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 Adams‘ opera as broadcast from De Nederlandse Opera in 2007.
Eva Marton, Leonie Rysanek, Peter Hofmann, Leif Roar and John Macurdy star in this telecast from January 10, 1986.
The Vienna State Opera streams a performance of Weber’s opera from June 14, 2018 featuring Adrian Eröd, Camilla Nylund, Daniela Fally, Alan Held and Andreas Schager.
Conducted by James Levine, starring Nadine Sierra, Elza van den Heever, Alice Coote and Matthew Polenzani. Transmitted live on March 25, 2017.
Barrie Kosky‘s campy production of the 1923 operetta by Oscar Straus.
Tonight Opera in Exile focuses on an opera about exile, as transmitted live by the Met on January 7, 2017.
A classic performance of Bernd Alois Zimmermann‘s opera from the Staatsoper Stuttgart.
What happens at the Met stays at the Met.
This 2003 performance from the Bayerische Staatsoper is presented as a tribute to the late Sir Peter Jonas.
On this day in 1946 Irving Berlin‘s Annie Get Your Gun opened at the Imperial Theatre, to run 1,147 performances.
Veteran Donizetti stylists Joan Sutherland and Alfredo Kraus team for this 1982 telecast.
This presentation from the Dutch National Opera and Ballet begins streaming at 1:00 PM, one hour earlier than our usual afternoon discussion.
Anthony Dean Griffey sings the title role in John Doyle‘s notorious lemon of a production.
From the Grand Théâtre de Genève under the baton of Marc Minkowski.
Majestic Jessye Norman in a legendary Met portrayal from 1987.
A production from the Poznan Opera at Polish National Opera, as performed September 20, 2019.
Born on this day in 1922 actress Bea Arthur.
Conducted by the composer and starring Audrey Luna, Isabel Leonard, Alek Shrader, Alan Oke, and Simon Keenlyside. Transmitted live on November 10, 2012.
A visually luxurious production from the Finnish National Opera and Ballet.
Jonas Kaufmann makes the gigantic stretch of playing a melancholy artist.
Asmik Grigorian stars as Tatiana in this video from the Komische Oper Berlin, directed by Barrie Kosky.
On this day in 1965 the Kander-Ebb musical Flora, the Red Menace opened at the Alvin Theatre to run 87 performances.
The classic double bill of potboilers, as telecast in 2015.
Gregory Kunde heads this cast of this new production from l’Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
