Following in the footsteps of Lead Belly, Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Odetta, The Kingston Trio, Pete Seeger, The Beatles, Burl Ives, Big Joe Turner, Bobby Darin, Johnny Rivers, Cisco Houston, Mungo Jerry, Van Morrison, Little Richard, Buckwheat Zydeco, Otis Rush, The Spencer Davis Group, Lonnie Donegan, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, The Kentucky Headhunters, Andy Griffith and Creedence Clearwater Revival, the increasingly protean Jessye Norman intones the classic American anthem “Midnight Special.”
Woman behind bars
The increasingly protean Jessye Norman intones the classic American anthem “Midnight Special.”
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.