La Cieca
James Jorden (who writes under the names "La Cieca" and "Our Own JJ") is the founder and editor of parterre box. During his 20 year career as an opera critic he has written for the New York Times, Opera, Gay City News, Opera Now, Musical America and the New York Post. He has also raised his voice in punditry on National Public Radio. From time to time he has directed opera, including three unsuccessful productions of Don Giovanni, a work he hopes to return to someday. Currently he alternates his doyenne duties with writing a weekly column on opera for the New York Observer.
Starring Karita Mattila, Marcello Giordani and Dwayne Croft, conducted by James Levine. From February 16, 2008.
By La Cieca
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“With its blend of history, political intrigue, and fantastical invention, all woven into a heartbreaking love story, Hadrian gives one of history’s greatest queer romances the full, grand opera treatment.”
By La Cieca
Another point of etiquette is that a gentleman must never leave the ladies of his own box alone.
By La Cieca
In order to spare the cher public the agony of sitting through the Met’s Don Giovanni again, La Cieca offers this brand-new video from the Teatro Rossini di Pesaro.
By La Cieca
Happy 61st birthday soprano Maria Guleghina!
By La Cieca
Starring Brenda Rae, Joyce DiDonato, Kate Lindsey, Iestyn Davies, Duncan Rock and Matthew Rose, conducted by Harry Bicket. From February 29, 2020.
By La Cieca
Frank Castorf’s staging of the Ring, premiered in 2013 and filmed in 2016, provoked controversy right from the beginning. For Castorf, the Rheingold of our days is oil; thus he places the first part of the tetralogy at a gas station on Route 66.
By La Cieca
Starring Waltraud Meier, Siegfried Jerusalem, Bernd Weikl and Kurt Moll, conducted by James Levine. From March 28, 1992.
By La Cieca
Starring Kristine Opolais, Maria Zifchak, Roberto Alagna and Dwayne Croft, conducted by Karel Mark Chichon. From April 2, 2016.
By La Cieca
Born on this day in 1619 soprano Barbara Strozzi.
By La Cieca
Starring Kiri Te Kanawa, Plácido Domingo, Vladimir Chernov and Robert Lloyd, conducted by James Levine. From January 26, 1995.
By La Cieca
Starring Erin Morley, Hibla Gerzmava, Kate Lindsey, Christine Rice, Vittorio Grigolo and Thomas Hampson, conducted by Yves Abel. From January 31, 2015.
By La Cieca
Camilla Nylund, Günther Groissböck, Michèle Losier and Nadine Sierra star, under the baton of Zubin Mehta.
By La Cieca
“While Renée Fleming performed without an audience, DG Stage offered Puccini’s beloved melodrama Tosca before an outdoor crowd in Naples.”
By La Cieca
Or, frankly, TBA. If you of the cher public can come up with something more interesting than this dreary Flute, La Cieca would be more than happy to go with that.
By La Cieca
Starring Christine Goerke, Eva-Maria Westbroek, Jamie Barton, Stuart Skelton, Greer Grimsley and Günther Groissböck, conducted by Philippe Jordan. From March 30, 2019.
By La Cieca
Starring Leona Mitchell, Luciano Pavarotti, Sherrill Milnes and Ruggero Raimondi, conducted by James Levine. From December 17, 1983.
By La Cieca
The Undiva cuts loose at Dumbarton Oaks.
By La Cieca
Born on this day in 1921 contralto Lili Chookasian.
By La Cieca
Starring Kristine Opolais, Katarina Dalayman, Jamie Barton, Brandon Jovanovich and Eric Owens, conducted by Mark Elder. From February 25, 2017.
By La Cieca
Starring Sondra Radvanovsky, Dolora Zajick, Marcelo Álvarez and Dmitri Hvorostovsky, conducted by Marco Armiliato. From April 30, 2011.
By La Cieca
On this day in 1967 Judy Garland opened her final Broadway engagement, a concert entitled At Home at the Palace.
By La Cieca
