Here in little Dallas Here in little Dallas

On this day in 1993 the first issue of parterre box was  published.

Silver lies hidden in the core of dreams 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.

Divine, madness Divine, madness

This is our anniversary day, cher public.

Now I suddenly feel as if I’ve taken all my clothes off Now I suddenly feel as if I’ve taken all my clothes off

Can it really be 40 (Four, oh!) years since La Cieca was born?

Apocalyptic post Apocalyptic post

“We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives.”

Return of the king Return of the king

Fifteen years after his first parterre box interview, that criterion of countertenors David Daniels speaks of Oscar Wilde, Marilyn Horne, marriage and political art.

“Ecco la luce…” “Ecco la luce…”

That day we all knew eventually would come did come, in the winter of 2001, when the final issue of parterre box, the queer opera zine was mailed out to the cher public, such as they were at the time.

“Senza rancor” “Senza rancor”

The winds of change sweep across the first post-9/11 issue of parterre box, the queer opera zine.

Spunk Spunk

In issue #46 of parterre box the queer opera zine (“Spunk”), you will find an endorsement by the legendary Astrid Varnay.

A Life in the Theater A Life in the Theater

Devotees of Dawn Fatale (and you are legion!) will be delighted to hear that the parterre scribe made an early (2001!) appearance in issue #45 of parterre box, the queer opera zine, ranting about the “squish-squish school of opera direction.”

Less than Zarah Less than Zarah

In a slight detour from the usual all-opera-all-the-time format of parterre box, the queer opera zine, issue #44 centers on Ben Letzler‘s superb appreciation of film and cabaret diva Zarah Leander.

Marc Two Marc Two

Issue #43 of parterre box, the queer opera zine is called “Marc Two” in honor of dramatic soprano Alessandra Marc, subject of an interview with Our Own JJ.

City of dreams City of dreams

With issue #42a, “City of Dreams,” parterre box the queer opera zine returns at least temporarily to a rational numbering system.

Recklessly passionate Recklessly passionate

Before you ask, cher public, there is no Issue #41 of parterre box, the queer opera zine, or, rather, this issue, #42 is the 41st.

On with the motley On with the motley

In Issue #40 of parterre box, the queer opera zine, Our Own JJ nabs lengthy interviews with critic John Ardoin and tenor Richard Leech.

Drama queen Drama queen

The very first words in this issue are “Renata Scotto will return to the American operatic stage in the 2001 season!”

“I felt the hand of Death” “I felt the hand of Death”

Oddly enough, Eva Marton‘s interpretation of the Kostelnicka (pictured) goes unmentioned in Issue #38.

Something beyond the normal Something beyond the normal

The celebrated “lost” issue of parterre box, the queer opera zine (now found, thanks to the avid cataloging of Indiana Loiterer III.)

Bass-barihunk Bass-barihunk

Richard Bernstein is a very good-looking guy, even with his clothes on.”

She is a diamond She is a diamond

“La Cieca cannot imagine it is much fun to sing ‘Dove sono’ when you’re suffering a fresh case of the Reno jumpy-wumps.”

Tattoo, amore, tu! Tattoo, amore, tu!

Vintage issue #33

That kind of diva That kind of diva

In Vintage Issue #32: How that opening night of Lohengrin might have gone; La Cieca on La Gran Scena…

Wayback Wednesday Wayback Wednesday

As the celebrations for the 20th anniversary of parterre box continue, La Cieca (left) introduces a new feature: each week, a vintage issue of parterre box, the queer opera zine, scanned into PDF format for handy download!

Making it that way again Making it that way again

Twenty years ago, a sad and lonely gay man sat down with a pair of scissors and a glue stick and said, “I think I’ll make a magazine.”