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.
Dueling Folies!
On this day in 1982 Eva Marton made her Met role debut as La Gioconda opposite Plácido Domingo, Bruna Baglioni and Cornell MacNeil.
Vittorio Grigolo has been suspended from the Royal Opera House’s touring production of Faust in Japan.
The first livestream of the 2019-2020 Metropolitan Opera Season begins at 5:30 for the cher public’s delight!
From the Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège. The stream goes live at 2:30 PM.
“Here’s just one more catastrophic crisis — and it seems that at the Met, sufficiently powerful, popular men are beyond reproach.”
Yusif Eyvazov will sing Calàf in the October 3, 6, 9, and 12 Met performances of Puccini’s Turandot.
The Metropolitan Opera Guild has come such a long way since the days of dear Mrs. August Belmont!
Born on this day in 1933 actress Dorothy Loudon.
“This influx comes during a time in which opera companies around the country… are struggling to compete with the addictive quick-pleasure center that is the smart phone.”
Happy 74th birthday soprano Jessye Norman.
Jamie Barton graces the Last Night at the Proms starting at 2:00 PM EDT.
Fire up your calendars, cher public! The quintet of parterre box scribes who will be reviewing New York area performance are ready to share with you their choices for Must See Opera in the fall of 2019!
Our Own Jamie Barton graces the Last Night of the Proms with her “queer fat femme energy.”
Leave it to Opera News to whitewash the revolting reactionary politics of Franco Zeffirelli.
Sam Neuman shares tips and tricks for behaving like a cultured person at the opera.
Queen of the Photo Shoot Cecilia Bartoli has done it again.
The press department at the English National Opera is considering a revamp of the company’s press seating policy.
Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts this live performance from the Finnish National Opera.
Happy 54th birthday soprano Angela Gheorghiu.
La Cieca is informed that the opening night of San Francisco Opera’s Roméo et Juliette was delayed by an “Impeach Trump” demonstration, with hundreds of flyers dropped into the auditorium.
“Yusif Eyvazov will sing Hermann in the performances of Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades on December 8, 14, and 21, replacing Aleksandrs Antonenko.”
An “Anti-Harassment Workshop” was scheduled at the Met today in the same room where Plácido Domingo was rehearsing for this season’s revival of Macbeth.
If any more women come forth with sexual harassment accusations against Plácido Domingo, the Associated Press is going to have to hire Leporello to keep track.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
