Ever want to stand up and sing while attending an opera?
During the opening night of Handel’s Guilio Cesare, the performance was halted early in the first act when the sound of Jennifer Larmore singing a different aria from the same opera began ringing through the theatre. Larmore, of course, was nowhere near the Palais Garnier. The production was halted for a half hour while security searched the theatre and finally discovered, hidden beneath an eave, a cassette player and speakers set to “auto-play.” Rumor has it that disgruntled members of the French musicians’ union were behind the mischief.
Russian Tenor Mikhail Alexandrovich dies
Mikhail Alexandrovitch, 87, passed away July 4th in Israel. He was known as “Russia’s best kept cultural secret.” He was such a secret that CS could not find a single source of recordings by him on the Internet, despite that fact that he was the closest thing the Soviet Union knew to a pop idol, making more than 6,000 concert appearances and selling more than 20 million discs. He was the last tenor to be trained in the Italian Bel Canto style by the tenor Beniamino Gigli. World-class professionals performed with him, but anti-Semitism in Russia meant that invitations to sing at world-class opera houses were not allowed. Finally, intervention by world leaders won him his exit permit in 1972 to Israel, but at age 58 he could only have a concert career. He toured every continent. When he returned to Russia at age 80, his 40 concerts sold out. Two years ago the Chaliapin Museum in Moscow devoted an exhibition to him. Alexandrovitch continued recording until this summer. When he finished his last recording, he told the producers, “Now I can die.” He did just that a few days later.
English National Opera faces hard times
British newspapers have been reporting that the English National Opera may face major changes in the near future. Due to a $1.1 million deficit, among other problems, the company is considering laying off staff members, closing for 16 months and reopening as a part- time company.
Think before that standing ovation!
An article by Diane Haithman, which appeared in the New York Times on Aug. 2nd, questioned the tendency of audiences to give a standing ovation at the end of every halfway decent performance. Suddenly the once revered audience compliment has become a standard and expected practice. So what do we have left that hallmarks a genuinely spectacular performance?
Chicago Lyric Opera goes off the air
The Chicago Lyric Opera has been broadcasting its performances since 1973; however due to a lack of funding, the company announced one week before their season was to open that they would be discontinuing their live broadcasts. The Lyric’s main supporters for the broadcasts have been American Airlines and United Airlines, but the two companies informed the Lyric that they would have to withhold their support due to economic hardship in the past year. General Director William Mason indicated that the loss was devastating, but they hold no harsh feelings towards the two companies because they have been such wonderful supporters of the arts in the past. Rather than trying to raise the necessary $400,000 needed to continue the broadcasts, Mason said the company would concentrate on raising the needed $15.5 million for the season. They hope to reinstate the broadcasts at a future date.
Sydney Opera House steps into controversy
The Sydney Opera House recently appointed Norman Gillespie, 45, as the next chief executive of the Sydney Opera House. The appointment comes as somewhat of a surprise, because Gillespie has no experience running an arts institution but rather has his working background as the chief financial officer of Cable & Wireless Optus. He does have a PhD in musicology and is a specialist in baroque music, but his selection over the seemingly more qualified acting chief executive of the opera house, Judith Isherwood, seems to demonstrate an increasing interest in the successful financial management of today’s organization, especially in light of the economic instability seen since 2001’s terrorist attacks.
Warning: This performance could be hazardous to your health…
Did you know that classical musicians are more susceptible to hearing loss nowadays than rock stars? When rehearsing with orchestras, make sure you take the proper precautions to prevent hearing loss! Legislation exists for most orchestras specifying tolerable decibel levels. After 90 decibels, the players are required to wear protection for their ears. Some orchestras have instituted decibel allowances where each musician is allotted a certain number of decibels to be exposed to each week; the repertoire then reflects this stipulation. Other orchestras have experienced with equipment changes, risers, and acoustic barriers.
Guys and Dolls at Covent Garden?
The Royal Opera House’s new artistic director, Tony Pappano, has indicated that he is considering staging musicals at London’s beloved opera house. The 42-year-old director plans to use his time at the theatre lightening up the “elitist” reputation the house currently embodies and show young audiences how, “…modern and hip it is.” He has also mentioned his intention to experiment with amplification. As orchestras are getting louder, the voices cannot carry as well.
British children lacking classical education
In a recent survey taken by Classic FM magazine in London, 600 children between the ages of six and 14 were surveyed and most of them could not name a single classical composer. They named Britney Spears, Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley as classical composers. BBC news reported that “…only 11 percent of respondents could correctly name a classical performer, and only 35 percent a classical composer.”
Opera Australia ousts artistic director
After less than two years in the position, artistic director of Opera Australia Simone Young was informed that her original three-year contract would not be renewed at the end of next season. Young, 41, was shocked and has apparently been given no explanation for her removal.
Semper Opera tours while homeless
Because the Semper Opera House (Dresden, Germany) sustained severe damages when it was flooded for a week, Opera Director Christoph Albrecht has announced and begun performing in outside locations while the theater is undergoing repairs. While the theater itself remained unharmed, the basement was filled with water for a week damaging all the buildings systems and destroying much machinery and props.
Understudies, be prepared!
On the opening night of a new production of Der Freichutz in early Sept at Opera Australia, tenor Keith Lewis was in the title role and came down with laryngitis. Because his understudy was unavailable to cover for him, the performance went on as scheduled with Lewis acting the part on stage, Jamie Allen singing from the pit, and Christopher Dawes reciting the spoken German from the wings. Despite the vocal incongruity, the production apparently went as well as it could have.
Look at these amazing tickets!
You might want to check those tickets again. A recent scandal was discovered when a computer server in Miami was found to be hosting illegal look-alike websites for opera houses. These websites, mirroring those of about 23 actual opera houses, have been selling bogus tickets to performances. For example, the actual website for the Sydney Opera House is www.sydneyoperahouse.org, but the counterfeit tickets were being sold from www.sydneyopera.org.
