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.
La Cieca extends the heariest imaginable thanks to our parterre box advertisers for the month of November 2022!
A welcome return by Christian Ocier reviewing Wagner in far-flung Seattle led the top ten most read posts for the month of October.
Video streaming from the Staatsoper Berlin with Christian Thielemann conducting a new production by Dmitri Tcherniakov.
Nadine Sierra makes her Metropolitan Opera role debut as Violetta.
On Thursday, October 20th, 2022, Grace Bumbry suffered an acute ischemic stroke. The renowned American opera star is currently hospitalized and in recovery in Queens, New York.
Jessica Pratt and John Osborn star in a performance from Rome Opera.
Jolie IS Callas!
The Metropolitan Opera and other classical music venue are dropping their mask requirements for audience members.
Svetlana Sozdateleva and Brandon Jovanovich star in Shostakovich’s opera.
Léo Delibes’ opera, streamed from the Opéra Comique in a production staged by Laurent Pelly and featuring Sabine Devieilhe.
Yulia Matochkina will make her Met role debut as Eboli in Verdi’s Don Carlo, replacing Anita Rachvelishvili.
Sondra Radvanovsky‘s mean, moody, magnificent Medea fascinated the cher public as the season kicked in at the end of September.
On this day in 1968, the Metropolitan Opera debuted a new production of Tosca (the company’s first since 1917!) featuring Birgit Nilsson and Franco Corelli.
Lise Davidsen and Le Gateau Chocolat reunite for this performance from the 2022 Bayreuth Festival.
Diva of the moment Sondra Radvanovsky previews yet another great role: Puccini’s Turandot.
On this day in 2017 the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with a new production of Norma starring Sondra Radvanovsky.
Tell us: What was the best of 2025?
Parterre Box concludes the thrilling first year of Talk of the Town by inviting your lightning rod opinions on several more categories of operatic argumentation.
