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.
An “opera critic” is still terrified of productions that closed a generation ago.
A second helping of The Gershwins’ gorgeous folk opera from the Met.
Separated at smirk: base George Sanders and bass René Pape.
“I showed up at dress rehearsal and doggone it, they were doing Turandot instead. Was my face ever red!”
On this day in 1976 soprano Hildegard Behrens made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Giorgetta in Il tabarro.
Here’s a look at the genuinely sensational performance by Asmik Grigorian in a new Manon Lescaut in Frankfurt.
Video webcast from the Komische Oper, Berlin.
Puccini’s perennial tearjerker returns to the Met repertoire tonight.
Chorus girls declare red alert.
It is reported that the tenor died suddenly today of a heart attack in his home in Augusta, Sicily.
Met diva of the moment Anna Pirozzi sings the title role in this broadcast from the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona.
“In none of this was he ever anything close to perfect. Great artists never are. Without their devils there would be no angels.”
Which soprano, who’s so talented you’d think her career would go on forever, has quietly decided to retire following her current not every eventful season?
“The opera superstar Plácido Domingo resigned from his position as general director of Los Angeles Opera and withdrew from his upcoming performances there on Wednesday. ” [New York Times]
High concept! Joyce DiDonato is Mrs. Roper!
Surely no one can be surprised to learn that the departure of Plácido Domingo from the Met was the most-read story on parterre box for the month of September.
That’s right, it’s September 30, 2019 and Venomous Fishwife Norman Lebrecht claims this is the first time in his entire life he has heard that some people might find Turandot offensive.
The Grammy winning opera and concert singer is dead. She was 74.
Bass-baritone Craig Colclough makes his Met debut tonight in the title role of Macbeth.
This overabundance of detail serves only to set La Cieca wondering who protested Ms. Davis.
La Cieca has discovered a document of Plácido Domingo‘s faute de mieux Metropolitan Opera farewell performance.
Rising tenor TBA is now scheduled for the role of Alfredo in La traviata at the Met, replacing Vittorio Grigolo, who has been suspended for personnel reasons.
“The Met and Mr. Domingo are in agreement that he needed to step down”
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
