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.
“Oh yes we both reached for the gun!”
The Metropolitan Opera has fired octogenarian stage director John Copley after receiving a complaint about “inappropriate behavior in the rehearsal room.”
La Cieca regrets to say it’s time to step back from the gratuitous display of bare skin in opera.
Finally an announcement to get the heart pumping: the Paris Opera’s 2018-2019 season offers no fewer than 11 new productions!
Tonight’s broadcast and the discussion begin at 7:25 PM.
Living for art begins this afternoon at 1:00 PM.
The Met’s season premiere of Verdi’s melodrama begins at 7:25 PM.
Get an early start today, cher public, with the 11:00 AM live video webcast of Die Walküre from the Bayerische Staatsopera.
Happy birthday to Harry Rose, formerly known as Opera Teen, who is 20 years old today.
Opera originalist Heather MacDonald is at it again, describing Our Own JJ as “New York’s shrillest advocate for revisionist opera productions.”
La Cieca, right, suddenly realizes she forgot to post today’s chat.
Oh look, another critic who part-times as a necromancer!
Los Angeles Opera is the latest company to jump in on that cr-razy trend that sweeping the nation: boring the public to death.
San Francisco opera offers a new peak in drab, listless programming in their 2018-2019 “Leftovers and Stuff We Got With Coupons” gala season.
Hear and discuss Matthew Polenzani and Pretty Yende tonight starting at 7:25 PM.
Dual Alagna excitement beginning at 12:30 PM!
The cher public are invited to nominate non-comic operas suitable for a gala performance according to the conditions specified above.
In Candide this spring, the old lady will be Patricia Racette. She will sing the role of the Old Lady.
Jennifer Rowley will sing the role of Leonora in all performances of Il Trovatore this season replacing Maria Agresta, who is ill.
Breaking: Pasolini estate to sue Rupert Christiansen for libel.
It’s double the veracity tonight when Roberto Alagna stars in both parts of opera’s most familiar double bill.
“Briefly, the character of the heroine is a crazy bothersome hysterical bitch.”
This afternoon’s Met broadcast starts at 1:00 PM.
Call it The Year of the Cancellation: the top 25 most read parterre stories of 2017.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
