A new low in linkbait
“Less than 24 hours after the death of pop-star Whitney Houston, the color-blind casting of Violetta Valery…. gave the 159-year old opera a jolt of relevance.”
By
La Cieca
“Little did New York City Opera know when they cast Laquita Mitchell in the lead role of ‘La Traviata’ (‘The Fallen Woman’) the significance it would have on the company’s opening performance on Sunday afternoon at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Less than 24 hours after the death of pop-star Whitney Houston, the color-blind casting of Violetta Valery — a woman done in by a combination of good looks, notoriety and ill-advised love — gave the 159-year old opera a jolt of relevance.”
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.
