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.
Conductor Gustavo Dudamel makes his long-awaited Met debut tonight at 8:00 PM.
“Carl Tanner will sing the title role in Verdi’s Otello in tonight’s season premiere performance, replacing Stuart Skelton, who is ill.”
And all this time we’ve thought it was only Thomas Hampson‘s elevated opinion of his talent that led him to call himself “Mr. Fantastic.”
“These two dynamic artists will participate in a conversation onstage concerning activism, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, and the future of education.”
On February 14, 2002, Anna Netrebko made her Metropolitan Opera debut in Prokofiev’s War and Peace.
How is it possible that no one has ever done a production of Hänsel und Gretel with the Witch played as Fanny Cradock?
Your doyenne’s origin myth must always be understood to begin with the bite of a radioactive soprano way back in 1976.
Anna Netrebko sings “Deh vieni non tardar” in 2000.
The most exquisitely queer “parterre box” headline of all time has been written.
Anna Netrebko in a scene from Prokofiev’s Bethrothal in a Monastery, 1998.
Anna Netrebko as Lyudmila, the role of her American debut at San Francisco Opera.
A 1994 role debut as Violetta.
To celebrate December 31 when, Anna Netrebko performs her first Met Adriana Lecouvreur.
La Cieca invites the cher public (pictured) to hear and discuss this afternoon’s broadcast of Il trittico.
“She defines ‘extra.'”
For your listening and discussing pleasure, cher public: the opening night of the Met’s new Traviata.
WQXR, the Metropolitan Opera, and WNYC Studios introduce Aria Code.
Some less than stellar reviews dominate the top ten posts on parterre box for November 2018.
On this joyous day, La Cieca is delighted to salute the advertisers who make parterre box possible.
The thrilling trio of Jonas Kaufmann, Gerald Finley (pictured) and Anja Harteros star in the Bayerische Staatsoper’s production of Otello.
Sources in whose reliability La Cieca has an almost holy faith suggest turning one’s perfect vision westwards.
Karita Mattila has just rather casually let slip that she has “signed in for [her] first Isolde.”
Today at 1:00 PM, Boito’s Mefistofele kicks off the Met’s 88th year of live Saturday broadcasts over the Toll Brothers–Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network.
Great news for contemporary music fans!
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
