With one look you’ll know all you need to know
You naysayers out there who are guffawing at Renée Fleming’s long-anticipated descent into utter camp: hey, be nice!
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.
“The Duel”
A vintage performance of Il trovatore from Paris in 1975 featuring (in alphabetical order) Renata Scotto and Shirley Verrett.
Them too?
“An up-and-coming baritone singer alleges he was drugged and violently raped in 2010 by two of opera/classical music’s shining stars, David Daniels and Scott Walters.”
Barbara Harris 1935 – 2018
The actress and teacher died earlier today of lung cancer. She was 83.
Broadcast: L’incoronazione di Poppea
All politics is vocal in Jan Lauwers’ Salzburg production of the Monteverdi masterpiece, which will be streamed at 12:30 PM on Monday.
The Grand Tour
“A quite impartial, not quite chronological guide through opera from Monteverdi to John Adams.”
parterre saturday afternoon: Otello
For the return of parterre saturday afternoon at 2:00 PM, Our Own JJ salutes soprano Aprile Millo.
Paris mismatch
La Cieca is almost certain that Diana Damrau will not appear at the Met this fall for La traviata.
Poison of interest
As our Trove Thursday creator Chris Corwin takes a well-deserved week off, La Cieca brings you one from the vaults.
Broadcast: Netrebko/Eyvazov concert
Live from the Teatro Colon, a concert of Italian opera favorites performed by Anna Netrebko, Yusif Eyvazov and Jader Bignamini.
All the feels
“And as I thought about it, I couldn’t help wondering: when did Alex Ross become Carrie Bradshaw?”
Broadcast: Vanessa
Live from the Glyndebourne Festival starting at 1:30 this afternoon: a telecast of that campest of all camp operas, Vanessa.
All ihr Singlefrauen
“Los in den Club, wir haben uns gerade getrennt. Ich zieh jetzt mein eigenes kleines Ding durch.”
O happy pair!
Congratulations to baritone Jarrett Ott and artistic administrator Adam Franklin, wedded Saturday by none other than Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
Half shelled
“Fleming does not have the acting skills to convince as a hearty clam-shack proprietress…”
Broadcast: Demon
A chilling opera for a scorching afternoon: Rubinstein’s Demon starring Egils Silins as The Demon and Asmik Grigorian as Tamara.
“No husband is ever too scared to look”
Born on this day in 1891 actress and performer Helen Broderick.
Destiny
Awe-inspiring Anna Netrebko unveils yet another new Verdi aria.
“Höre mit Sinn, was ich dir klatsche!”
Renowned mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly may have been dropped from the Met’s Ring production, but today she has announced she has invented an entirely new role for herself in the work.
Altgewohntes Geräusch
Michaela Schuster will sing Waltraute in all performances of Wagner’s Götterdämmerung, replacing Sarah Connolly.
Not-so-tiny furniture
All it takes to rocket to the top of the charts on parterre box these days is a chaise longue and a periwinkle dress.
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).