By La Cieca 
This season, the Metropolitan Opera offers the opportunity for “loyal supporter[s} of the Met” to revel in poverty- and natural disaster-plagued Catfish Row—along with rest of the season of Live in HD telecasts—in real time, from the comfort of their own home media room, for “a tax-deductible contribution of $10,000, over and above one’s current annual Patron commitment.”
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.
