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.
Gather, cher public, for discussion of today’s broadcast and HD of Eugene Onegin, live from the Met at 1:00 PM.
Today’s broadcast of Aida from the Met begins at 12:30 PM, as does the traditional chat.
parterre box revives a classic Good Friday tradition.
But enough about Renée Fleming‘s farewell.
The Met promises eight months from now a new production of Tosca and insiders are already betting that Kristine Opolais as the titular Roman diva may well be replaced before opening night.
Happy 84th birthday soprano Montserrat Caballé.
All right, so Renée Fleming says she’s not retiring from opera at the moment, and who should know better than she herself?
This afternoon at the civilized hour of 1:00 PM, the Met will broadcast a performance of Tristan und Isolde recorded in the fall.
La Cieca and everyone else at parterre.com (not pictured) salute the advertisers who help bring opera news, gossip and reviews to you every day.
The Royal Opera’s Sir Antonio Pappano considers the question of booing at the opera.
For only this weekend, our friends at Opera Depot have slashed prices by 60% on their collection of live recordings conducted by Herbert von Karajan.
Fiery Latinas Carol Burnett and Julie Andrews strike sparks!
The month of March 2017 on parterre box can be summed up in three topics: Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann and religious Cretans.
“I never said that I was stepping away from the opera stage for good.”
If British Opera magazine is to be believed, incoming Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin has already scheduled the first artistic fiasco of his new incumbency.
“She wanted to be Beyoncé. She still does”
“Che tardi? Accetta il dono, / Ascendivi a regnar!”
Today actress and singer Doris Day, 93, celebrates her 95th birthday.
“Je veux des éléphants! Je veux de l’or! Impressionnez-moi!”
Listen to Beethoven’s ode to the human spirit and kvetch about the singing this afternoon, cher public.
Incoming Met music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin “plans to open his first season with a new production of Verdi’s Aida starring Anna Netrebko and to start the following season with Ms. Netrebko as Strauss’s Salome.”
The cher public (pictured) will surely all gather this evening to discuss the broadcast of the Met’s season premiere of Eugene Onegin.
Opera Philadelphia announced today that Lawrence Brownlee has joined the company as an Artistic Advisor.
The Dallas Opera is delighted to announce that applications are now being accepted for a unique residential program designed to provide training and career support for distinctively talented women conductors.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
