Category: music

“At a time when the San Francisco Opera is looking to shore up its finances, the company has received $35 million from longtime patron and supporter Jeannik Méquet Littlefield, a donation believed to be the largest to an American opera company from a single benefactor… The money comes with no restrictions on its use.”

Richard Bradshaw’s ambitious (and critically acclaimed) production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle with the Canadian Opera Company is over, and the director ought to be basking in the afterglow of his accomplishment. “Despite being tested by one crisis after another, Bradshaw enjoyed a spectacular triumph. So at this point you would think the political and cultural leaders would hoist him on their shoulders and ride down University Ave. while crowds chant his name. Well, not quite. Bradshaw’s troubles are far from over.” To begin with, the Canada Council has reneged on a $500,000 pledge to help defray the costs associated with the Ring…

U.S. concert promoters have been in a ticket sales slump for the better part of three years now, and many are saying that sales will likely never return to the levels of five years ago. “Nevertheless, the concert industry is taking those lemons and learning to make lemonade. Despite the decline in ticket sales, Pollstar reports that last year the industry saw a 10.7 percent increase in profits over the previous year’s total of $2.8 billion, for a record $3.1 billion.”

Sean Doran has plenty of detractors who are making life difficult. But, writes John Rockwell, Doran is responsible for some excellent work. “His few, lonely supporters in London see him as the victim of byzantine, not to say operatic, machinations within the English National Opera, abetted by hostile critics still loyal to Mr. Payne.”

“The popularity of social networking sites such as Rupert Murdoch’s MySpace, which last night won the award for best innovation, has turbocharged the rate at which artists get their first break and has democratised the A&R process.”

“The National Symphony Orchestra has announced that Kansas will be the site of the ensemble’s 2007 American Residency — the NSO’s 17th such extended visit since 1992.”

More proof that things really are different at the Met under Peter Gelb: “The Metropolitan Opera says it will offer 200 orchestra seats to the general public at a cost of $20 each for performances Monday through Thursday, starting tonight. The seats, at the sides and toward the back of the hall, would normally cost $100.” (Second item.)

“A device similar to a traffic light signaled the audience members to activate their rings — red for the balcony, green for the orchestra seats — at various points in the piece. An assistant conductor, Terrance Gray, followed the score and activated the lights.”

Last week Berlin’s Deutsche Oper canceled a production of Mozart’s Idomeneo However, there are signs that Idomeneo could be resurrected, either in Berlin or Austria.

The Canadian Opera Company’s first “Ring” cycle sold 99 percent of its tickets. “More than 6,000 patrons saw The Ring of the Nibelung over a three-week run.”