How can they see with sequins in their eyes?

Worried about the future of opera in America? Don’t be!

By La Cieca

July 1, 2014

Worried about the future of opera in America? Don’t be! Lyric Opera of Chicago’s most recent crowing press release outlines a simple method by which any opera company can stay in the black!

Step One: Choose a limited repertoire concentrating on chestnuts of the 19th century. Don’t program anything earlier than Mozart or newer than Madama Butterfly (one of the company’s two 20th century works last season; the other was Rusalka.)

Step Two: Do opera only 75% of the time. Expend the remainder of your company’s not-for-profit resources on reviving a done-to-death half-century old musical comedy, mostly without opera singers and completely with obtrusive electronic amplification.

Step Three: Fill in any gaps in the budget with monies from the ironically named “Breaking New Ground Fund.”

See how easy that is? Any idiot can do it.

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.