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.
Live from the Vienna State Opera starring Elina Garanca and Piotr Beczala.
Live video from the Finnish National Opera and Ballet.
The cher public (not pictured) made the sizzling month August a time of listening and discussion.
From Santa Fe Opera, featuring Simon O’Neill and Tamara Wilson.
Asmik Grigorian sings all three leading roles in this broadcast from the Salzburg Festival.
FInal day of the opening Ring of the 2022 Bayreuth season.
The second say of Der Ring des Nibelungen, live from the Bayreuth Festival.
Beverly Sills and Renée Fleming (not pictured) rightly crown the list of most-read parterre box articles for August 2022.
A live broadcast as the Bayreuth Festival launches a new Ring cycle.
Recorded July 14 at the Aix-en-Provence Festival.
The celebrated episode of The Carol Burnett Show featuring divas Eileen Farrell and Marilyn Horne will be broadcast tonight.
Opening performance of the 2022 Bayreuth Festival, broadcast live.
Glyndebourne’s eagerly awaited new production comes to the Proms in a full-length semi-staged performance, complete with the raw elemental power of Ethel Smyth’s sweeping score.
“In a dystopian game show, reminiscent of Hunger Games, the Princess presides over a surveillance state in which men are culled and the reproduction of the human race is conducted in breeding labs.”
The very free adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream set by Ambroise Thomas, as heard at Wexford in 2021.
Conductor: Nicola Luisotti; Stage director: Andreas Homoki; Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Real, Madrid.
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.
