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.
Anna Netrebko and Jonas Kaufmann in La forza del destino—all of it!
“The opera The Lord of Cries. . . . with the equally astounding Anthony Roth Costanzo.”
“Hello, Clarice!”
The Metropolitan Opera has named soprano Lisette Oropesa as the winner of the 14th annual Beverly Sills Artist Award.
Born on this day in 1941 soprano Ghena Dimitrova.
From Twitter.
Congratulations to that diva of the moment, irresistible Isabel Leonard, for finally signing with her brand-new publicist, Galinda!
A recording of the October 5, 2018 performance from the Met.
The season premiere of the meditative Poulenc opera begins tonight at 7:25 pm.
Our Own “Einspringer” JJ‘s sad duty of reviewing the Met’s spring revival of La traviata garnered the site’s most pageviews in the month of April.
“Say it: liquid eyeliner!”
Join the cher public for this morning’s (and afternoon’s) bang-up broadcast.
The “the ‘most authentic aspect of Lepage’s production is the overall failure of its illusionist agenda.”
“Michaela Schuster will sing Fricka in tomorrow’s performance of Wagner’s Die Walküre, replacing Jamie Barton,” says the Met’s press office.
The distinguished British soprano died today. She was 88.
Quite an eye-opener from the Staatsoper Stuttgart this morning at 11:00 AM: a live video stream of Prokofiev’s Love of Three Oranges!
All roads lead to Rome.
La Cieca is happy to invite the cher public to take a few hours to ponder a complete performance of Wagner’s Parsifal (from Berlin in 2015).
The pretty boy who got a bum rap.
Will tonight’s Met broadcast (at 8:00 PM) be croce or delizia?
“It has left older generations feeling they deserve the same treatment…”
On this day in 2016, James Levine announced his retirement as Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera to become music director emeritus.
Good morning, good morning!
“Paul Appleby will sing Don Ottavio in tonight’s performance of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, replacing Pavol Breslik, who is ill,.”
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
