NYC Opera Lays Off Staff
In October New York City Opera quietly dismissed 11 members of its administrative staff because of reduced revenues, reports the New York Times. The company is expecting a serious deficit at the end of this season. NYCO did not announce the layoffs but gave the news to a reporter who called the company. None of the employees were in senior positions and all of them left with severance packages, said spokesman Pascal Nardon. The departments affected include finance, development, marketing, and production.
Executive Director Jane Gullong is leaving her office at the end of this season, but that is said to be unrelated to the other job losses. General Manager designate Gerard Mortier, who will take over the top position for the 2009-2010 season, is eliminating Gullong’s job.
www.nytimes.com/2008/10/04/arts/music/04oper.html?ref=musicjournals.aol.com/kingbing1/FortiFi/entries/2008/10/04/city-opera-lays-off-11-members-of-its-staff/4761
Chicago Opera Theater Celebrates A New U.S. President
Chicago Opera Theater’s outreach program, Opera for All, is designed for elementary school children. During the current school year, its curriculum features an analysis of Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito, a work celebrating a great leader. Continuation of the program will involve the students writing their own opera about the new U.S. president.
“Making opera relevant to these students’ lives is imperative to their understanding of this great art form,” says CO Theater General Director Brian Dickie. “. . . Opera for All highlights how opera can be commentary on the issues of our time.”
www.chicagooperatheater.org
Librarians Find Mozart Sketch in France
Staff members inspecting the archives in a library in Nantes found a previously unknown, handwritten musical sketch by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, reports the Associated Press. The piece is just a melody with no harmony or instrumentation, but international experts have already authenticated the composer’s handwriting.
The past half century has yielded 10 similar finds. Estimates say this single page would garner approximately $100,000 if sold at auction today.
www.nysun.com/arts/new-mozart-piece-discovered/86163/
Met Movies Help Theaters’ Bottom Lines
Sales for opera and other stage performances transmitted to movie theaters are growing by leaps and bounds, according to the Associated Press. National CineMedia, Inc. began with 15 special-event screenings in 2005, and now offers 39 performances annually. The company has transmitted such events as a live panel on the national debt and deficits with billionaire Warren Buffett, concerts by Celine Dion and Garth Brooks, and even marching band competitions. Metropolitan Opera showings have grown from eight live performances shown in 350 theaters last year to 11 shows in 460 theaters this year.
The screenings are in non-prime time, which is what helps the theaters so much. Sales of tickets, popcorn, candy, and soft drinks at off hours, such as on Saturday mornings, are a welcome addition to theaters’ balance sheets.
poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081003/LIFE/ 810030320/1005/LIFE
www.coolidge.org/
Mannes College Announces Master Artist in Residence
Mannes College The New School for Music has announced that world-renowned dramatic soprano Deborah Voigt is a master artist in residence for the 2008-2009 academic year. Voigt is working privately with students and may be offering a masterclass. The school’s dean, Joel Lester, said, “Simply put, this is an extraordinary opportunity for top voice students at Mannes to work with one of the great singers of our time.”
www.mannes.newschool.edu/
www.newschool.edu
China Strengthens Ban on Religious Music
The Chinese Ministry of Culture has tightened its ban on the playing of western religious music, reports the Telegraph, a UK newspaper. Britain’s Academy of Ancient Music had been asked to perform Handel’s Messiah. They were in the process of preparing for the performance when they were told that the only way the performance could go ahead was if it was closed to the public. Political leaders and their guests got tickets, but they were not available to ordinary Chinese music lovers.
The ban itself is not new, but China has interpreted more loosely in recent years. Several musical organizations have had to change their programming to accommodate this new interpretation. When asked to comment, the Ministry had nothing to say.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/3108810/China-bans-Western-religious-music.html
rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=251446&D=2008-09-30&SO=&HC=3 – 19k
oboeinsight.com/2008/10/04/china-music-ban/
