Hard Times A-Comin’?
Although much of the world is impacted negatively by an economic recession, a New York Times study reported on Jan. 24 that entertainers and athletes have a 23.9% income increase during these hard times. Your temp job might not be in such good shape however: word processors lost 11.5% and graphic designers 13.5%.
Caught Red-Handed
When Backstage Actor’s Equity found Barry Williams performing the role of Captain Von Trapp at a non-union house, he was recently fined the equivalent of two weeks’ salary plus expenses: $52,274. FYI, singers, AGMA has similar rules which are not rigidly enforced.
Support For Symphonic Work
The current Principal Guest Conductor of the Dresden Semper Oper, Christop Perick, has just been appointed Music Director of the Charlotte Symphony. Congrats!
Super Subtitles
The opera titles system developed for the Santa Fe Opera by Patrick Markle and Geoff Webb and successfully in use at the Metropolitan Opera is really catching on. Embraced by audiences as far less distracting and jarring than the large supertitles projected above the stage, the newer system has revolutionized the way in which translations are delivered to the audience. Opera houses in Vienna and Salzburg—as well as London’s Covent Garden are currently planning to install their own systems. The newer system uses tiny screens in front of each seat, delivering the text to each viewer personally, rather than to the entire audience. The old supertitles often acted in competition with the performance on stage. The titles have proven so popular at Santa Fe that Lucia di Lammermoor and Falstaff will also be available in Spanish this summer.
All Artistic License Revoked For Bartok
A planned production of Bluebeard’s Castle in Darmstadt Germany this spring has been cancelled. Bela Bartok’s son is in possession of all the rights to his father’s works. Because he was displeased with a recent production of one of Bartok’s works, he has drawn up a contract which must be signed by everyone involved in a planned production: conductor, stage director, set designer, costume designer, etc. They must agree to follow Bartok’s directions and wishes exactly as they are notated in the score. Bartok’s indications, however, would be difficult for many opera houses to follow. Bartok’s orchestra pit calls for over 100 musicians—too many for most orchestra pits, and because set designs and staging are very detailed in the score, all artistic license has been removed from the production staff. Because most companies will not be willing to sign that type of contract, the only productions of Bartok works you’ll see any time soon will probably be in concert version.
Classical Radio Stations Disappearing?
Chicago radio station 97.1, one of Chicago’s two classical stations, was sold to Bonneville International Corporation of Salt Lake City for $165 million. Bonneville plans to switch the genre to popular music, which is representative of a national trend. A decade ago, there were 52 commercial stations broadcasting classical music in the US; that number has dropped to 37. Fortunately, there are still more than 100 non-profit stations broadcasting classical music.
NY Bitten By Construction Bug
It seems that everywhere you look in New York, some cultural institution is planning a major face-lift: Lincoln Center has plans for a $1.5 billion remodeling of all the buildings with a new theater for the New York City Opera; Carnegie Hall plans a $50 million restoration; The Guggenheim Museum has quoted $700 million for a new downtown museum. The Museum of Modern Art, New York Botanical Garden, and the Joseph Papp Public Theater are also planning renovations. The total sum for all these renovations is more than $3 billion, most of which is to be raised privately. Can NY benefactors keep up with all the expected donations?
Donation To Washington Opera
Good news for our new singers! Details have not yet been negotiated, but patron Alberto Vilar has agreed to donate $8 million to Washington Opera, about $5 million of which will be used to start a training program for young singers. Washington Opera is one of the last remaining major opera companies without a training program. Artistic Director Placido Domingo has wanted to start one for many years, and Vilar’s funds will allow that to happen.
Fundraiser For Quake Survivors
To aid the survivors of the Indian earthquake, Scottish Opera put on a surprise fund-raising concert on February 15, organized by the Association of All Indian Organizations’ Disaster Aid Fund Committee. Scottish Opera performed selections from Verdi’s Nabucco, which was followed by other cultural institutions such as the BT Scottish Ensemble, to raise money quickly and successfully for Indian victims.
Internet Entering College Majors
Starting next fall, Brandeis University students will be able to minor in Internet Studies, a series of 6 classes that examine how the Internet is affecting society. Courses in e-commerce and e-opera will be offered and students will examine how, for example, the Napster debate is affecting the music industry. In 2-3 years, this minor will probably develop into a major.
Domingo’s Birthday Gala
In honor of famed tenor Placido Domingo’s 60th birthday, a huge gala concert was given at the Met on January 21. Domingo has performed 118 roles, had 600 Met appearances and 18 Met opening nights. Other singers in the star-studded evening included tenor Luciano Pavarotti, soprano Deborah Voigt, baritone Thomas Hampson, basses Samuel Ramey and Sergei Koptchak, and mezzo-sopranos Olga Borodina, Fredrica von Stade and Elena Zaremba. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani gave Domingo the “key” to the city and declared the day Placido Domingo Day.
