“Götterdämmerung, the final installment of Lepage’s Ring, arrived in January, rounding out what must be considered a historic achievement. Pound for pound, ton for ton, it is the most witless and wasteful production in modern operatic history…. It’s an embarrassment that this catastrophically vapid spectacle is what New York has to offer to the world on the occasion of the Wagner bicentennial, which arrives next year.” [The New Yorker]
Mein Ross! Sei mir gegrüsst!
“Pound for pound, ton for ton, it is the most witless and wasteful production in modern operatic history.”
By La Cieca 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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Tell us: What was the best of 2025?
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.
