Bulletin Board
NEA Chair Pleads for Continued Arts Funding
As many arts committees and state budgets are completely cutting arts funding, the new chairman for the National Endowment for the Arts, Dana Goia, pled to the National Council on the Arts to maintain funding. In an April address, Goia stated that arts should not be cut any more than sports, because the two aspects of education work hand in hand to create better human beings. “That’s why when they cut budgets in schools, they don’t cut the basketball team nor should they, because they look at it as producing complete human beings. We need to make the same argument for the arts. … All of us here have seen kids who don’t know who they are, don’t know how they fit into the world. Suddenly they join the choir, they get cast in a play, they start playing in a band…We’ll be leaving children behind if we drop the arts, pure and simple.”
Protect Your Voice-Wear Your Seatbelt!
On May 14th, San Diego Opera was informed that contralto Ewa Podles [CS cover story June 2001] had been in a car accident en route to San Diego. She was scheduled to perform a sold-out recital on May 17th, which has been rescheduled for November 15th. Ms. Podles’ car was struck by another car, spun three times, and Ms. Podles was ejected from the car. She suffered a broken arm as well as other minor injuries but is currently recovering in good condition.
SARS Causes Massive Cancellations
After reports of the deadly SARS virus in China were made public, many touring arts groups, such as the BBC Scottish Symphony, the Ensemble Modern, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet of Canada and the Eugene Concert Choir, were forced to cancel planned concerts in China. The Ensemble Modern furthermore was forced to quarantine their members after a potential SARS victim was found on the same airplane that transported the ensemble from Germany to China. [See Dr. Jahn’s article on p. 17.]
NC-17 Rated Opera for Teens?
A group of high school students recently attended a dress rehearsal of a modern rendition of Don Giovanni at Opera Colorado, which prompted phone calls from upset parents after they learned that the opera contained a sexually explicit scene. The scene involved a woman wearing a bustier, fishnet stockings and high heels interacting in a highly suggestive manner with a shirtless man. President and general director Peter Russell immediately ordered the scene to be toned down, and it was replaced by a food fight in some ensuing performances. Russell, who was also attending the dress rehearsal, claimed that it was his first viewing of the staging and that he was as horrified as the audience members.
Yet Another Arts Center?
As arts centers, orchestras, and opera companies are closing their doors due to lack of funds, the construction of new arts centers all over the country continues unabated, despite difficulties in operating after opening. Musical America reports that in early May, the new $90 million Omaha Performing Arts Center broke ground for a scheduled opening in 2005. “The Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts opened at Bard College in upstate New York. The week before that, construction on the new National Hispanic Cultural Center of New Mexico in Albuquerque ceased, due to lack of funds. During that same week, ground was broken on Toronto’s new opera house. In March, St. Paul’s Ordway Center reported major operating deficits. Meanwhile, the $265 million Miami-Dade Center for the Performing Arts remains scheduled for an Oct. 2005 opening.” With all these arts centers opening, and so many performing arts groups closing, one might ask who is going to perform in these architectural wonders.
Disparities in Arts Salaries
While many orchestras, choruses and other ensembles are working without pay and dealing with wage freezes, employees at the top levels of some arts organizations are still maintaining rather hefty salaries. The Daily News reports that Joseph Volpe, general manager of the non-profit Metropolitan Opera, earns $1.06 million, Zarin Mehta, executive director of the New York Philharmonic, collects $750,000, and principals in the NY Philharmonic can earn between $200,000 and $300,000.
Visa Delays Prompt Cancellations
In the post 9/11 environment, opera companies attempting to hire international stars for planned productions are having immense difficulties in securing visas due to processing delays and foreign policy. Opera America reports that this could affect the way US companies cast productions, considering that in the upcoming season, they might have to pay $1 million in immigration fees for “premium processing” of visas for contracted singers.
Requiem Cancelled Because of Christian Content
Director Riccardo Muti canceled a planned production of Verdi’s Requiem that was scheduled for on July 21st as the centerpiece of this year’s Ravenna Festival. The concert was to have taken place at the pyramids at al-Gizah, Egypt, and Muti felt that the requiem could spark a negative reaction from Islamic radicals. Muti instead chose a selection of non-denominational pieces that dealt with death and mourning.
Santa Fe Opera Appoints Music Director
Alan Gilbert will officially take the newly created post as music director of the Santa Fe Opera on October 1st. The position was announced in May by Santa Fe’s general director Richard Gaddes, who indicated that the company had been very impressed with Gilbert’s 2001 conducting debut with Santa Fe.
New General Director for Dallas Opera
The Dallas Morning News reports that Dallas Opera has appointed Karen Stone, 51, of Great Britain, as general director of Dallas Opera. Stone is the current Intendant of Graz, Austria, opera and theater. On August 15th, she will officially take over as general director from Anthony Whitworth-Jones, who resigned a year ago after only holding the position for two years.
MN Opera Joins Budget Deficit Bandwagon
Minnesota Opera will reduce their next season from five productions to four, after ending this season with a huge budget deficit. Among other cost-cutting plans, they will save money in the next season by building and recycling sets rather than renting and buying new ones.
