By La Cieca 
Composer Mark-Anthony Turnage, target of mixed reviews that remind one of the worst excesses of the French Revolution.
The unheard-of horror of a lack of unanimous approbation for a British composer’s work led to an appalling lack of civility on Twitter over the weekend.
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.
