Archives for 2011

Today at noon ET, we have the second of our Spring for Music live chats, this time, with composer Steven Stucky. Here is his launch statement, pegged to his piece 'August 4, 1964' which will be performed with the Dallas Symphony:"How does a composer write a work about a failed President (Johnson) and a probable war criminal (McNamarra) without lapsing into propaganda? Does he have to check his personal opinions at the door? If a middle-class white composer writes music about the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, does he risk being … [Read more...]

Today at noon, Melinda Wagner, one of the Orpheus New Brandenburgs composers, will host a chat on behalf of Spring for Music, a festival I'm working on this year. Oh actually: this is double client-plugging (which somehow sounds dirty?), since I work for Orpheus, too. My shameless promoting does not mean you shouldn't join us for the chat, though! if you want to embed in your own blog, here's the information:<iframe src="http://www.coveritlive.com/index2.php/option=com_altcaster/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=b8e8b85b0c/height=550/width=570" … [Read more...]

I was watching some Family Guy on Hulu last night after the tragically disappointing New York City Opera Stephen Schwartz concert thing (if Raúl Esparza bores me--me, who has Loved Him Forever--everyone's in trouble), and saw a preview for this Friends With Benefits movie. Didn't I see this movie this summer? Possibly kind of tipsy? As a joke for a friend's 30th birthday? Oh wait, yes I did. Were Natalie and Mila both just like, maybe this would be cute? Like wearing matching outfits to middle school?Anyway, just wanted to let you know about … [Read more...]

The New York Times reports that good old group sales still reign supreme on the Great White Way:If Facebooking Broadway is all the rage for shows, the real economic engine remains the sales agents wearing old-fashioned headsets and tapping through decades-old databases to pitch group buyers working with churches and synagogues, schools and businesses, and the "theater ladies" who have kept the Wednesday matinee in business since before Steve Jobs founded Apple....Take Group Sales Box Office, founded in 1960 and today one of the most profitable … [Read more...]

#OperaPlot 2011 continues. … [Read more...]

It struck me as odd, when I was walking through that annoying passageway between Port Authority and Times Square, that the revised La Cage Aux Folles posters were billing the show as "It's The Birdcage...on Broadway!" OK, sure, kind of, but it was a play, and then a movie, and then a musical, and then The Birdcage, and then two revivals, so this logic is kind of like when I told Jeffrey Kahane that he "looked just like" (his son) Gabriel Kahane when he played the piano. Well yes, but one came first. I was distracted, however, from this La Cage … [Read more...]

In T minus 20 minutes, this year's #OperaPlot begins again. The contest, started by blogger The Omniscient Mussel (yes, we know that sounds like a stripper name but she's not), is in its third year. Of #OperaPlot's inception, Miss Mussel told The Guardian:I started this contest a month ago on a whim. I was writing programme notes for the RNCM and tweeted that I was having trouble with word creep... one of those mundane details Twitter disparagers claim not to be interested in. @pattyoboe, an oboist blogger from California suggested I should … [Read more...]

The people who say all press is good press probably didn't have an adolescent Egyptian cobra escape from their Reptile House. Or. Did. They. Last Friday, the Bronx Zoo discovered a snake was missing and posted a note about it on their website. I'm not on their press list, but presumably they sent a media alert out as well. Why they needed to tell the public the reason the Reptile House is closed, I don't know. I won't judge, because while it often feels that way, I don't work at a zoo. Here's the note that's on their site today:We understand … [Read more...]

On Thursday, I was at a workshop performance of this:...so I missed this:(Via purple DIARY via OperaChic.)...and apparently also a threesome, or so says Alex Ross. … [Read more...]

When we last checked in with friend of Life's a Pitch Inon Barnatan, he was disproving evolution with his pianistic prowess. Now, he's just finished recording a new CD, and he checked in with us about cover options. It seems the two directions he's considering are (1) covered nipples and (2) feet . My (not humble) Professional Opinion is that the album's destined for greatness with any of these covers as inspiration. DIRECTION 1: Covered Nipples DIRECTION 2: FeetThis could also be an option, we're just not entirely sure where the piano would … [Read more...]

Just thought I would do my part to help spread the word in addition to, you know, doing my actual job spreading the word. Rather than stay home and play Wii Tennis when her Japan tour was canceled last week, Hilary decided to perform for Japan if she couldn't perform in Japan. She will play four concerts to help raise money for Direct Relief International (MD, GA, and NY concerts) and for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (VA concert). 100% of the proceeds will be sent to these charities and both charities have pledged 100% of the money will go … [Read more...]

My mother always told me "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." Maybe your mother did, too. This, however, can be a challenge in our little industry, because we are dealing with...artistic types...and they always need to be told something. I'll never forget the cellist who cold-called me and opened with, "This is So-And-So; have you heard of me?" I had not. A couple weeks ago, I was asked if I had come to an artist's show, by the artist. "I did," I said, then blinked blankly a couple times. If I went and had liked … [Read more...]