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.
Telecast live RIGHT NOW from La Monnaie!
Jakub Józef Orlinski as Harry Potter!
The Met’s creepy double bill is broadcast this afternoon starting at 12:30 PM.
The Donizetti comedy returns to the Met tonight starting at 7:30 PM.
Yusif Eyvazov just let slip what we must assume is a very long-term project indeed for himself and Anna Netrebko: the title roles in Tristan und Isolde.
She makes it into a mash-up of Cours-la-Reine and “A Great Lady Has An Interview.”
In what will surely be a fever dream for critics and diacritics alike, Renée Fleming sings Björk with the New York Philharmonic next season.
“I think some things should be cast with certain physical types, and the role of Otello is one of them.”
Some Bizet work for Saturday afternoon.
The top ten parterre box stories for January 2019.
Stefan Herheim‘s intensely enjoyable “barocke Muppet-Show” take on Handel’s opera starts streaming at 1:00 PM today on OperaVision.
That’s Luca Pisaroni behind the mask, star of tonight’s Met season premiere of Don Giovanni, broadcast at 7:25 PM.
The international finalists for the International Opera Awards have been internationally named from international artists.
“Renée Fleming and Ben Whishaw… two iconic beauties millennia apart.”
“Can the Diva Who Once Ruled the Met Make a Comeback?”
Certain critics need to get the fuck over themselves.
Only in Los Angeles, City of La La, could this season have happened.
Live from the Komische Oper in Berlin: the premiere of Barrie Kosky‘s new production of La bohème.
Nico Muhly‘s psychological thriller.
The Future Met Wiki’s details on the company’s 2019-2020 season (due to be unveiled a few weeks from now) still includes occasional lacunae as to casting.
Hear the symbols ring as the Met’s moody double bill returns to the stage.
Sondra Radvanovsky in a “Three Queens” concert and The Queen of Spades, plus three cycles of the Ring (senza Sondra) highlight Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 2019-2020 season.
Our Own Joel Rozen in Slate ponders the good gay vs. bad gay politics of Zachary Woolfe‘s New York Times celebration of Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
San Francisco Opera continues its competition with Lyric Opera of Chicago for the title of “World’s Dullest Opera Company.”
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
