All these years La Cieca has complained that nobody would write an operatic version of Valley of the Dolls, and what do you know? Monteverdi already did it almost 400 years ago. The controversial “Voglio una bambola! Voglio una bambola!” scena follows the jump. Alternate explanation: Deutsche Grammonphon and Anna Prohaska have lost their fucking minds.
Lamento della Neely
All these years La Cieca has complained that nobody would write an operatic version of Valley of the Dolls, and what do you know?
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.