Comments on: kaiser to pick up pieces http://parterre.com/2008/11/12/kaiser-to-pick-up-pieces/ where opera is king and you, the readers, are queens Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:12:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: jack jikes http://parterre.com/2008/11/12/kaiser-to-pick-up-pieces/comment-page-2/#comment-35725 jack jikes Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:12:45 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=1753#comment-35725 Kaiser as savior? Laughable! He did a similar turn at American Ballet Theatre where during and after his tenure production standards - i.e. essential theater craft - were lamentable. His impact is felt to this day. Apparently Gelb can turn gold to lead. Le Page is one of the very great stage directors of the last 50 years. You'd never would have thought that from the kitsch-fest 'Damnation' recently unveiled. Gelb has yet to premiere a production of genuine distinction. Mortier was NYC's great hope. Compare the Mortier-era 'Damnation' [Salzburg - La Fura del Baus] with the Met's item. It's on DVD - take a look! Kaiser as savior? Laughable!
He did a similar turn at American Ballet Theatre where during and after his tenure production standards – i.e. essential theater craft – were lamentable. His impact is felt to this day.
Apparently Gelb can turn gold to lead. Le Page is one
of the very great stage directors of the last 50 years.
You’d never would have thought that from the kitsch-fest
‘Damnation’ recently unveiled. Gelb has yet to premiere a production of genuine distinction.
Mortier was NYC’s great hope. Compare the
Mortier-era ‘Damnation’ [Salzburg - La Fura del Baus]
with the Met’s item. It’s on DVD – take a look!

]]> By: Harry http://parterre.com/2008/11/12/kaiser-to-pick-up-pieces/comment-page-2/#comment-35399 Harry Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:41:58 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=1753#comment-35399 wenarto I think you like that Siegfried poster because he is waving a big red hot poker! No? wenarto I think you like that Siegfried poster because he is waving a big red hot poker! No?

]]> By: T1 http://parterre.com/2008/11/12/kaiser-to-pick-up-pieces/comment-page-2/#comment-35158 T1 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:20:12 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=1753#comment-35158 And there are MANY who would say he was the best thing to happen to stodgy Salzburg. He revived that festival like few others could. And there are MANY who would say he was the best thing to happen to stodgy Salzburg. He revived that festival like few others could.

]]> By: DirkVA http://parterre.com/2008/11/12/kaiser-to-pick-up-pieces/comment-page-2/#comment-35147 DirkVA Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:08:40 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=1753#comment-35147 No. 12, it will be news to many that the Paris Opera has been "wrecked." No. 12, it will be news to many that the Paris Opera has been “wrecked.”

]]> By: mrmyster http://parterre.com/2008/11/12/kaiser-to-pick-up-pieces/comment-page-2/#comment-35133 mrmyster Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:27:42 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=1753#comment-35133 Replace Baker with someone well respected and with strong financial abilities, and then you get a quality figure to run the company as general director, and let HIM/HER then hire the artistic direction. That is the usual order and the proven order for success. Baker's whimsical flirtation wiht Mortier is what created this mess in the first place. That and Mr Paullson's masturbations. They deserve what they get. Alas, we get it too. Replace Baker with someone well respected and with strong financial abilities, and then you get a quality figure to run the company as general director, and let HIM/HER then hire the artistic direction. That is the usual order and the proven order for success. Baker’s whimsical flirtation wiht Mortier is what created this mess in the first place. That and Mr Paullson’s masturbations.
They deserve what they get.
Alas, we get it too.

]]> By: T1 http://parterre.com/2008/11/12/kaiser-to-pick-up-pieces/comment-page-2/#comment-35114 T1 Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:29:16 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=1753#comment-35114 If Mortier would have been allowed to have stayed in Paris (rather than being forced out due to being 65) I think he'd be there for years to come. He is highly respected within the company and the company has done well under his leadership. Like him or not, he brings attention to companies and sells a lot of tickets. Audi has a great thing going in Amsterdam (a far better company at this point that NYCO). Why would he want to step backwards. The Alden brothers also have great artistic engagements in many theaters around the world. Why would they want to curtail that for NYCO? The NYCO is simply not all that attractive of a position and with the behemoth next door, it makes it even tougher to bring in a big name chief. I don't think that NY on the whole is the culture capitol it once was and is less attractive to many of the Europeans than it once was. If Mortier would have been allowed to have stayed in Paris (rather than being forced out due to being 65) I think he’d be there for years to come. He is highly respected within the company and the company has done well under his leadership. Like him or not, he brings attention to companies and sells a lot of tickets.

