Questo e Quello

Driving Miss Dessay

Always front and center with a vote of confidence, Peter Gelb told the New York Times, “Natalie is one of the great artists, but she also is somewhat fragile.”

By La Cieca

April 11, 2013

77 comments

Always front and center with a vote of confidence, Peter Gelb told the New York Times, “Natalie is one of the great artists, but she also is somewhat fragile.” (The kicker on the story goes like this: “Ms. De Niese, Mr. Gelb added, will again be available, just in case.”) So: does it begin to look to you, cher public, like this Giulio Cesare production may resemble in some ways a ride on the montagnes russes? Should Danielle de Niese just go ahead and sublet a flat at The Bel Canto? It’s up to you, parterrians, to turn your crowdsourcing skills to the task of predicting the possibly messy course of the next few weeks.

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Photo: Brigitte Lacombe/Metropolitan Opera

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.