Opera from a certain point of view. The best opera magazine on the web. Reviews, breaking news, critical essays, and brainrot commentary on opera from those demented enough to love it.
At long last, the most closely guarded secret of 2011 (besides, you know, everything about what’s going to happen to City Opera) is about to be revealed. Ladies and public, the Second Annual Parterre Cher Public Choice Awards!
Best New Production at the MetDon Carlo
Worst New Production at the Met Le Comte Ory
Best Revival at the Met
Pelléas et Mélisande
Worst Revival at the Met
Armida
Best NYCO Production
A Quiet Place
Best “Off-Broadway” Opera Production
Norma (Caramoor)
Best Performance by a Diva
Joyce DiDonato (Ariadne auf Naxos)
Worst Performance by a Diva
Deborah Voigt (La fanciulla del West)
Best Performance by a Divo
Jonas Kaufmann (Die Walküre)
Worst Performance by a Divo
James Maddalena (Nixon in China)
Best Performance in a Non-Diva Role
Felicity Palmer (Pelléas et Mélisande)
Worst Performance in a Non-Diva Role
James Morris (Roméo et Juliette)
Maestro of the Year
Fabio Luisi
Einspringer of the Year
Fabio Luisi
Debut of the Year
Eva-Maria Westbroek (Die Walküre)
Photos: Ken Howard (Ring, Pelléas, Don Carlo), Carol Rosegg (A Quiet Place), Cory Weaver (DiDonato).
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.
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.
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.