Clifton Webb, silly!The multi-slashed Manuela Hoelterhoff (Bloomberg editrix/spouse to disgruntled New York City Opera intendant manquée Francesca Zambello/grouch emeritus) dipped her goose quill in venom this morning once again to take on her favorite subject, i.e., how NYCO has gone to hell in a handbasket ever since they didn’t hire her girlfriend to run the place. 

Hoelterhoff (not pictured) is, as always, entertainingly vitriolic, if in this case a bit Godwinny (“For comparable magical thinking, you’d have to go back to Hitler dreaming of rescue in that bunker in Berlin.”)  Her tartest comic sally is the tongue-in-cheek suggestion that Joe Volpe is the man to run NYCO; pardon La Cieca whilst she wipes away the tears of laughter!

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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