Leave it to Opera News to whitewash the revolting reactionary politics of Franco Zeffirelli. According to Fred Plotkin, the late director, who advocated the death penalty for women who have abortions, “mistrusted Italian communists and embraced a stance that, through decades of ever-shifting Italian political definitions, could be called center-right.” And that’s only the beginning of the pandering hagiography.
Funny fascist
Leave it to Opera News to whitewash the revolting reactionary politics of Franco Zeffirelli.
By La Cieca 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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Tell us: What was the best of 2025?
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.
