La Cieca
James Jorden (who writes under the names "La Cieca" and "Our Own JJ") is the founder and editor of parterre box. During his 20 year career as an opera critic he has written for the New York Times, Opera, Gay City News, Opera Now, Musical America and the New York Post. He has also raised his voice in punditry on National Public Radio. From time to time he has directed opera, including three unsuccessful productions of Don Giovanni, a work he hopes to return to someday. Currently he alternates his doyenne duties with writing a weekly column on opera for the New York Observer.
Live video from the Finnish National Opera and Ballet.
By La Cieca
Karine Deshayes, Michael Spyres and Amina Edris are featured in Bellini’s opera at the Festival d’Aix 2022.
By La Cieca
The cher public (not pictured) made the sizzling month August a time of listening and discussion.
By La Cieca
John Osborn is featured in the rarely-heard tenor version of Ambroise Thomas’ grand opera.
By La Cieca
From Santa Fe Opera, featuring Simon O’Neill and Tamara Wilson.
By La Cieca
Gustavo Dudamel conducts this performance from the Bastille Opera.
By La Cieca
Asmik Grigorian sings all three leading roles in this broadcast from the Salzburg Festival.
By La Cieca
FInal day of the opening Ring of the 2022 Bayreuth season.
By La Cieca
The second say of Der Ring des Nibelungen, live from the Bayreuth Festival.
By La Cieca
Beverly Sills and Renée Fleming (not pictured) rightly crown the list of most-read parterre box articles for August 2022.
By La Cieca
A live broadcast as the Bayreuth Festival launches a new Ring cycle.
By La Cieca
Recorded July 14 at the Aix-en-Provence Festival.
By La Cieca
The celebrated episode of The Carol Burnett Show featuring divas Eileen Farrell and Marilyn Horne will be broadcast tonight.
By La Cieca
Opening performance of the 2022 Bayreuth Festival, broadcast live.
By La Cieca
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.
By La Cieca
Performance of July 11 at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence.
By La Cieca
“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.”
By La Cieca
A live broadcast of Umberto Giordano’s opera from the Bregenz Festival.
By La Cieca
The very free adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream set by Ambroise Thomas, as heard at Wexford in 2021.
By La Cieca
Conductor: Nicola Luisotti; Stage director: Andreas Homoki; Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Real, Madrid.
By La Cieca
