Had a drink last night with someone in the orchestra business, and found myself challenged to change the way I think. "Admit it," this person (whom I like a lot) said to me. "When the New York Philharmonic plays a concert in the park, you think that's less valid than their concerts in Avery Fisher Hall." I had to admit that he was right, at least in the sense that I think the parks concerts are less interesting. (And no, my friend doesn't work for the Philharmonic.) But why do I think that way? My friend kept pointing out that orchestras are … [Read more...]

I'm sure I should have blogged yesterday about the election, if I were going to do it at all. But I was drained -- drained from excitement, happiness, even crying when the outcome was clear, and at other times, too. And while I've read so many stories about reactions to what happened, I can't resist one of my own. This morning I went down from my NY apartment to buy newspapers, as I do every morning I'm there. At the local deli, I bought the Times and the Daily News. The guy behind the counter -- Ethiopian, I think -- said hello, as he and I … [Read more...]

No, not this blog post. But rather Ron Rosenbaum's blast at Dr. Atomic, on the Slate site and linked today from ArtsJournal. The picture it paints is pretty devastating. Smart, educated, cultured writer isn't an opera fan, but respects opera. He goes to the Dr. Atomic premiere at the Met, expecting serious art, and instead thinks he's seen something empty and pretentious. Of course, you might say that this is just his own take, and you also might damn him for leaving at intermission, which means that he's disqualified (by the normal standards … [Read more...]