By La Cieca 
Opera Chic reported a couple of days ago that “[t]he Italian mezzo married her longtime boyfriend, big buff Swiss bass-baritone, Oliver Widmer. However, there is no official confirmation of the nuptials, and a closer reading of the Chic’s purported source for the news suggests that Bartoli and her beau are “just good friends,” as we gossips used to say back in the day of tougher libel laws.
But more to the point, what the hell is La Cieca supposed to do now with that gift-wrapped blender?
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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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.
