James Jorden
BornJames Glenn Jorden
(1954-08-06)August 6, 1954
Opelousas, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedOctober 2, 2023(2023-10-02) (aged 69)
Sunnyside, Queens, New York, U.S.
Occupation
  • Blogger
  • journalist
  • editor
Alma materLouisiana State University
SubjectsOpera

James Glenn Jorden (August 6, 1954 – October 2, 2023) was an American blogger, journalist and music critic who wrote about opera. He was known for founding and editing the zine Parterre Box.

Background

James Glenn Jorden was born on August 6, 1954,[1] in Opelousas, Louisiana, and developed an interest in opera from an early age. He attended Louisiana State University.[2]

Career

Some time after graduating college, Jorden moved to New York and sought work in the theater, including acting, directing, and teaching.[2] In 1993, he founded Parterre Box, a zine which covers the topic of opera from a queer perspective; in 1996, he began publishing it online.[2] Jorden's work with parterre box also includes a podcast, Unnatural Acts of Opera. Parterre Box and Jorden have been featured in numerous media publications, including Opera News magazine, The Advocate, and The New York Times.[3] He also worked for a time as a web producer for Fox News.[4] Until 2013, he was employed full-time as a legal secretary.[1]

After 10 years as a reviewer for Gay City News, Jorden became opera critic for the New York Post in March 2009, succeeding Clive Barnes.[5][6][7] In the fall of 2014, Jorden left the Post to write about opera for The New York Observer.[8] He also served as a commentator on the WQXR program Operavore.[9]

Death

Jorden died at his home in Sunnyside, Queens, at the age of 69.[2][10]

References

  1. ^ a b Woolfe, Zachary (July 8, 2009). "The Bewitching Art of 'La Cieca'". The New York Observer. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Woolfe, Zachary (October 4, 2023). "James Jorden, Creator of an Essential Opera Blog, Dies at 69". The New York Times. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  3. ^ Joshua Barone (December 13, 2018). "How an Underground Queer Zine Became the Best Blog in Opera". The New York Times.
  4. ^ "The Parterre Posse". The New York Observer. January 29, 2001. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  5. ^ Brian Kellow (July 2009). "Voice of the Opposition". Opera News.
  6. ^ "Ruffling the Met's feathers – Parterre Box, a gay opera magazine". The Advocate, November 25, 1997 . Accessed via subscription January 18, 2008.
  7. ^ "You Go Diva!", The New York Times, April 27, 1997. Accessed January 18, 2008.
  8. ^ About – Contributing Writers, The New York Observer.
  9. ^ "WQXR – New York's Classical Music Radio Station". WQXR.
  10. ^ James Glenn Jorden

External links

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