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.
Joyce DiDonato, Elza van den Heever and Matthew Polenzani star in this Live in HD presentation from January 19, 2013.
“A Colossal Il Trovatore in Beijing”
Anna Netrebko takes on the title role!
Kristine Opolais and Piero Pretti star in a performance from Vienna in 2016.
Tout le monde assembles online to celebrate the 90th birthday of Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim.
Stefan Herheim directs this Handel production for the Deutsche Oper am Rhein.
Peter Gelb and Yannick Nézet-Séguin welcome over 40 Met stars to an online concert.
Natalie Dessay, Matthew Polenzani and Dmitri Hvorostovsky star in this Live in HD video from April 14, 2012.
Patrizia Ciofi, Daniela Barcellona, Annick Massis, Carmela Remigio and Juan Francisco Gatell are heard in this 2009 performance from La Scala.
Katharine Hepburn is better than I remembered, including making a reasonable attempt at a Southern accent. And, of course, there is distinctive star quality to burn, as well as interpretive intelligence.
Happy 78th birthday singer, actress and filmmaker Barbra Streisand.
Starring Renée Fleming, Kelli O’Hara and Nathan Gunn, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis. From January 17, 2015.
Ailyn Pérez, Matthew Polenzani and Ambrogio Maestri star in this 2015 live performance from Munich.
Starring Anna Netrebko, Kathleen Kim, Ekaterina Gubanova, Joseph Calleja and Alan Held, conducted by James Levine.
From April 29, 2019, a live performance from Vienna featuring Anne Schwanewilms and Brandon Jovanovich.
Sonya Yoncheva heads the cast of this January 27, 2018 Live in HD telecast from the Met.
Simon Rattle leads this performance from November 2018 at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden.
This Met Live in HD video stars Nina Stemme, Adrianne Pieczonka, Waltraud Meier and Eric Owens, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen.
Mussorgsky’s original 1868/69 version, as performed by the Bayerische Staatsoper.
This Met Live in HD video stars Renée Fleming, Elina Garanca, Erin Morley and Günther Groissböck, conducted by Sebastian Weigle.
From the Vienna State Opera with Camilla Nylund, conducted by Michael Boder.
Cilea’s melodrama stars Anna Netrebko, Anita Rachvelishvili, Piotr Beczala and Ambrogio Maestri, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda.
Yannick Nézet-Séguin leads the Rotterdam Philharmonic in a performance recorded on February 17 at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris.
Happy 72nd birthday soprano Catherine Malfitano.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
