Many an otherwise good opera has been ruined by a dreadful libretto. “Why do composers ever assume that they can write their own words? There’s nothing which makes the heart sink, going into an opera, like the words ‘Music and libretto by …’ Very few good operas have ever been written to a composer’s own words…”
Tag: 12.10.02
Must Reads
The 25 best books of the year? The Village Voice Literary Supplement has a list…
Shell Game?
The Guggenheim’s financial fortunes are reeling. It “ran a $6.7 million operating deficit last year on a $57.71 million budget. Its endowment should reach about $42 million by the end of the year, still far short of the $100 million level,” and many of director Thomas Krens’ initiatives are on the rocks. “Perhaps the only good thing to emerge from the Guggenheim’s financial woes is its shift in exhibitions from superficial eye-poppers such as motorcycles and haute couture toward an increased reliance on treasures from its permanent collection.” And yet, is the empire crumbling?
Taking The Fall In Pittsburgh
Gideon Toeplitz, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra executive who threatened a bankruptcy filing for his ensemble this past fall if contributions did not rise, has apparently been forced out of the organization. Toeplitz announced his resignation at a board meeting on Monday. The PSO is struggling under a multi-million dollar deficit, and is scheduled to lose popular music director Mariss Jansons at the conclusion of the 2003-04 season.
La Scala Construction On Hold
Cultural protesters and a collection of politicians have managed to bring the renovation of the La Scala opera house in Milan to a halt, at least temporarily. The official line is that the plans were not properly approved by the city council, but opponents’ actual concerns range from acoustics to historic preservation to simple dislike of any sort of change to the hall.
Are They Wrecking La Scala?
Members of Italy’s “cultural elite” held a press conference this week to denounce the renovations currently underway on the La Scala opera house. They claim “the work would seriously damage the theatre’s appearance and acoustics. It was also illegal, they told a press conference in Rome, because the project had not been properly approved by the city council. ‘They have even destroyed the orchestra pit’.”
Ticket Tax Trouble
Boston’s mayor proposes a 50-cent tax on tickets to shows, and arts groups are howling. “Jeez, what a time to do that. If I thought my shows could have another 50 cents added to the ticket price, I would have priced them that way to begin with. I don’t know where we’ll get it. If the public has to cope with a larger burden, it would really be problematic.”
Digital Promise/Trap
“According to the Motion Picture Association of America, the average film budget in 2000 was $54.8 million, up from $9.4 million in 1980.” Digital technology can cut costs dramatically, but many “directors and cinematographers, who have built their reputations on their skilled use of film, dread the idea of being marginalized by punks with digital camcorders.”
Baz Looking at Casino Next
Baz Luhrmann, fresh off his hit opening of La Boheme on Broadway, says that he plans to make stage versions of his movies “Moulin Rouge” and “Strictly Ballroom” He’s looking at putting “Moulin Rouge” ina Las Vegas casino and “Strictly Ballroom” to go into a ballroom space.
Revolt Of The Volunteers
Members of the Junior Associates of the Art Gallery of Ontario wanted to “run their events their way, they say – events that generated as much as $90,000 for buying art” and they wanted to say how the money they raised was spent on contemporary art. When the Toronto museum refused (who’s running the place anyway?) the volunteers left the museum en masse to start their own organization. “In the world of volunteer management, the AGO power struggle is a classic, if somewhat extreme, cautionary tale of our times – the ramped-up needs and expectations of the female baby boomers pitted against the institution in financial and administrative extremity.”