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.
Conducted by Domingo Hindoyan; starring Pretty Yende, Matthew Polenzani, Davide Luciano, and Ildebrando D’Arcangelo. Transmitted live on February 10, 2018.
Opera Philadelphia’s Digital Festival O presents the broadcast premiere of the opera from Brooklyn-based composer Missy Mazzoli and librettist Royce Vavrek.
On this day in 1536 King Henry VIII of England married Jane Seymour.
Starring Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Flórez, from March 21, 2009.
George Petean, Saimir Pirgu and Aleksandra Kurzak star, conducted by Fabio Luisi.
Born on this day in 1897 composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold.
Deborah Voigt, Susan Graham, Bryan Hymel and Dwayne Croft star in this HD telecast transmitted live on January 5, 2013.
Lise Lindstrom, Waltraud Meier and Michael Volle star in this performance from the Vienna State Opera.
parterre box‘s tutelary goddess Renata Scotto is at her most tantalizing in this 1980 telecast.
Director Michael Grandage updates the action to the swinging sixties in this 2012 production at Glyndebourne.
Starring Angela Meade, Marcello Giordani, Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Ferruccio Furlanetto. Transmitted live on February 25, 2012.
La Monnaie – De Munt performs in the Muntpaleis, a specially constructed tent on the grounds of the Tour & Taxis exhibition ground.
Berlioz’s sweeping take on the Faust legend stars Marcello Giordani, Susan Graham and John Relyea.
Joyce DiDonato in the Royal Opera House Covent Garden’s 2011 production of Massenet’s opera.
Have you ever gotten some action at the opera? Had an assignation while in standing-room? Crept off to the toilet (or elsewhere) with a handsome man during a performance?
Anna Netrebko, Piotr Beczala and Paulo Szot star in this performance conducted by Fabio Luisi. Transmitted live on April 7, 2012.
Conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, starring Marina Poplavskaya, Jonas Kaufmann, Russell Braun and René Pape. Transmitted live on December 10, 2011.
Alain Altinoglu made his debut as music director of La Monnaie with this production.
Joan Sutherland is Donna Anna in this vintage telecast from March 16, 1978.
From the Teatro dell’Opera di Firenze.
Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Puccini’s final masterpiece.
Juan Diego Flórez sings the title role in this performance from 2017.
On this day in 1959, the greatest musical of all, Gypsy, opened at the Broadway Theatre, to run 702 performances.
Sondra Radvanovsky, Kathleen Kim, Stephanie Blythe, Marcelo Álvarez and Dmitri Hvorostovsky star in this HD from December 8, 2012.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
