“Now, ‘grand’ can mean ‘opulent’ or ‘magnificent,’ which this concert’s singers certainly were. But it can also mean ‘large,’ which these artists—soprano Amber Wagner, mezzo Jamie Barton and tenor Russell Thomas—are as well. If their voluptuous voices evoked the golden age of the late 19th century, so did their physiques, which recalled engravings in a century-old edition of The Victor Book of the Opera.” [New York Observer]
Grand slam
“Now, ‘grand’ can mean ‘opulent’ or ‘magnificent,’ which this concert’s singers certainly were.”
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.