Say yes to the dress
Gather, cher public, for discussion of today’s broadcast and HD of Eugene Onegin, live from the Met at 1:00 PM.
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.
Broadcast: Aida
Today’s broadcast of Aida from the Met begins at 12:30 PM, as does the traditional chat.
Charfreitagzauber
parterre box revives a classic Good Friday tradition.
“Nicht heut, nicht morgen!”
But enough about Renée Fleming‘s farewell.
Mai Tosca alla scena meno tragica fu
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.
Now and for always
Happy 84th birthday soprano Montserrat Caballé.
L’ambigua
All right, so Renée Fleming says she’s not retiring from opera at the moment, and who should know better than she herself?
Broadcast: Tristan und Isolde
This afternoon at the civilized hour of 1:00 PM, the Met will broadcast a performance of Tristan und Isolde recorded in the fall.
A word from our sponsor
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.
But I’m a jeer leader
The Royal Opera’s Sir Antonio Pappano considers the question of booing at the opera.
You’re an old smoothie
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.
East Side Story
Fiery Latinas Carol Burnett and Julie Andrews strike sparks!
Name that Neptune
The month of March 2017 on parterre box can be summed up in three topics: Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann and religious Cretans.
And I am telling you I’m not going
“I never said that I was stepping away from the opera stage for good.”
Lethal injection
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’s doing her own little thing
“She wanted to be Beyoncé. She still does”
“Nel dì della vittoria io le incontrai…”
“Che tardi? Accetta il dono, / Ascendivi a regnar!”
At last my heart’s an open door
Today actress and singer Doris Day, 93, celebrates her 95th birthday.
See the pyramids along the Nile
“Je veux des éléphants! Je veux de l’or! Impressionnez-moi!”
Broadcast: Fidelio
Listen to Beethoven’s ode to the human spirit and kvetch about the singing this afternoon, cher public.
Master of the house
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.”
Broadcast: Eugene Onegin
The cher public (pictured) will surely all gather this evening to discuss the broadcast of the Met’s season premiere of Eugene Onegin.
The opposite of sax
Opera Philadelphia announced today that Lawrence Brownlee has joined the company as an Artistic Advisor.
Baton vs. glass ceiling
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.