Why Do So Many Singers Gain Weight?
A research study conducted by Dr. Peter Osin of London’s Royal Marsden Hospital says that the mere act of singing may predispose the singer to weight gain, according to The American Journal of Physiology. Stressed lung cells have the ability to release hormone-like substances that are thought to be a factor in obesity, says the study.
Dr. Osin hypothesizes that the stress caused by extended periods of singing prompts the release of these substances. Put that together with other factors, such as eating late at night and being in a strange city away from loved ones, and you have an effective recipe for gaining excess pounds.
www.timesonline.co.uk
www.playbillarts.com/news/article/3186.
html
British Customs Finds Contraband on a Scenery Truck
British customs officers found 13 pounds of drugs, worth more than half a million Euros, among the scenery and costumes en route to Opera Ireland from Aachen, Germany, according to David Collopy, Opera Ireland CEO. Collopy said he had no idea how the dope got on the truck, and emphasized that the contents of the truck were needed for the Dublin company’s production of La traviata, which was set to open Nov. 19.
An e-mail from the company confirmed that the production was delivered to Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre slightly late, but in time for opening night.
www.washingtontimes.com/newstrack/20051027-090033-6468r.htm
Even a Dog Knows Bruckner Is Better than Wagner
Violinist Fritz Kreisler told the following story about his time as a student of Anton Bruckner.
At lunch hour every work day, the composer would leave the room while the students ate food they brought from home and cared for the teacher’s corpulent pug dog, Mops. Kreisler and his friends would feed the dog while playing Bruckner’s music and chase the poor animal away when they switched to Wagner.
When it seemed that Mops was sufficiently trained, they told their teacher they could prove that even a dog knew Bruckner’s music was better than Wagner’s. True to form, Mops listened to his master’s music expectantly—and ran away when the students began playing Wagner. The students had succeeded—and the teacher never knew how they accomplished it.
www.anecdotage.com/index.php?aid=5561
Cool Dinner Jackets for Hot Classical Musicians
British clothier Marks and Spencer has begun making men’s formal wear out of “Coolmax,” a machine washable, breathable fabric that wicks moisture away from the body. Marks and Spencer used the cloth—previously used only for sporting goods—to make dinner suits, and tested them on musicians playing in the Glyndebourne Opera orchestra pit.
The players found the suits a big improvement over their usual formal wear, so they are now available to the public.
www2.marksandspencer.com/thecompany/mediacenter.pressreleases/2005.men2005-10-01-00.shtml
Chumbley Quits Cleveland Opera
Cleveland Opera’s general director, Robert Chumbley, has resigned only a year and a half into his five-year contract with the company. Officially, he is leaving to concentrate on composing, but he would not say whether his departure was voluntary.
It seems that Chumbley’s vision for the company, which included expanding both the repertoire and the number of performances of each opera, was at odds with the wishes of a majority of the members of the board of directors, according to Cleveland.com.
www.cleveland.com/search/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/1131013835122320.xml?eaall&coll=2
Vaness Joins Indiana University’s Voice Faculty
Indiana University recently announced the appointment of soprano Carol Vaness to the school’s voice faculty. The singer will continue her international career, but will be teaching in Bloomington between engagements.
Vaness is said to have become seriously interested in pedagogy during the last few years and has completed three residencies at that school. As a result, she has already worked with more than 40 of the school’s advanced students, and is popular with them because of her helpful approach to their problems, according to the university.
http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/2550.html
Central City Opera Has New Music Director
Pat Pearce, artistic and general director of Central City Opera, has appointed John Baril to the position of music director of the Colorado company. He will head the Music Department, conduct the Festival Orchestra, and assist Pearce in selecting soloists.
Baril, who has been with the company since 1992, will also oversee the audition process for choosing young singers for the company’s Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program.
www.centralcityopera.org Click on Careers for young artists program information.
Orchestra Puts Recordings On the Internet for Direct Download
The Milwaukee Symphony is the first American orchestra to distribute its recordings on digital music download sites, the symphony has announced. The orchestra has created its own label, MSO Classics, and 14 recordings of its live concerts can be obtained at the iTunes Music Store, Yahoo Music, Napster and similar sites.
Music Director Andreas Delfs says that the orchestra has always welcomed innovation, and is continuing to do so with this new method of distributing its recordings.
www.milwaukeesymphony.org/newspress/pressreleases/view.asp?id=20032869
New Opera House Opens in Spain
The Palau de les Arts in Valencia, Spain opened Oct. 8, 2005, with a gala concert at which Lorin Maazel and Enrique Garcia Asensio shared the conducting duties. The orchestra was made up of musicians who were born in the Spanish city but who play in various orchestras.
Soloists included Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, Carlos Alvarez and Erwin Schrott, in a program that included both opera and Zarzuela. Since the building has not yet been completed, the first staged performances are planned for late 2006.
www.lesarts.com
www.maestromaazel.com/newopera_spain05.htm
