Winged victors
The winners of the ninth annual F. Paul Driscoll Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence (or, as they are colloquially known, the “Opera News Awards”) have been revealed.
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La Cieca
Has it really been nine years? Well, apparently it has, because the winners of the ninth annual F. Paul Driscoll Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence (or, as they are colloquially known, the “Opera News Awards”) have been revealed. Congratulations to director Patrice Chéreau, tenor Juan Diego Flórez, mezzo-soprano Christa Ludwig, bass-baritone James Morris and soprano Nina Stemme (not pictured)!
The honorees will be honored on Sunday, April 13 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. All the winners–and (it goes without saying) a host, a veritable host of the city’s cultural, civic, and social luminaries–will be present at the gala awards dinner, which will feature celebrity presenters speaking about the awardees and introducing video performance clips. (Photo: Ken Howard)
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.
