Archives for August 2009

I was walking to the 1 train after a meeting today and saw this:Then this:And I thought, I wonder where more New Yorkers are going to spend their hard-earned American dollars. … [Read more...]

My sister just sent me MTV Video Music Awards "VMA Side Story" trailer. If the West Side Story currently on Broadway was 1/100th as accessible as this, we'd really have ourselves a revival. Wait through the little ad and then watch:MTV ShowsI don't know how they got the rights to the song, the logo, or the poster font, but I want to have this thing's babies and will definitely watch the VMAs to see if there's more. First time for everything. September 13th at 9pm. Poison performs at the Tonys and MTV is running a West Side Story promotion? Am I … [Read more...]

From Gawker:According to "art community consultant" Patrick Courrielche, who supports those Obama Joker posters, the NEA organized a recent conference call to assemble an army of artists who will maybe possibly (hopefully?) use their work to inspire service in key social arenas, such as health care and energy....The call's participants were "encouraged" to use their myriad mediums to concoct "creative ways to talk about the issues facing the country." Now, it's not unusual for the government to use art in times of economic need. Long ago, the … [Read more...]

Classical music concerts and recording projects are planned years in advance, so cultural relevance is like Russian roulette in our industry. "Fingers crossed something happens to make that Bartok relevant in St. Louis in 2013."("Or not, we don't really care.")  One might argue that certain pieces (certain plays, musicals, books and visual art) will always be relevant despite what is going on in any given time period; precisely the reason they are shown, read, and performed for generations beyond that for which they were created. A driving … [Read more...]

I was en route to Molyvos last night and, even though I was extremely late and exceedingly hot, I stopped to look at the striking, massive images lining Carnegie Hall's 7th avenue wall. Just one other thing in the four years I've lived in New York (two of which were spent working next to Carnegie Hall) has stopped me outside that building, and that was when I was inexplicably, over-the-top attracted to one of Thomas Adès' press photos. Oh, here it is:(I sleep with a copy under my pillow every night.) Carnegie has been running a "How do you get … [Read more...]

At 5:12pm Mozart was on the homepage of Google News. He's in the - let's say "diverse" - company of Brett Favre and Michael Jackson's doctor. I guess "strep throat" gets you mainstream media coverage, though "accidentally poisoned himself with mercury used to treat an alleged bout of syphilis" is certainly more appealing to me.  … [Read more...]

After trying to dodge the thing Frogger-style, I finally read the (third? 700th?) George Steel profile in the Times. All I will say is that in the piece, he's compared to The President of the United States of America, "another newcomer to a tough job in a time of crisis." I wonder when publicists will start comparing artists to Obama in their press releases. I'm sure it's already happened. I was forwarded an e mail about a new classical music gossip site called The Cereal List. Despite the fact that my readers did not seem to get behind Pitch … [Read more...]

In case we need further proof that we are a video-obsessed culture, we now have live television embedded in the mirrors of THE BATHROOMS at the Time Warner Center. Maybe it will encourage more people to wash their hands? I tell you what, though: the day I'm made to pitch Public Restroom Exclusive Content, I'm switching jobs. … [Read more...]

I have this thing about those Tide stain pens.  I see them on the TV and think nothing of it, but then I'll inevitably be in a Duane Reade later that week, a line of them will be hanging by the paper towels, and I'll think, "Yes! That is exactly what I need." Then I'll use it maybe once, lose it, and start the cycle anew the next month. My point is that I don't hop on the interweb while the commercial is on and order one right then. I have to see it on TV, probably see it in a print ad, maybe see someone using one in real life, and then … [Read more...]

Why does Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart love men SO MUCH?Look them all!  There is not one female featured artist all summer! Of course I'm not suggesting that a series should book a woman simply because she's a woman, but surely some female performers' Mozart interpretations live up to Mostly Mozart's standards? I suppose we can be consoled by the fact that, while there isn't a woman to be found, all the men above are ethnically diverse. Oh wait. Had your fill of white men for the day? But you haven't seen the Featured Composers page, … [Read more...]

Another possible solution to the problems with programs (earlier thoughts on the subject here and here): (Asphalt Orchestra at Lincoln Center Plaza last night.) … [Read more...]