When la Cieca’s dear friend and chief flunky around parterre.com JJ shlepped out this morning to fetch a copy of the New York Post, he seemed oddly keyed  up.  “With what I got in me, I could have been better than any of you,” JJ muttered.

Flinging the tabloid down on the breakfast bar, he continued,  “What I’ve been holding down inside of me… oh, if I ever let it out, there wouldn’t be signs big enough! There wouldn’t be lights bright enough!  Here he is, boys!  Here he is, world!  Here’s James!”

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.

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