By La Cieca La Cieca hears that tonight’s performance of La traviata at the Met will be dedicated to the memory of Jerry Hadley.Â
Sadly, operatic legends have been (to put it bluntly) dying in such droves lately that the dedications are falling farther and farther behind. For example, the New York Times has reported that the Met will wait to honor the memory of Giuseppe di Stefano until next season’s revival of La sonnambula.
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.
