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.
James Jorden | |
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Born | James Glenn Jorden August 6, 1954 Opelousas, Louisiana, U.S. |
Died | October 2, 2023 Sunnyside, Queens, New York, U.S. | (aged 69)
Occupation |
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Alma mater | Louisiana State University |
Subjects | Opera |
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]
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]
Jorden died at his home in Sunnyside, Queens, at the age of 69.[2][10]