By La Cieca 
In fact, Lucia is due in New York in less than a month, but current reports about the proposed prima donna are not encouraging.
Naturally La Cieca wishes no one ill, but on the other hand, La Cieca likes to think the Met has fallback plans in case Natalie Dessay pulls another Hamlet this season. And so, cher public, since you are so wise, your suggestions please: which soprano should the Met be lining up in case of a Natalie no-show?
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.