Audi has a great thing going in Amsterdam (a far better company at this point that NYCO). Why would he want to step backwards. The Alden brothers also have great artistic engagements in many theaters around the world. Why would they want to curtail that for NYCO?

The NYCO is simply not all that attractive of a position and with the behemoth next door, it makes it even tougher to bring in a big name chief. I don’t think that NY on the whole is the culture capitol it once was and is less attractive to many of the Europeans than it once was.

]]> By: redbear http://parterre.com/2008/11/12/kaiser-to-pick-up-pieces/comment-page-2/#comment-35093 redbear Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:54:35 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=1753#comment-35093 Audi? Alden? All these guys are booked a decade or so in advance. What they will get is whoever is sitting by his phone waiting for a call? Say your prayers. You think Mortier took the NYCO call because he wanted to stroll down 5th Avenue? He took the call because nobody else - after he wrecked companies all over Europe - wanted him. Audi? Alden? All these guys are booked a decade or so in advance. What they will get is whoever is sitting by his phone waiting for a call? Say your prayers.
You think Mortier took the NYCO call because he wanted to stroll down 5th Avenue? He took the call because nobody else – after he wrecked companies all over Europe – wanted him.

]]> By: whatever http://parterre.com/2008/11/12/kaiser-to-pick-up-pieces/comment-page-2/#comment-35091 whatever Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:47:47 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=1753#comment-35091 here's a crazy idea: look for a turn-around expert from outside the arts ... here’s a crazy idea: look for a turn-around expert from outside the arts …

]]> By: Regina delle fate http://parterre.com/2008/11/12/kaiser-to-pick-up-pieces/comment-page-1/#comment-35077 Regina delle fate Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:22:13 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=1753#comment-35077 Mortier at NYCO was always a pipe dream and one, concocted, as an attempt to unsettle Peter Gelb's triumphalism across the Plaza. Well, Mortier is not the only artistic director of note in the world, and although it is true that his programming is nearly always interesting, his taste in theatre is much less reliable and a lot of what he likes is just pretentious stuff for a self-admiring elite. Certainly NYCO needs an artistic director AND a fund-raiser. I always think it is strange that both of these skills are required in one person in American opera companies - very few people have both. I suppose James Robinson could fulfil the artistic remit if he hadn't taken on St Louis. What about a NYCO headed by David or Christopher Alden with a general director brought in to raise the cash? The Aldens would create a stir, attract good singers and do interesting rep, even if you won't like all of their own productions....There must be other people in American opera with the necessary skills to do something different from the Met. I doubt if Audi would touch the NYCO with a bargepole - I can't see him wanting to live all year round in New York, he is so quintessentially European (though Lebanese born) Mortier at NYCO was always a pipe dream and one, concocted, as an attempt to unsettle Peter Gelb’s triumphalism across the Plaza. Well, Mortier is not the only artistic director of note in the world, and although it is true that his programming is nearly always interesting, his taste in theatre is much less reliable and a lot of what he likes is just pretentious stuff for a self-admiring elite. Certainly NYCO needs an artistic director AND a fund-raiser. I always think it is strange that both of these skills are required in one person in American opera companies – very few people have both. I suppose James Robinson could fulfil the artistic remit if he hadn’t taken on St Louis. What about a NYCO headed by David or Christopher Alden with a general director brought in to raise the cash? The Aldens would create a stir, attract good singers and do interesting rep, even if you won’t like all of their own productions….There must be other people in American opera with the necessary skills to do something different from the Met. I doubt if Audi would touch the NYCO with a bargepole – I can’t see him wanting to live all year round in New York, he is so quintessentially European (though Lebanese born)

