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.
John Corigliano and William M. Hoffmann‘s gay fantasia on royalist themes, as telecast on January 10, 1992.
Lise Davidsen, Stephen Gould and Erin Morley star in this performance from the Vienna State Opera.
From the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, conducted by Antonio Pappano.
Conducted by Valery Gergiev; starring Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala in Iolanta, and Nadja Michael and Mikhail Petrenko in Bluebeard’s Castle. Transmitted live on February 14, 2015.
Sondra Radvanovksy heads the cast in this performance from the Vienna State Opera on March 28, 2015.
Of 511 epidemiologists polled, about two thirds expect that it will be more than one year from now before they expect to “attend a sporting event, concert or play.”
Harry Bicket leads Lucy Crowe, Barbara Frittoli, Elina Garanca, Kate Lindsey and Giuseppe Filianoti in this Met HD telecast from December 1, 2012.
Mean, moody magnificent Renée Fleming puts the “tease” in “courtesan.”
A one-time stream of the Princeton Festival’s 2018 production.
Conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin; starring Sonya Yoncheva, Aleksandrs Antonenko, and Zeljko Lucic. Transmitted live on October 17, 2015.
Thomas Adès conducts his own massively ironic pastiche of an opera, as telecast in the Met’s Live in HD series on November 18, 2017.
The Metropolitan Opera is heading for a very rocky couple of years.
The legendary Calixto Bieito production of Wagner’s music drama, streamed from Staatsoper Stuttgart.
Starring Shirley Verrett, Luciano Pavarotti and Cornell MacNeil. Transmitted live on December 19, 1978.
Featuring Anna Larsson, Nina Stemme, Gun-Brit Barkmin, Norbert Ernst and Falk Struckmann, conducted by Mikko Franck.
Stephanie Blythe, Danielle de Niese and Heidi Grant Murphy star, conducted by James Levine. From January 24, 2009.
Marlis Petersen in the title role of Berg’s masterpiece in William Kentridge’s enthralling production.
The Metropolitan Opera has paused its streaming opera telecasts today to observe Blackout Tuesday.
Michael Fabiano, Quinn Kelsey and Olga Peretyatko star in this production from the Paris Opéra Bastille.
Conducted by Patrick Summers; starring Anna Netrebko, Eric Cutler, Franco Vassallo and John Relyea. Transmitted live on January 6, 2007.
The Metropolitan Opera announced today that the company has made the difficult decision to cancel the first few months of its 2020–21 season, based on current information regarding the ongoing health crisis. The new season is now scheduled to begin on December 31, 2020, with a special gala performance, the details of which will be shared at a later date.
Bass Günther Groissböck headlines a live program of songs, chamber music and dance from the Bayerische Staatsoper.
Karita Mattila‘s legendary interpretation in a performance from the Met on October 11, 2008.
Barrie Kosky directs Mussorgsky’s comic opera at the Komische Oper Berlin.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
