Met imposes quarantine
La Cieca has obtained a letter from the Met’s Assistant General Manager, Artistic informing artists arriving in New York from certain high-risk areas they are subject to a two-week quarantine before rehearsing or performing.
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.
Der Fliegende Holländer
Wagner’s early masterpiece returns to the Met conducted by Valery Gergiev (not pictured).
And now a word from our sponsors
Our thanks to our darling parterre box advertisers, without whom La Cieca and the gang would be at a loss for words!
Nobody steps on Cafritz
La Cieca is shocked, shocked to report that…
Entrances and exits
Leading the parterre box top ten for the month of February: a new season and the (apparent) end of a legendary career.
Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions
The 2020 finalists perform on the Met stage this afternoon for an audience of judges, agents, industry leaders, and the general public.
Was ist’s mit den ewigen Göttern?
Christine Goerke‘s Bayreuth debut has been canceled.
Madrid 86es Domingo
“I accept full responsibility for my actions, and I have grown from this experience.”
Le nozze di Figaro
Believe it or not, it’s the final Nozze of the Met’s 2019-2020 season.
Iconography
“American soprano Renée Fleming, one of the most beloved and celebrated singers of our time, is donating her personal archives to Juilliard, her alma mater.”
Manon
A performance from Fall 2019 featuring Lisette Oropesa and Michael Fabiano.
The Met’s 2020-2021 season
New productions of Aida, Die Zauberflöte, and Don Giovanni and Met premieres of The Fiery Angel and Dead Man Walking headline the Metropolitan Opera’s 2020–21 season.
If love is out of the question
Live video of Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov in the riddle scene from Turandot, as seen and heard recently in Munich.
Le nozze di Figaro
Amanda Woodbury jumps in as the Countess in tonight’s broadcast.
This woman is dangerous
Renée Fleming—stylish dame with a stylish name—who lived by jungle law in a big city and clawed her way to where the money was…
Mirella Freni 1935-2020
The beloved lyric soprano has died, according to press reports.
La Damnation de Faust
One final hearing of the Berlioz this afternoon.
Judith
The Bayerische Staatsoper offers an all-Bartok program called Judith this afternoon.
I’m your captain
“Evgeny Nikitin will sing the Dutchman in all performances of the Met’s new production of Wagner’s Der Fliegende Holländer, replacing Sir Bryn Terfel, who withdraw last week due to ankle surgery.”
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).