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 press release for the Royal Opera’s 2018-2019 season promises “world-renowned opera stars including Michael Fabiano, Jonas Kaufmann, Anna Netrebko and Eva Maria Westbroek among other treats.
Live from the Bayerische Staatsoper, a live video webcast of Les Vêpres siciliennes begins a 1:00 PM New York time.
The melee in Mycenae returns for listening and discussion starting at 1:00 PM!
Christopher Maltman’s “Liza with a Z” drag for the finale of Così fan tutte at the Met recalls another iconic diva of the opera’s 1960s setting.
La Cieca just received a package of pdf files the sender says is a copy of James Levine‘s lawsuit against the Met.
James Levine is both a floor wax and a dessert topping!
That’s how they’re going to do it tonight, starting at 7:25 PM.
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
“The background chorus characters in the Broadway show I saw tonight unobtrusively included a gay couple, and jaded though I sometimes am I think that’s really neat.”
The Metropolitan Opera fired James Levine this evening.
Sabine Hogrefe will perform the title role in Strauss’s Elektra at tonight’s performance at the Met, replacing Christine Goerke who is ill.
Make an Assyrian of yourself!
The controversial heroine of Ermonela Jaho sings, with the opera beginning at 1:00 PM.
Broadway baby Renée Fleming pays tribute to the immortal Leslie “And they’re hockin’ the bejeebers” Uggams in this selection from Carousel.
The neurosis kicks in at 7:55.
It’s about a Jewish Priestess, who has 2 secret children with a Roman Soldier, which already creates conflict.
A special high-kicking salute to our admirable advertisers for the month of March!
Even the news of the Met’s upcoming season and coverage of important revivals of Semiramide and Parsifal couldn’t hold a candle to the cher public’s interest in the star pairing of Sonya Yoncheva and Michael Fabiano.
Yummy Yannick Nézet-Séguin belts out a song in a Met practice room.
If you’ve ever wondered how Renée Fleming would react just at the moment the smack kicked in, you’re about to find out.
Finally, medical science offers the answer to the conundrum that has baffled opera fans for decades: what was Renée Fleming thinking?
A 12:30 PM start for today’s broadcast of Puccini’s evergreen bohemians, cher public.
Happy 84th birthday to the diva of divas, Renata Scotto!
The versatile singer and actress died yesterday at her home in Palos Verdes, Calif. She was 97.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
