Opera’s New Divas – The Directors?

“In generations gone by, conductors and stage directors worked as a pair, often for a long time, and mutually agreed upon their hierarchy. Today, conductors and stage directors maintain schedules that send them across the world, meaning that the creative duo may not meet long before the first rehearsal. In the past, stage directors would quickly have acquiesced to conductors’ demands.”

What Went Wrong At The Fort Worth Symphony

“About 15 years ago, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra underwent a dramatic transformation. It hired a new music director, Miguel Harth-Bedoya. It launched the Millennium campaign, which eventually raised $28 million for an orchestra endowment. … And then the recession hit during the 2008-09 symphony season.” And while the stock market and the economy, nationally and locally, have bounced back since 2009, the FWSO’s endowment and annual revenues have not, despite increased ticket sales and new contributors.

Another Big Cable Merger Faces Rising Opposition

“Comcast’s failed $45 billion merger with Time Warner Cable collapsed last year under pressure from regulators, who found that the combined company would have had both the power and incentive to inhibit the future of streaming video. Now, as rival Charter Communications seeks approval for its $67.1 billion takeover of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, critics point to the same potential for harm.”