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.
Today at 2:00 PM, Our Own JJ presents the “other” great Maria Callas Traviata from 1958, the glorious performance of June 20, 1958 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
Tomorrow (Sunday) a staged reading of The Lisbon Traviata will be performed at New York’s LGBT Community Center.
New York City Opera apparently plans to fund its commission of the opera Stonewall via Patreon.
Norman Lebrecht, as is increasingly his wont, emitted a vicious racially-charged dog whistle this morning.
La Cieca is delighted to remind her cher public that the parterre YouTube page (called operazine) has been newly refurbished and updated.
Today on parterre saturday afternoon: a live recording of Strauss’s Salome featuring the very starry quartet of Gwyneth Jones, Hans Hopf, Bernd Weikl and Martha Mödl!
I mean, who did not see this coming?
A letter to the New York Times from the the company’s doughty press director Tim McKeough addresses the recent spate of running around with hair on fire about James Levine‘s artistic legacy.
The third segment of New York City Opera’s gradually emerging 2018-2019 season will be Mascagni’s Isabeau.
New York City Opera today offered a demi-announcement of half their next season.
It seems Anna Netrebko has achieved a state that can only be described as “Peak Elizabeth Taylor.”
You may not be a born Regina in The Little Foxes if you’re the sort of person who exclaims “Good gravy!”
Disgraced former Met music director James Levinewas sighted at yesterday’s matinee performance of New York City Opera’s Brokeback Mountain.
WQXR has hired BBC radio and TV presenter, author, novelist, journalist and violinist Clemency Burton-Hill to be the station’s Creative Director, Music and Arts.
Leyla Gencer and Shirley Verrett star in Maria Stuarda, this week’s offering in the returning series “saturday afternoon parterre” hosted by Our Own JJ.
Here they are, cher public, your most popular 10 (or, rather, 11) parterre posts for the month of May 2018.
The Metropolitan Opera announced that Diane Zola has been appointed the company’s new Assistant General Manager, Artistic, replacing the late Robert Rattray.
“Magdalena Kozená sings Cole Porter”
Not one but two fascinating live video streams this afternoon, cher public!
Centenary diva Birgit Nilsson is only one of a multitude of artists whose live recording are discounted by 50% at Opera Depot this weekend.
La Cieca is declaring a tie!
Sadly, the Pubie goes to Così fan tutte.
And the Pubie goes to… Parsifal!
An’ ze Pubee goes to: Ze Merry Widow!
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