]]> By: operboy http://parterre.com/2008/11/12/kaiser-to-pick-up-pieces/comment-page-1/#comment-35070 operboy Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:45:42 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=1753#comment-35070 I think it is rather cheeky to assert that Mortier did not come because the board of NYCO did not "give him" the money he wanted. We don't have state run opera companies in this country. General directors have to raise the money. That's part of the job. Sills did it. Keene did it. Kellogg did it- all with varying success. For Mortier to expect to simply be given the cash is either presumptous or naive on his part. I bet the former. And for the board president to promise what could not be given? That's just plain bad management. A fish starts rotting from the head. I think it is rather cheeky to assert that Mortier did not come because the board of NYCO did not “give him” the money he wanted.

We don’t have state run opera companies in this country. General directors have to raise the money. That’s part of the job. Sills did it. Keene did it. Kellogg did it- all with varying success.

For Mortier to expect to simply be given the cash is either presumptous or naive on his part. I bet the former. And for the board president to promise what could not be given? That’s just plain bad management.

A fish starts rotting from the head.

]]> By: wenarto http://parterre.com/2008/11/12/kaiser-to-pick-up-pieces/comment-page-1/#comment-35057 wenarto Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:42:27 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=1753#comment-35057 set everything aside, I LOVE that poster of Siegfried!!!!! viva la Cieca set everything aside, I LOVE that poster of Siegfried!!!!! viva la Cieca

]]> By: iltenoredigrazia http://parterre.com/2008/11/12/kaiser-to-pick-up-pieces/comment-page-1/#comment-35033 iltenoredigrazia Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:28:54 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=1753#comment-35033 The question to be answered is what kind of opera company should the nyco be? What role should it play in the life of nyc? Affordable opera in a down-to-earth environment? An avenue for opera in English? An avenue for young singers to get experience? An avenue for new or experimental works? An avenue for singers who for whatever reasons are not singing at the Met? Competition for the Met? A showplace for American composers? A showplace for operas outside the standard repertoire? Any one of those options, or a combination of two or so, could succeed as long as they are clear and consistent with what they intend to do. That would allow them to develop an identitiy and, most importantly, a following, a clearly defined target audience. Probably getting out of Lincoln Center would be a good first step. The question to be answered is what kind of opera company should the nyco be? What role should it play in the life of nyc? Affordable opera in a down-to-earth environment? An avenue for opera in English? An avenue for young singers to get experience? An avenue for new or experimental works? An avenue for singers who for whatever reasons are not singing at the Met? Competition for the Met? A showplace for American composers? A showplace for operas outside the standard repertoire?

Any one of those options, or a combination of two or so, could succeed as long as they are clear and consistent with what they intend to do. That would allow them to develop an identitiy and, most importantly, a following, a clearly defined target audience.

Probably getting out of Lincoln Center would be a good first step.

]]> By: Buster http://parterre.com/2008/11/12/kaiser-to-pick-up-pieces/comment-page-1/#comment-35023 Buster Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:18:57 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=1753#comment-35023 Well, since he was recently mentioned elsewhere on this site, would be great for the job, ànd can do a Saint François, why not Pierre Audi? Well, since he was recently mentioned elsewhere on this site, would be great for the job, ànd can do a Saint François, why not Pierre Audi?

]]> By: T1 http://parterre.com/2008/11/12/kaiser-to-pick-up-pieces/comment-page-1/#comment-35019 T1 Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:11:14 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=1753#comment-35019 As far as the loss of Mortier---he certainly would have brought some recognition and changed the status quo at a very troubled company. NYCO has become nearly "irrelevant" on the NY scene in the past several years and needed an infusion of energy and style. Mortier would have brought this. Yes, I think this entire saga has been handled badly and I don't know what the financial condition of the company would have been after 5 years of his direction. But I can guarantee you, that if he had come, they'd be talking about the productions and the change he brought to NYCO for a very long time. He was promised a certain budget, they didn't give it to him, he left. I'm not sure why that should surprise too many people. We all knew things were going to have to change in order for him to actually take over. They didn't and he didn't. So who does everyone think might get the job? Who would be good for this position? It's a position that many wouldn't want to get any where near. As far as the loss of Mortier—he certainly would have brought some recognition and changed the status quo at a very troubled company. NYCO has become nearly “irrelevant” on the NY scene in the past several years and needed an infusion of energy and style. Mortier would have brought this. Yes, I think this entire saga has been handled badly and I don’t know what the financial condition of the company would have been after 5 years of his direction. But I can guarantee you, that if he had come, they’d be talking about the productions and the change he brought to NYCO for a very long time. He was promised a certain budget, they didn’t give it to him, he left. I’m not sure why that should surprise too many people. We all knew things were going to have to change in order for him to actually take over. They didn’t and he didn’t.

