And everyone knows that singers who “never read their reviews” are by far the most likely to read their reviews.
Erika Davidson/Metropolitan Opera
Situation critical
With all the greatest respect for Jessye Norman as an artist, I do wish people would stop quoting her vain and defensive statements about critics as if she were some kind of oracle.
By La Cieca
For her to snipe “Whoo AHH thehh?” at a group that included Martin Bernheimer, for instance, is ugly and arrogant. There are critics who are as talented in their field as Norman was in hers, and who devote every inch as much passion and commitment to their art as she did to hers.
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.
