valley-of-decisionSo the drama continues.  After the first act, the conductor summons the Decider to his dressing room to complain that the prima donna has made an unmusical mess of the opera thus far.

When the Decider finally arrives, the maestro announces that if the P.D. continues this performance, he’ll refuse to conduct the next one.  Of course, this one is a bit of a puzzler for the Decider.  He can’t really make a call on how messy or unmusical the first act was, or, for that matter, if the act was performed at all — because he was at a dinner party at the time.

Keep watching this space for more melodrama.

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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