Once again the Friday afternoon news dump reveals the Byzantine means by which the honchos and honchesses who rule the world of opera attain and consolidate their power.

At 4:48 pm yesterday, a time when any self-respecting arts journalist might be expected to have crawled long since into his or her respective gin bottle, the Lyric Opera of Chicago announced that Alexandra Day has been appointed to the newly created position of director of public relations. Who is this Alexandra Day, you ask? Why, she currently serves as personal manager and press representative for Renée Fleming, the company’s recently annointed Czarina of Creative Consulting.  [Chicago Classical Review]

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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