Opera from a certain point of view. The best opera magazine on the web. Reviews, breaking news, critical essays, and brainrot commentary on opera from those demented enough to love it.
The Manon Lescautidentification quiz, which La Cieca thought would be pretty much a cakewalk, turned out vastly more challenging than she imagined. Congratulations, at any rate, to Jacobelli, the only participant in the quiz to identify more than half of the abandoned ladies in question. The full roster follows the jump.
Licia Albanese Met 1956
Pilar Lorengar Berlin 1971
Virginia Zeani Barcelona 1971
Gilda Cruz-Romo Met 1973
Raina Kabaivanska Met 1966
Elena Souliotis Naples 1971
Adriana Maliponte Met 1985
Gianna Galli RAI 1965
Renée Fleming Moscow 2008
Teresa Zylis-Gara Met 1981
Veronica Villaroel Santiago 2007
Maria Slatinaru Verona 1984
Rosalind Plowright London 1984
Sylvia Sass La Scala 1978
Eva-Maria Westbroek Baden-Baden 2014
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.
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.
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.