In his first press conference since being named the next artistic director of the Teatro Real, Gérard Mortier described hopes and plans notably similar to those he had for New York City Opera before he walked away from the top job there. He says the Real has “enormous potential”; he wants to open the theater to the city and bring in lots of new audience members, including young people; he wants 35 percent of the repertoire to be 20th-century works (and says that, in his experience, “the public reacts effusively to modern opera”).
Tag: 12.04.08
Merce, Led Zeppelin, Sonic Youth: A Match Made In Heaven
“They used to laugh at us when we talked about an imaginary gig where Led Zeppelin’s bassist jammed with Sonic Youth in a work composed by Takehisa Kosugi for the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. Oh how they laughed at our ludicrous dream. But now our far-fetched fantasy has been realised.”
Even At 100, Elliott Carter Still Gives Good Quote (And Lots Of It)
On his music and its reputation for complexity: “I’m not sure it’s complex. Contrapuntal music always has many lines coming together. What you’re hearing you should not analyze in detail – you’re hearing the total effect. This is not very different from classics, like Mozart… It may sound like some random piece of writing, but it isn’t at all.”
And: “To put it bluntly, when my second quartet was played here at Harvard, my old teacher Walter Piston said to me, ‘you know, if I knew what it sounded like, I would have put the four players in separate rooms and shut the doors.'”
Virginia Symphony Tries The GM Approach
“The Virginia Symphony Orchestra submitted a request last month for a $1 million loan from the city of Norfolk, Executive Director Carla Johnson said Thursday. If the loan is not granted, the orchestra’s musicians may miss their next paycheck and the symphony could file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.”
Australia Opens A National Portrait Gallery
“Although a national portrait collection was begun 20 years ago, it was housed inadequately at Old Parliament House and has only now found a home built for the job. The 14,000 square metre, $87.8 million[Aus] building, designed by Johnson Pilton Walker, sits on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin, next to the High Court and the National Gallery.”
Royal Ballet Does Fashion Tie-In
“London’s Royal Ballet is looking beyond just ticket sales for revenue by teaming up with Italian dance and fitness clothes maker Freddy. In a partnership that could help the world-famous dance company ride out the recession, which is expected to hit demand for its shows, Freddy has designed a collection of clothes specifically for the dancers and another to go on general sale.”
A ‘Surreal Human Sculpture’ Of Violinists Among The Waves
“Here’s a great photo that Getty photographer Paul Kane snapped at Perth’s North Cottesloe Beach earlier this week. The performance features musicians from the West Australian Symphony Orchestra playing their own instruments in the surf. It’s apparently the latest in a series of ‘surreal human sculptures’ by artist Andrew Baines.”
Dubai Film Fest Battling Former Chief
“The Canadian founder of the Dubai International Film Festival is renewing legal action against its current chairman and managing director, alleging they were behind public statements that he is ‘racist’ and an ‘Arab hater’ in order to justify his removal from the festival.”
Was Hoff Bounced From Pal Joey?
When Christian Hoff withdrew from the lead in the Broadway revival of Pal Joey, the official word was that the actor had a foot injury. That was true, says Michael Riedel, but “Hoff’s injury was minor, and he wanted to return to the show. But several people involved in the production didn’t want him back.”
Publishers Making Deep Cuts, Consolidations
“The economy has crashed on a supposedly recession-proof industry: book publishing. There is consolidation at Random House Inc., as well as layoffs at Simon & Schuster and at Thomas Nelson Publishers.”