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.
In celebration of the remarkable career of Carol Neblett, our friends at Opera Depot are offering free download featuring the soprano in one of her greatest roles.
The New York City Opera is reporting the death of American soprano Carol Neblett.
Joyce DiDonato, Michael Spyres and Marie-Nicole Lemieux head a cast conducted by John Nelson of Berlioz’ epic.
Starting at 7:55 PM, a broadcast of the first Verdi Requiem of the season, live from the Met.
Your doyenne La Cieca (pictured, obviously) invites you to join her for a special holiday weekend treat this afternoon.
Coot-owned and -operated blog which never reviews anything complains that the New York Times classical music section is reviewing the wrong things.
The heartbreaking news of the death of Dmitri Hvorostovsky has been confirmed.
By a happy coincidence, the American Opera Series Network offers a broadcast of the Faccio adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet
La Cieca thinks you can guess how elated she is that Anna Netrebko has actually become Auntie Mame.
Astonishing Anna Netrebko intones the “Monologo di Fedra” at a dress rehearsal of Adriana Lecouvreur.
Madama Butterfly live from the Met at 7:25 PM.
A dozen women or more talk and sing about all sort of important and exciting things, with “a man” near the bottom of their list of priorities.
The broadcast debuts of Anna Netrebko‘s Adriana and Piotr Beczala‘s Maurizio.
“C’est Thais, l’idole fragile qui vient pour la première fois.”
Jonas Kaufmann‘s acclaimed Dick will highlight the Met’s 2018-2019 season.
John Adams and Peter Sellars didn’t bother to learn a fucking thing about the Puccini masterpiece whose title they stole.
Breaking: The New York Times‘ 24/7 all-Exterminating Angel all the time coverage continues .
Angela Meade is prima donna of this broadcast of Bellini’s melodrama recorded live at the Caramoor Festival starting at 1:00 PM.
The Adès-on favorite of critics and public alike.
In the busy month of October parterre box published some of its most popular posts ever.
Tonight starting at 6:15 PM EDT, the opening night of Die Walküre, live from Lyric Opera of Chicago.
So La Cieca figures if the New York Times can do seven pieces about Exterminating Angel in the past week, we should jump on the bandwagon as well.
Arnold Rawls will sing the role of Calàf in tonight’s performance of Puccini’s Turandot, replacing the originally scheduled Aleksandrs Antonenko, who is ill.
Denigrating myths about opera abound.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
