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.
The Met’s “Viewers’ Choice” selection, with Patricia Racette, Marcello Giordani and Dwayne Croft, conducted by Patrick Summers.
From Opernhaus Zurich starring Joyce DiDonato, Olga Kulchynska and Benjamin Bernheim, conducted by Fabio Luisi.
Happy 80th birthday soprano/mezzo-soprano Anja Silja.
Featuring a ménage à trois of talent: Juan Diego Flórez, Diana Damrau and Joyce DiDonato.
From La Scala, featuring Lisette Oropesa, Fabio Sartori, Michele Pertusi and Massimo Cavalletti.
Starring Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna, as transmitted live from the Met on January 10, 2009.
From the summer of 2018, Rubinstein’s opera performed at Bard SummerScape.
This Met Live in HD video from October 23, 2010 stars René Pape, conducted by Valery Gergiev.
Verdi’s Byronic tragedy, from the Teatro Regio di Parma.
Renée Fleming as the hapless nymph emerges from her stream for this streaming performance.
The Metropolitan Opera announced plans today to live-stream what it is billing as an “At-Home Gala” on Saturday, April 25, at 1pm EDT, featuring performances by many of the company’s most prominent artists, live from their own quarantines around the world.
Carlos Kleiber conducts this 1994 performance from Vienna.
Ponchielli’s flamboyant grand opera in a nightmarish staging by Olivier Py.
Janácek’s ode to nature, as presented by the Dutch National Opera.
The Met’s Live in HD video of Donizetti’s comedy with an all-star cast: Anna Netrebko, Matthew Polenzani, Mariusz Kwiecien and John Del Carlo.
A 2013 performance from the Bayerische Staatsoper featuring Johan Botha, Adrianne Pieczonka, Deborah Polaski, Wolfgang Koch and Elena Pankratova.
Diana Damrau and Vittorio Grigolo star in an HD telecast from January 21, 2017.
From the 2015 Salzburg Festival, Jonas Kaufmann stars as Canio.
The Metropolitan Opera starts Good Friday early with a stream of their 2013 Live in HD video.
Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s second opera, written when the composer was only 17.
This Met Live in HD video starring Ambrogio Maestri was transmitted live on December 14, 2013.
La Fenice’s production of Gluck’s lesser-known original Italian version features soprano Carmela Remigio.
The Met’s 100th anniversary revival of the Puccini western.
Nicola Alaimo, Juan Diego Flórez and Marina Rebeka star in a production from the Pesaro Rossini Festival in 2013.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
