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.
Suddenly in the middle of March 2019 the Metropolitan Opera realized that perhaps a few of the company’s multitudes of stagehands and technicians might be of the feminine persuasion.
Jonas Kaufmann demonstrates his current work ethic.
The gods are at it again.
Let’s all sing “O terra addio” to the those crumbly styrofoam pharaoh toes.
Joyce DiDonato and her band fuse Italian Baroque bel canto classics, jazz ballads, and tunes from the Great American Songbook into one illuminating musical program.
The Met season’s final performance of the Donizetti romcom begins at 1:00 PM.
La Cieca is delighted to announce that the most popular posts for the month of February dealt primarily with the Met season yet to come.
La Cieca and the gang down at parterre box extend our sincerest thanks to our angels whose largesse keeps our blog blogging: sponsors Carnegie Hall, Mirror Visions Ensemble and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
If Glenda Jackson, who is 82 years old, can whip through King Lear in two hours and 45 minutes, then how is it that La Traviata at the Met slogs on for over three hours?
It’s an 8:00 PM curtain tonight for the Met’s Falstaff.
Ardent Angel Blue will jump into performances vacated by the collapsible Sonya Yoncheva at La Scala.
A real novelty from the Bayerische Staatsoper this afternoon: Krenek’s Karl V.
Robert Lepage promises a more “urban” take on the work.
On New Years’ Eve 2019 the Met will offer a gala truly worthy of the name when Anna Netrebko sings acts from La bohème, Tosca and Turandot.
The Metropolitan Opera will announce its 2109-2020 season (including the company premiere of Glass’s Akhnaten) at noon tomorrow (Wednesday.)
Congratulations to venerable Opera News on their new hire, art director Harvey Dent.
The expression “gayer than eight guys fucking nine guys” gets thrown around a lot these days…
That mysterious bass-baritone leads the cast in today’s Met matinee broadcast starting at 1:00 PM.
New York City Opera has announced the resignation of the chairman of its board, Roy G. Niederhoffer.
Live from the Teatro Comunale di Modena.
“El espectáculo que reviviría al Maria Callas en escenarios chilenos a través de hologramas fue definitivamente cancelado.”
A week before the traditional date for the announcement of the Met’s 2019-2020 season, the clairvoyants who cobble together the Future Met Wiki have essentially the entire schedule ready for your perusal.
The Met’s season premiere of Evviva Las Vegas.
“Bryan Hymel has withdrawn from upcoming performances as the Duke in Verdi’s Rigoletto, due to personal reasons,” says the Met’s press office.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
