“Opera isn’t all about the music: On the most basic level, it’s a grotesquely expensive form of entertainment. When people drop a half a grand for a pair of only pretty good seats at the Met, never mind parking and dinner and getting the suit pressed, they want some visual bang for their buck.” Our Own JJ considers Die Frau ohne Schatten and Rigoletto in the New York Observer.
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“Opera isn’t all about the music: On the most basic level, it’s a grotesquely expensive form of entertainment.”
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.
