In Issue #40 of parterre box, the queer opera zine, Our Own JJ nabs lengthy interviews with critic John Ardoin and tenor Richard Leech; the New York opera scene is dissected by Dawn Fatale, Little Stevie and Indiana Loiterer III; the inimitable Dick Johnson journeys to Pittsburgh for an early Sondra Radvanovsky Trovatore; and Richard and Peter sum up the Houston Grand Opera audience thusly: “…a peculiar mix [of] snarling Wagner queens in leather, bourgeois Europeans in black tie, and fat women in sweat pants and Nikes.” [Download Issue #40]
On with the motley
In Issue #40 of parterre box, the queer opera zine, Our Own JJ nabs lengthy interviews with critic John Ardoin and tenor Richard Leech.
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.