From the Financial Times via You've Cott Mail, more good stuff from our European friends:The latest, and perhaps most ambitious, innovation in the world of classical music is that of the digital concert hall. Last year MonteVerdi.tv established a virtual forum for enthusiasts and musicologists, offering downloads and a live monthly broadcast, but the most comprehensive project so far was launched by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra this January with sponsorship from Deutsche Bank. Under the tagline "Any Place, Any Time" their website offers … [Read more...]

Excerpt from Nico Muhly's recent post:I had this piece in LA, right, a few weeks ago. And the organization putting it on has what I guess is a publicist whose email address is at AOL.com. It is a truth universally acknowledged that when people still have an AOL address they are either some kind of a genius or a crazy person. Anyway, I've been getting emailed reviews of the show by this AOL address, and it sent one the other day that is so outrageous that it took me three full reads through to see if it was written by an Illiterate Person or if … [Read more...]

Nobody likes a fat publicist, so I've been subjecting myself to these absurd Zumba classes on Thursdays and Sundays at my gym. Click here to see what I decidedly don't look like doing it (although I do bear an uncanny resemblance to that woman in the back in the lime green top). I would characterize Zumba as dance, though the whole thing is so branded (the word "Zumba" pops into the songs, the instructor wears "Zumba" gear...) that it's probably closer to aerobics. It is dance-esque, though, which had me thinking mid-shimmy #17 on Thursday that … [Read more...]

Hey Upper East Siders, Gossip Girl here...and I have the biggest news ever. One of my many sources, NYTimez1851, sends us this: spotted on the set of a hit TV show, script in hand: theater critic Charles Isherwood. Was it only a five years ago our It-Boy mysteriously disappeared for quote "The New York Times"? And just as suddenly, he's on television. Don't believe me? See for yourselves: lucky for us, The CW will have proof. You know you love me. xoxo. … [Read more...]

I locked myself out of my apartment last night en route to the laundry room. Fortunately, my neighbor Kenny (also known as "Dog") works in the building, so he called his co-worker to say we had a "911" on the 23rd floor.  My sister Aliza - who was coming over for dinner at this exact moment - and I then waited in Dog's apartment, where he and his friend were watching the VH1 show For the Love of Ray J. "Who's Ray J?" I asked. "See!" Dog's friend said emphatically. "This is just what T.I. was talking about in that interview. Nobody knows … [Read more...]

The following occurred a few years back in the management comp seats at an orchestra performance that included a world premiere:Amanda, flipping through program, sees composer's headshot: He's hot. Friend: Good thing, because his music sucks. Amanda, squints and sees composer up in a box: Oh, not as hot in person. Friend: Too bad, because his music sucks. [first half of the concert begins, ends, intermission comes]Nice older gentleman, gesturing to the empty seat between him and his wife and Amanda and her friend: Excuse me, would you mind if … [Read more...]

I am that girl. Odds are, if I see a revival of a musical I will know most of - if not all of - the songs.Sitting at West Side Story last night, I not only knew every lyric, but could hum all the musical interludes as well. (My beatbox-esque execution of "Mambo" while waiting for a cab after the performance was especially inspiring.) And since the West Side Story choreography CAN NEVER BE CHANGED thus trapping us in the late-1950s until the end of the known universe, I generally know the dance numbers as well. Assuming Joe the Audience Member … [Read more...]

Skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles skittles There are few things I enjoy more than marketing initiatives that generate press. From Gawker, brought to my attention by James and Aliza:It would be hard to come up with a cheaper ad campaign: Mars' new fruit-candy promotion … [Read more...]

Apparently, copy editing does not = "recession-proof". Now, I'm more than happy to answer fact-checkers' or writers' follow-up questions, but a freelance writer e mailed yesterday, attached an album review for one of my artists and asked, "Please read it over, mostly for fact-checking, misspelling, dangling participles, comma faults, etc.  Anything egregious.  You needn't feel compelled to comment, but any help would be welcome."Sure, I'll help: you missed a star on the end there! … [Read more...]

From You've Cott Mail:New York Sun's arts section to rise againFrom Crains New York Business, 2/28/09The New York Sun may not be rising again, but its arts coverage is about to have a resurrection of sorts.  Manhattan Media, publisher of weekly freebies New York Press, West Side Spirit and Our Town, is launching monthly supplement City Arts, which will feature former arts critics and writers from the Sun. The alumni include Lance Esplund, Brice Brown, Jay Nordlinger, Joel Lobenthal and Marion Maneker.  The 24-page publication will … [Read more...]

I rarely go to the ballet. It lives in that silvery area between work and not-work, so I tend to just not think to buy tickets. On Saturday afternoon, though, my friend Rebecca had tickets to New York City Ballet's 21 Century Movement program, and I was more than happy to tag along. Impressions, in no particular order:"Different" is nice, but it sure isn't pretty.I cannot say enough positive things about New York City Ballet's logo and current ad campaign. The clean lines of both the fade-to-black block font and the provoking but elegant photos … [Read more...]

Hm, I wonder why Brooklyn Vegan didn't mention Hilary Hahn at SUNY Purchase and Hélène Grimaud a the 92 Street Y as possible competition for this weekend's "fancy seated shows". I'm sure both Hilary and Hélène's recitals will also include seven musicians, three dancers, choreography, and costumes, so David Byrne really shouldn't be surprised when no when shows up to see him at Radio City. … [Read more...]

I am working in the Amtrak waiting area for ticketed-passengers-only of Penn Station (without a ticket, but I convinced the guard he should let me stay because I'm expecting someone who does have a ticket), waiting for my friend Josh to come in from D.C.. There is classical music playing on every speaker, but I have no idea what it is. How lovely it would be if there was a nice screen somewhere, like they have in Starbucks-es, telling us all what the piece is and which orchestra/soloist is playing it. I suppose this isn't Penn Station's battle … [Read more...]

This week, veritable performing arts marketing *celebrity* Thomas Cott on what it's like to work for one of the few international dance brands, the when and where's of publicist self-promotion, and being a jack of all trades. Thomas Cott is the Director of Marketing for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, currently celebrating its 50th Anniversary. He has worked on approximately 120 plays and musicals for Broadway and Off-Broadway houses, as well as on 40 opera productions in New York. He is a founding staff member of Lincoln Center Theater, … [Read more...]