Our Own JJ has been spending a lot of time outdoors lately, which is such a novelty for him that he felt he really must write about it. Fortunately, on at least two occasions when he found himself in the midst of nature, there happened to be music playing somewhere nearby, so that at least gave him a topic. Caramoor’s Ciro in Babilonia is the subject of a piece in Musical America, and the New York Post sent our scribe into the wilds of Brooklyn to cover the New York Philharmonic.
JJ au naturel
Our Own JJ has been spending a lot of time outdoors lately, which is such a novelty for him that he felt he really must write about it.
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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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.