Mrs Stuyvesant FishMeet the charming and personable “Jane G.,” erstwhile patroness of the the Met, who, after hearing an “Outstanding… Spectacular” performance of Roberto Devereux there, decided to gather up her ermine wrap and quit her loge in disgust. Why? Well, the season brochure is too complicated, for one thing, and they scanned her patron card before admitting her to the private lounge, and would you believe there were no free sandwiches waiting for her there? “Jane” (not pictured) now intends to target her philanthropy—which, she will have you know, amounts to literally thousands of dollars per annum—to some other organization more prepared to bow and scrape to her whims.

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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