Martin Bernheimer 1936-2019
Critic Martin Bernheimer has died. He was 83.
James Jorden
James Jorden (who wrote under the names "La Cieca" and "Our Own JJ") was the founder and first 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 was the co-creator, writer and occasional wig stylist for "The Dozen Divas," the long-running cabaret show starring the ineffable Dorothy Bishop. He also served as opera critic for the New York Observer.
The damned don’t cry
Michael Mayer‘s production of La traviata at the Met is so timid, so devoid of insight, so cynically pandering and gaudy that I hardly feel like it even matters what I think of the performances of the current cast.
Jump for my love
Soprano Iulia Isaev proved to be in just about every way a lovely Tosca.
Why parterre box is not going to cover the David Daniels / Scott Walters arrest
The arrest of an important gay opera star and his husband on a serious criminal charge is undoubtedly news and almost certain to be interest to regular readers of parterre box.
By James Jorden
Silver lies hidden in the core of dreams
parterre box published its first issue on December 3, 1993. That date was chosen because Our Own JJ wished to honor the 70th anniversary of the birth of Maria Callas.
Unfair ‘Lady’
A revival of My Fair Lady at Lincoln Center makes a muddle of the show’s thoughtful elements and isn’t particularly funny either.
Bringing up Bondy
The more ignorant segments of the public and the critical establishment continue to shout praise to David McVicar‘s torpid Tosca as the greatest triumph of the reactionary since the Bourbon Restoration.
Panache room
“Roberto Alagna has found his most congenial and emotionally moving role yet: Cyrano de Bergerac.”
A quiet girl
“Tatiana has developed into one of Netrebko’s very best roles.”
Wig schlock
Despite the participation of venerable composer Carlisle Floyd, the only distinction Prince of Players can claim is as the worst drag show in Manhattan.
Leading lady
“She not only sang the difficult leading role, she also directed the opera.”
Women beware women
Prototype: Opera/Theatre/Now presented new works in which women were variously gang-raped, eviscerated and executed by firing squad.
Comparisons are odious
One thing that is killing opera is the practice of critics’ comparing the singers they heard last night to dead or retired artists.
Stone soup
“A case of histronic personality disorder a deux.”
Mighty real
Anna Netrebko‘s artistry is both subtle and thrilling.
The name game
“And what, after all, is this ‘love’ everyone keeps singing about and dying for?”
Glister act
New York City Opera Renaissance’s Tosca “was opera at its most retrograde, an effort to recreate a golden age from a handful of tinsel.”
Cherchez la femme
Our Own JJ’s muse Dorothy Bishop returns to New York’s plush Metropolitan Room tomorrow night with another edition of her “Dozen Divas” revue.
Hello there, masterpiece
Fellow parterrians, my review in the Observer of this year’s PROTOTYPE festival does not appear until Wednesday.
La povera mia cena
“Puccini’s Tosca is what is known in the trade as a ‘bread and butter’ opera.”
Portrait of a lady
There’s hands-on and then there’s hands-on, and the latter was definitely in play in the lobby of the Kaye Playhouse just before Thursday night’s performance of La traviata by the Martina Arroyo Foundation’s Prelude to Performance program.
No one who speaks German could be an evil man
If Frank Castorf‘s work on Der Ring des Nibelungen at Bayreuth accomplishes nothing else, it should serve as a sort of loud disorganized reminder of the dangers of indulging in the intentional fallacy.
Ring? What ring?
All right, I admit it; I finally broke down and read the program notes for the Ring in the Bayreuth program book.
The Platz thickens
I’m told that the public were, if hardly enthusiastic, at least ambivalent toward the Frank Castorf Ring up until the first performance of Siegfried, at which point things got really ugly and the booing started in earnest.
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).
Win a Free Ticket to Opening Night at the Met!
Quinn Kelsey and Lise Davidsen star in the Met's new Macbeth. We're giving away one ticket, so screw your courage to the sticking place and enter now!
