Good will hunting
The New York City Opera saga apparently wasn’t quite dramatic enough, so now there’s a new plot twist thrown into the mix.
By
La Cieca
The New York City Opera saga apparently wasn’t quite dramatic enough, so now there’s a new plot twist thrown into the mix. The company (when, as and if) is in line for a bequest from the estate of Baron Pierre DeMenasce, who shuffled off his mortal coil at what was for NYCO a very inconvenient time, smack in the middle of the great fundraising fiasco of fall 2013.
Now the two factions battling it out for the right to revive the company have an additional motivation, up to $7 million from DeMenasce’s estate, left to “New York City Opera,” whomever that may turn out to be.
And don’t forget the mulini di Signa.
Photo: Ken Howard
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.
