You can’t turn around these days without bumping into a theatrical production that is little more than an excuse to showcase music that was wildly popular a few decades ago. From Mama Mia to Movin’ Out, Broadway is rife with such shows, and the new season will include new revues featuring the work of The Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash. “A quick look at the demographic of the theatre-going public reveals that once again — as in so many other places — the dreaded boomers have a stranglehold. It’s no wonder, then, that producers will try to woo them with material from their happily remembered youth.”
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Assessing The Agenda
Richard Dyer sees three big tasks ahead for James Levine and his new orchestra. “The first is improving the quality of the BSO. The second is renewing and refreshing the repertoire. And the third is bringing the public along on the journey.”
An Agent Of Political Change
“Sandy Dijsktra has been called an über agent as much for the passion she brings to her projects as for the authors she represents. Apparently her passion also extends to politics.” A recent e-mail sent to all her clients announced that she will not be sending out a holiday card this year, so that she can put the money it would cost towards supporting presidential candidate John Kerry. And while it may not be a surprise that a Californian working in the arts industry would be supporting a Democrat, Dijkstra has certainly taken an unusual step, particularly for an agent who has a predilection for “recruiting authors from the ranks of journalists.”
Colorado Looks To Renew Its Arts Tax
Colorado’s Scientific and Cultural Facilities District is the fancy name for a sales tax that has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for arts and cultural groups in the state. But the tax is up for a renewal vote this fall, and the public is likely to want tangible assurances that the money is having a positive impact. “Cultural organizations have bigger budgets and larger staffs because of the tax. And SCFD funding has helped create cooperation among groups in terms of programming (even some shared mailing lists), and more sophisticated, persistent marketing.”
The Great Beta Blocker Debate
The use of so-called “beta blocker” drugs is rampant in the classical music world, where a single mistake can be career-threatening and the tiny muscle motions needed to control a performance can be seriously affected by a sudden attack of nerves. But even in private, most professional musicians never talk about the prevalence of the drugs, for fear of admitting weakness. Still, performers and doctors alike defend the use of beta blockers, pointing out that that they are far less harmful than the alcohol and Valium that musicians of the past used to overcome nervousness.
Wynton’s Dream Realized
You can’t talk about Lincoln Center’s new jazz complex without bringing up the man who single-handedly spearheaded the drive for its construction. “For [Wynton] Marsalis, who has been artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center since its mid-1980s inception, this moment will represent the realization of a cherished dream: a glittering, multileveled, permanent home in the heart of Manhattan for the music to which he has sworn passionate, unwavering allegiance.”
Ohlsson’s Crosstown Doubleheader
It happens to the best of us: a busy day combines with a brief brain lapse, and suddenly, you’ve double-booked yourself. It’s a tricky situation for anyone, but when you’re one of the world’s most popular concert pianists, it’s a major headache. Enter Garrick Ohlsson, who is scheduled to appear in both Newark and Montclair, New Jersey, this coming Friday night. Unfortunately, cancellation was not an option for either concert; fortunately, the two towns are only 12 miles apart. The solution: Montclair’s concert will be pushed up by half and hour, and as soon as he is done taking his bows, Ohlsson will dash off to Newark, arriving minutes before he is scheduled to take the stage.
Ignoring The Arts
Obviously, the arts are not the first issue that leaps to mind when one thinks of this year’s U.S. presidential race. But is it really necessary for both candidates to completely ignore such issues as arts education, federal support for artists and performers, and the future of the NEA? “I suppose you could try to dismiss arts issues as a tangential topic in a campaign where war, terrorism and the economy are the driving issues. But the arts touch our lives and those of our children daily. Can you honestly say the same about gay marriage?”
Ratings vs. Tradition
Public radio’s ratings have a disturbing habit of plunging over the weekend, mainly because commuters make up a large chunk of the daily listenership. And in fact, most weekend shows on public stations fit into a distinctive mold: one-hour blocks focused on specific niche audiences, with an eye towards cultivating a narrow but loyal listenership. Minnesota Public Radio is trying to change the model with a heavily researched new program designed around short, “bite-sized” news items and features, the better to fit into the average listener’s hectic weekend schedule. But an angry backlash against the show is building among industry insiders who are decrying the “Wal-Marting” of public radio.
More Than Just The Backup Band
Most classical music enthusiasts are aware that the Dallas Symphony has elevated itself over the last decade or so to a position in the top ranks of American orchestras. But toiling in the shadow of Dallas is another outstanding ensemble that usually gets mentioned in the national press only as the resident orchestra for the Van Cliburn piano competition. Once a regional chamber orchestra, the Fort Worth Symphony has thrived under the leadership of music director Miguel Harth-Bedoya, and William Littler says that the group deserves to be taken seriously in any discussion of North America’s top orchestras.