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.
A Baroque Valentine’s with Opera Lafayette | Feb | DC & NYC
Celebrate love in all its guises with tender ballads, amorous duets, cheeky verses, and bawdy drinking songs plus food, cocktails and wine.
Soprano Angel Blue has been named the winner of the 2022 Richard Tucker Award.
Live from La Scala, Nicola Luisotti conducts Francesco Meli, Luca Salsi and Sondra Radvanovsky.
Nadine SIerra hosts.
A controversial new Lucia at the Met fascinated the cher public last month.
Soprano Eleonora Buratto stars.
Just starting from the vienna State Opera.
Riccardo Frizza conducts Nadine Sierra, Javier Camarena and Artur Rucinski.
Evelino Pidò leads Lisette Oropesa, Benjamin Bernheim and George Petean in this live broadcast from the Vienna State Opera.
Angel Blue and Eric Owens are featured in this repeat broadcast.
Eleonora Buratto and Brian Jagde star.
Elisabeth Teige and Brandon Jovanovich are the cursed twins in this production from the Deutsche Oper Berlin, directed by Stefan Herheim.
From the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Sir Donald Runnicles conducts and Stefan Herheim directs a new production of Der Ring des Nibelungen.
Live from the Met, Donald Runnicles conducts Nina Stemme (Elektra), Lise Davidsen (Chrysothemis), Michaela Schuster (Klytämnestra), Greer Grimsley (Orest), Stefan Vinke (Aegisth).
Baritone Igor Golovatenko returns on the heels of an impressive 2019 Met debut in The Queen of Spades to sing the title role of the urbane nobleman who rejects Tatiana, much to his later dismay.
James Gaffigan; Christian Van Horn (Figaro), Ying Fang (Susanna), Federica Lombardi (Countess Almaviva), Gerald Finley (Count Almaviva), Sasha Cooke (Cherubino), Elizabeth Bishop (Marcellina), Maurizio Muraro (Dr. Bartolo).
The conundrum “Whose side is Anna Netrebko on?” fascinated the readers of parterre box in March.
Happy 82nd birthday to actress Penelope Keith.
Ailyn Pérez is Tatiana opposite Igor Golovatenko in the title role of the urbane nobleman who rejects her, much to his later dismay.
Philippe Jordan conducts Christian Gerhaher, Sean Panikkar, Jörg Schneider, Dmitry Belosselskiy and Anja Kampe in a live performance from the Vienna State Opera.
Anna Netrebko has issued a statement explicitly condemning the war in Ukraine.
Happy 73rd birthday actress, comedian, talk show host, and singer Vicki Lawrence.
Tell us: What was the best of 2025?
Parterre Box concludes the thrilling first year of Talk of the Town by inviting your lightning rod opinions on several more categories of operatic argumentation.
