freedom-of-the-pressUPDATE: The Royal Opera has apologized to Intermezzo!

Sister blog Intermezzo has run up against one of those occasional but annoying bumps in the information superhighway, the sad sort of creature known as the opera house’s  “head of business and legal affairs,” whose days and nights are spent firing off officious, legalistic and (in this case) misspelled emails trying to hinder the spread of information. And we all know how vain an endeavor that is, don’t we? Anyway, La Cieca is confident the cher public will offer ‘Mezzo their support during her moment of crise.

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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