Is Curtain Dropping on NYC Opera?
The travails of the New York City Opera are well-documented. In an open letter to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Charles Loomis of Musical America states his case for an intervention and in an op-ed piece for the New York Times, Julius Rudel (conductor at the NYC Opera from 1957 to 1979) writes that the NYC Opera's spirit of experimentation is vital to the survival of opera itself.
Aida Blossoms in the Dead Sea Desert
The Israeli Opera uses cutting edge 4-D video technology and expansive lighting to bring Verdi's opera to life in the Dead Sea desert. (This one you have to see to believe). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XviI7VcnEBk
Silence in Central Park
Singing for your supper is a time honored tradition. Street musicians are part of the draw to San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf, where they say the "live performances make a positive contribution to the culture and ambience." Same thing in the French Quarter of New Orleans, where one cannot imagine walking through without Jazz and Blues floating on the air. But as we noted last week, politicians and musicians in New York City continue to squabble over new "quiet zones" in Central Park. Could sights and sounds like this one be a thing of the past? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqRCsLM7cmE
Van Cliburn Foundation Chief Quits After 6 Months
President and CEO of the Van Cliburn Foundation, David Chambless Worters has resigned, saying "I don't have sufficient passion for this."  Worters had initially tried to quit before the recently completed Amateur Competition.