So who does everyone think might get the job? Who would be good for this position? It’s a position that many wouldn’t want to get any where near.

]]> By: DirkVA http://parterre.com/2008/11/12/kaiser-to-pick-up-pieces/comment-page-1/#comment-35014 DirkVA Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:13:41 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=1753#comment-35014 Those of you who are triumphing over having done your part to make an impressario of stature (even if its a kind of stature that you imagine you don't approve of) unwelcome in a foundering company that rightly (if incompetently) sought to reach out beyond the mediocre usual will, I hope, be delighted with the poor schlump who will be foolish enough to take on the job that you have helped make even more undesirable than it was before. Those of you who are triumphing over having done your part to make an impressario of stature (even if its a kind of stature that you imagine you don’t approve of) unwelcome in a foundering company that rightly (if incompetently) sought to reach out beyond the mediocre usual will, I hope, be delighted with the poor schlump who will be foolish enough to take on the job that you have helped make even more undesirable than it was before.

]]> By: Henry Holland http://parterre.com/2008/11/12/kaiser-to-pick-up-pieces/comment-page-1/#comment-35012 Henry Holland Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:55:29 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=1753#comment-35012 <i>Why do I get this insistant feeling that NYCO will survive PRECISELY because Mortier left and would have bellied up bankruptcy had he stayed?</i> Yes, because what he was taking over was so wildly successful, they had a license to print money at the State Theater! [insert eye-rolling emoticons here] NYCO was in dire straits before he was announced, they're in dire straits now. I know a lot of people are dancing on Mortier's NYCO grave, which is bizarre since no one here actually claims to have liked the product put out in the post-Keene years all that much. Well, what now for NYCO? Are they going to go back to the awful Boheme/Carmen/Traviata with 3rd rate singers & conductors + musicals + one or two rarities done in two blocks thing? I feel sorry for whoever steps in, they'll be in an utterly dire situation at a house that will STILL suck for opera. Why do I get this insistant feeling that NYCO will survive PRECISELY because Mortier left and would have bellied up bankruptcy had he stayed?

Yes, because what he was taking over was so wildly successful, they had a license to print money at the State Theater! [insert eye-rolling emoticons here] NYCO was in dire straits before he was announced, they’re in dire straits now. I know a lot of people are dancing on Mortier’s NYCO grave, which is bizarre since no one here actually claims to have liked the product put out in the post-Keene years all that much.

Well, what now for NYCO? Are they going to go back to the awful Boheme/Carmen/Traviata with 3rd rate singers & conductors + musicals + one or two rarities done in two blocks thing? I feel sorry for whoever steps in, they’ll be in an utterly dire situation at a house that will STILL suck for opera.

]]> By: Gianni http://parterre.com/2008/11/12/kaiser-to-pick-up-pieces/comment-page-1/#comment-35007 Gianni Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:38:43 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=1753#comment-35007 I completely agree. I completely agree.

]]> By: Avantialouie http://parterre.com/2008/11/12/kaiser-to-pick-up-pieces/comment-page-1/#comment-35001 Avantialouie Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:33:26 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=1753#comment-35001 Why do I get this insistant feeling that NYCO will survive PRECISELY because Mortier left and would have bellied up bankruptcy had he stayed? Why do I get this insistant feeling that NYCO will survive PRECISELY because Mortier left and would have bellied up bankruptcy had he stayed?

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