American Operas Achieving Recognition
American operas are finally taking their place among the world’s most honored compositions, reports the Denver Post. Since 1990, almost 200 American operas have been professionally produced in North America. Now, European opera companies are beginning to present them as well, says the report.
Of the 10 American operas most often given during the last 15 years, three are by Gian Carlo Menotti: Amahl and the Night Visitors (No. 1,), The Consul (No. 8), and The Medium (No. 10). George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess is second, Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah is third, and Leonard Bernstein’s Candide is fourth. Fifth is The Ballad of Baby Doe by Douglas Moore, sixth is Little Women by Mark Adamo, seventh The Crucible by Robert Ward, and ninth, Vanessa by Samuel Barber, says the “Post.”
www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_3942339
Music Can Ease Pain and Alleviate Depression, Says Study
Listening to music can help with both physical pain and feelings of depression, says the United Kingdom’s Journal of Advanced Nursing, citing a study by Dr. Sandra L. Siedlecki of the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
The study divided 60 people suffering from serious pain into three equal groups. The scientists told the members of Group One to listen to their own musical choices, and provided Group Two with selected tapes of relaxing music. The third group of 20 could not listen to music. Both of the music groups reported a 12-21 percent lowering of pain levels and a 19-25 percent lessening of feelings of depression, while the group that did not listen to music reported their levels of pain and depression increased slightly, said the report.
www.journalofadvancednursing.com/default.asp?File=pressdetail&id=173
Mozart Earned More Than We Think
Contrary to popular belief, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart earned quite a good living, says moneymuseum.com. Mozart could have provided well for himself and his family if he and his wife, Constanze, had been good managers. The fee for his appearance as a pianist was 1,000 guilders (13,000 Euros, in today’s money). For most of his professional life, Mozart brought home at least 10,000 guilders (130,000 Euros) a year, said the report.
www.moneymuseum.com
New Hall Opens in NYC
New York City’s Morgan Library recently reopened after having been closed for almost three years while undergoing major renovations. The facility now includes a performance hall as well as a greatly increased exhibition space and two cafés, reports morganlibrary.com.
The new underground recital hall has 280 seats and, with its cherry wood decor, is said to have excellent acoustics.
www.morganlibrary.com
Pope Asks for More Classical Music at Mass
Pope Benedict XVI, who is known to be a fan of traditional classical music, has called for an end to the use of electric guitars and tambourines at Mass, reports the UK newspaper The Guardian. The pope says it is possible to modernize Roman Catholic Church music, but that it should be done with due regard to tradition. He suggests that musicians look to sacred polyphonic music and Gregorian chant for inspiration.
www.smh.com.au/news/world/pope-starts-the-chant–stop-the-pop/2006/06/27/1151174201740.html
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/culturevulture/archives/2006/06/28/pope_music.html
Stephen Lord Steps Down in Boston
Boston Lyric Opera has announced that Music Director Stephen Lord will step down from his post at the end of the 2007-2008 season. Lord, who is constantly in demand as a guest conductor both in the United States and in Canada, has been invited to debut at the Chicago Lyric, San Francisco, and Dallas Opera companies, reports the Boston Globe.
Lord has enjoyed his tenure at Boston Lyric, but thinks it is now time for a change, writes the “Globe’s” Richard Dyer. It is expected, however, that he will be returning to that company as a guest conductor.
www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2006/07/01/boston_lyric_conductor_to_leave_in_2008/
Have You Sung with a Left-handed Conductor?
Left-handed conductors are rare—teachers often advise left-handed students to learn to conduct with their right hands—but they are not extinct, says saratogan.com. Donald Runnicles of San Francisco Opera conducts with his left hand, even though he was told early on that it might cause him problems. Charles Dutoit of the Philadelphia Orchestra, on the other hand, writes with his left hand, but directs with his right.
When composer Krystof Penderecki was about to conduct his violin concerto, he told soloist Chantal Juillet to move back so that he would not hit her. She was shocked and did not immediately realize why he needed that much space to his left. Now they laugh about the verbal exchange.
www.saratogian.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16833557&BRD=1169&PAG=461&dept_id=17776&rfi=6
Oregon Opera Company Is $1 Million in the Red
Portland Opera was without a development director for much of the 2005-2006 season. The result is a deficit, something not usual for that company, says oregonlive.com. The box office sold adequate numbers of tickets for Tosca, Macbeth, Nixon in China, and The Rape of Lucretia, but without aggressive fund raising, this company, like most others, could not make ends meet, says the report.
Peter J. Bilotta assumed the position of development director in February, and plans are well underway for fund raising as well as the presentation of Faust, Norma, The Flying Dutchman, and The Magic Flute during the 2006-2007 season, says the report.
www.oregonlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news/115197997014590.xml?oregonian?lctop&coll=7
A First for ‘Classical Singer’ Magazine
Classical Singer recently was awarded a 2006 Apex Award for Publication Excellence.
Classical Singer was selected from among 4,756 entries. Apex 2006 awards were based on excellence in graphic design, editorial content and the success of the entry in achieving overall communications effectiveness and excellence.
