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.
Settle in for an afternoon of opera seria, cher public, and chat as you will in the comments section of this post.
Our friends at Opera Depot are in a Wagnerian mood.
Though none of the three performances of Anna Netrebko’s Traviata at La Scala was broadcast, an in-house in decent sound has surfaced.
“James Jorden always wanted to direct, but when he first moved to New York the closest he could get to the stage was in a low-paying job sweeping up bobby pins.”
For those of you who missed the live webcast of Rossini’s Otello last weekend (and for those of you who want to see it again.)
All right, folks, if you’re going to troll La Cieca, you might try just a little subtlety.
“The famed opera and concert singer Jessye Norman is moving from her gracious country home, White Gates…”
Tonight at 8:00 PM ET, The New School telecasts LoftOpera’s production of Rossini’s Otello, live from Bushwick!
Patriotism veritably gushes this afternoon, cher public.
You too can end your life as a bitter old lady without a nice word to say about anyone.
La Cieca is assured by one of her most reliable mavens that a 2018-2019 production of Lohengrin at the Met looks like a definite “go.”
Klaus Florian Vogt makes his overdue return to the Met tonight.
La Cieca is sure there will be as many opinions as listeners to this afternoon’s broadcast of La traviata starting at 1:00 PM.
Here’s where the parterriani meet to discuss tonight’s season premiere of Idomeneo at 7:25 PM.
Last week Anna Netrebko sang in concert Violetta’s first act aria from La traviata, an opera she will return to her repertoire at La Scala on Thursday of this week.
The Bayerische Staatsoper just announced, in addition to their usual bounty of webcasts, two special presentations: a repeat of Semiramide and a live telecast of Andrea Chenier.
More merriment tonight, cher public, with another broadcast of La traviata to discuss.
Thomas Hampson is ill.
A listing of the ten most-read parterre posts of February 2017.
Does yummy Yannick Nézet-Séguin owe it all to dairy?
Watch and discuss, cher public, as the Bayerische Staatsoper streams a new production of Rossini’s Semiramide boasting a starry cast including Joyce DiDonato, Alex Esposito, Daniela Barcellona and Lawrence Brownlee.
La Cieca invites everyone to discuss this afternoon’s broadcast and HD of Rusalka from the Met!
Our old, old, old friends at Opera Depot are belatedly celebrating the birthday of regal Régine Crespin by discounting all of her recordings at 50% off.
La Cieca invites the cher public (pictured, you do the math) to discuss tonight’s broadcast of La traviata from the Met, starting at 7:25 PM.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
