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.
Has anyone who assigned, wrote, edited or published this piece ever seen My Fair Lady?
Make an Assyrian of yourself tonight starting at 7:25 PM!
An early start for today’s broadcast, cher public: get enlightened starting at 11:30 AM.
Accelerating his arrival as Music Director by two seasons, Yannick Nézet-Séguin will take up the post in time for the start of the Metropolitan Opera’s 2018–19 season, it was announced today.
Either venomous fishwife Norman Lebrecht has deliberately misquoted and misinterpreted what Jonas Kaufmann said in a recent interview, or else Jonas Kaufmann needs to go fuck himself.
The problem with trying to revive Semiramide today is competing with the memory of the spectacular casting lavished upon the work during the golden age of the Volpe era.
One can only assume that Sally Struthers wanted too much money.
Yet another whack at Trovatore tonight starting at 7:25, cher public!
Mean, moody, magnificent Matt Baume (left) hosts a live version of his celebrated podcast The Sewers of Paris this afternoon beginning at 5:00 PM Eastern time.
So as not to play favorites at her Los Angeles recital last week, Renée Fleming performed at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion while wearing Walt Disney Concert Hall.
This week’s dose of love potion will be taken a little early, cher public.
Happy 91st birthday soprano Leontyne Price.
Cher public, you are invited to submit your own choices of images best illustrating the tenuous line between Kunst and female impersonation.
Alluring Anna Netrebko sings an aria from Tsarskaya nevesta two nights ago.
“I included one of my power moves, the windmill, when I sang Erismena at the Château De Versailles.”
With the Met’s announcement of the 2018-2019 season approximately a week away, La Cieca thought we should review the always oracular and generally accurate Future Met Wiki.
“It’s quite a coup to have Alice Coote starring in not one but two company premieres at Lyric next season.”
Tonight, cher public, time becomes space starting at 5:55 PM and 30 Lincoln Center Plaza.
“It’s like your nightmare Tinder date where if the guy doesn’t know the answer he gets his head cut off.”
“On March 5, at The Town Hall in NYC, [Andrew LLoyd Webber] will be joined by Glenn Close to celebrate the release of his new memoir, Unmasked.”
Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin has been doing heavy lifting not only in the metaphorical but in the literal sense as well.
This afternoon’s Met broadcast is Il trovatore, a revival that has already been widely discussed, and surely will be spoken of further when it begins at 1:00 PM.
So it turns out the spin from all of Good Old Uncle John’s chums is not quite accurate after all.
A particularly elegant bevy of sponsors grace the pixels of parterre this month: Carnegie Hall, the New York City Opera and the New York Philharmonic.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
