By La Cieca 
Since Attila is in the forefront of our thoughts right now, and since the prima of the Met’s production won’t be broadcast, La Cieca thought it would be handy to have a Riccardo Muti performance of the Verdi work as a common point of reference.
Attila (Verdi). Florence, 31 December 1972.
Attila: Nicolai Ghiaurov; Odabella: Leyla Gencer; Foresto: Veriano Luchetti; Ezio: Norman Mittelmann; Uldino: Ottavio Taddei; Leone: Mario Rinaudo. Riccardo Muti, conductor.
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.
