By La Cieca 
Writes Heidi Waleson, “The new Lyric Opera of Chicago Ring cycle, which began with Das Rheingold on Oct. 1, reads like a reply to the many over-thought conceptual interpretations of recent years, especially the Metropolitan Opera’s giant ‘machine’.”
See, this is why I’ll never be the critic Heidi is. I sat through the Met’s Ring twice, and it never occurred to me that any thought had gone into it at all.
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.
