
Musikalische Leitung: Lothar Zagrosek. Regie: Christof Nel.
Starring Jane Eaglen, Katarina Dalayman, Ben Heppner, Hans-Joachim Ketelsen and René Pape, conducted by James Levine. From December 18, 1999.
From Des Moines Metro Opera.
Starring Hui He, Elizabeth DeShong, Bruce Sledge and Paulo Szot, conducted by Pier Giorgio Morandi. From November 9, 2019.
The New York Philharmonic presents Kelli O’Hara, Nathan Gunn, Stephanie Blythe, Shuler Hensley, Jason Danieley, Jessie Mueller, Kate Burton and John Cullum.
Stay tuned as La Cieca attends this Zoom press conference with Peter Gelb and special guest zoomers.
I feel like Jonas Kaufmann is trying to tell us something.
Starring Anna Netrebko, Piotr Beczala, Mariusz Kwiecien and Alexei Tanovitski, conducted by Valery Gergiev. From October 5, 2013.
Countertenor Carlo Vistoli with Ensemble Sezione Aurea led by Filippo Panteri perform a program of 17th century music of Venice.
Starring Eva-Maria Westbroek, Marcello Giordani and Mark Delavan, conducted by Marco Armiliato. From March 16, 2013.
Sonya Yoncheva, Charles Castronovo, Iain Paterson and Elsa Dreisig star; Daniel Barenboim conducts.
Oh, yes, it’s Ladies’ Night and the feeling’s right! Oh, yes, it’s Ladies’ Night! Oh, what a night!
Dmitri Tcherniakov‘s production from the Staatsoper Berlin, featuring Anita Rachvelishvili.
“Dying in the third act is much more intense, as the sickness has the same symptoms as COVID-19, so suffocation, pain, agony, fever—all this must be present and real.”
This classic telecast stars Éva Marton, Dolora Zajick, Luciano Pavarotti and Sherrill Milnes, conducted by James Levine. From October 15, 1988.
Starring Sonya Yoncheva, Susanna Phillips, Michael Fabiano, Lucas Meachem, Alexey Lavrov, Matthew Rose and Paul Plishka, conducted by Marco Armiliato. From February 24, 2018.
James Levine is back, or at least is scheduled to be back!
Plácido Domingo, Anna Netrebko, Kwangchul Youn and Fabio Sartori are conducted by Daniel Barenboim.
Starring Joyce DiDonato, Daniela Barcellona, Juan Diego Flórez, John Osborn and Oren Gradus; Conducted by Michele Mariotti. Transmitted live on March 14, 2015.
A 2018 production from Des Moines Opera featuring Sara Gartland, Jill Grove and Zachary James.
Beverly Sills‘ one and only Met telecast: Don Pasquale in the company of Alfredo Kraus, Håkan Hagegård and Gabriel Bacquier. Transmitted live on January 11, 1979.
Soprano Patricia Racette stars in director Michael Cavanagh’s haunting vision of this uniquely American tragedy, with conducting from Karen Kamensek.
As an alternative to the Met’s abysmal production, let’s watch Peter Mattei and Malin Byström star in a socially distanced studio performance from 2020.
The “unjustly neglected late opera by Richard Strauss” (but aren’t they all?) as performed by the American Symphony Orchestra.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
