By La Cieca The last couple of quizzes have been perhaps not quite challenging enough for you, cher public. The most recent one, for example, you guessed was Luisa Miller almost immediately. So La Cieca has decided to up the ante a bit.
These days, just about any opera might be produced with such directorial touches as a severed arm and a Hitler lookalike. But can you guess which opera this one is? (The usual reminder: if you know the production already, clam up!)
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.
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.
