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 burn here surely is the Publikum’s applause.
Your choice this afternoon, cher public, as a very busy Saturday offers two very important broadcasts.
“Ms. Fleming said she has spent many hours tending to plants on her terrace, and has hosted evening dinner parties under its wisteria-clad trellis.”
Live from the Bayreuth festival, beginning at 10:00 AM.
The opening of the 2019 Bayreuth season.
Alexander Neef (currently Canadian Opera Company’s General Director and Santa Fe Opera’s Artistic Director) will succeed Stéphane Lissner as chief at the Opéra de Paris.
Countertenor Jakub Jozef Orlinski will jump into Glyndebourne Opera’s production of Handel’s Rinaldo after mezzo-soprano Elizabeth DeShong pulled out “for personal reasons.”
“Turandot is visibly stirred by Liù’s self-sacrifice and she caresses her dead body. Just after Calaf kisses her, she takes her headdress off and comes out as a gay woman.”
The Bayerische Staatsorchester with General Music Director Kirill Petrenko plays music by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Frederick Loewe, Leonard Bernstein, Rodgers and Hammerstein and more.
Operawire.
“Will no one shed a tear for obsolescent analog technology?”
Le Gateau Chocolat will make his Bayreuth Festival debut in a new production of Tannhäuser on July 25.
“…newfound celebrity on Twitter, where she is beloved by some of opera’s most ardent fans.”
The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, broadcast live from Aix-en-Provence, begins at 2:00 PM.
Will idea-free “think” pieces by millennials (among others) kill opera?
It’s good to see our old friends at Mad Libs are commissioning contemporary classical music.
The “duelling divas” Tosca starring Angel Blue and Catherine Malfitano, a live webcast from Aix-en-Provence, is starting now!
Can you imagine the filmmakers’ embarrassment when they suddenly realized they’d made a movie about Maria Callas by mistake?
Marlis Petersen is the obsessed princess.
“What happens when that music no longer comes easily, or when the public’s attention shifts elsewhere?”
Jonas Kaufmann IS Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde!
Here’s some news you can use—if you can peek into the future and guess which tenor is jumping into a starring role at the Met this fall.
Which superstar tenor is about to record a complete opera that surely sell lots of copies, causing his fans to rejoice?
The Royal Opera’s production of Bizet’s Carmen will be livestreamed for free starting at 1:30 PM today.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
