We Have Met The Enemy….

By now many readers will have read this excellent post by Bernard Holland, distinguished music critic and writer for the New York Times (assuming that the NYT, in their infinite wisdom, will not try to charge you for access).  Mr. Holland, in his opus from ’03, has succinctly put forth a very elegant and reasoned argument for why orchestras in this country are going the way of the Dodo.  Only one problem – he didn’t go far enough.

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And Now for Something Completely Different….

So two weeks ago was the 40th anniversary of Monty Python’s Flying Circus first broadcast hence the title, but I have also been thinking  about the way orchestras typically go about searching for a Music Director and if this process needs to be done in a very different and more forward thinking way.  I believe it does, but it will involve the challenge of getting current MD’s to buy in (me included) whilst setting our egos aside.  Charleston who is about to go through this  is a perfect example …….

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Is it time for the Revolution?

Newsflash – Endowments are down the toilet; Arts orgs. are laying off people at record pace; donations are down; the NYCity Opera got sold a bag of rotten turnips; ponzi scheems are playing havoc with donors; orchestras/dnace companies/opera companies/etc. are folding ……… Folks, is it time for the next Revolution?

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ConnectiCUTS Deep and both ways! An Irreversable Immolation!

A famous incident took place in a performance of Tosca when Maria Callas drew blood from Tito Gobbi when the retractable knife didn’t cooperate (it was only a minor injury). In another performance (in the same scene) Callas getting too close to the candles set her hair on fire, only to be rescued by the Gobbi smothering the flames (she reportedly said thank you before stabbing him!). Well Connecticut Opera just stabbed their audience to death, and then burnt themselves to the ground!…..

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