mass distraction
La Cieca has just been informed that Boston Lyric Opera “is mere hours away” from announcing their new Director of Artistic Operations, Nicholas Russell (formerly of Glimmerglass Opera before the regime coup there). It should be noted that although Russell is “dall’ immondo sangue degl’inglesi dei scozie,” he is a naturalized U.S. citizen, so it’s debatable whether he should be called a “fucking Brit.” (La Cieca leaves it to her cher public to raise that debate.)
Meanwhile, here in New York, the NYCO board is meeting to discuss possible candidates to fill the gap left by the defection of Gerard Mortier. City Opera honchess Susan Baker told Bloomberg News she hopes a new general manager may be hired by the end of the year. Reportedly Michael Kaiser is assisting in the search process.
Baker, speaking at a fundraiser for the NYCO, lamented the “punishing economic environment that has so affected philanthropy.” Bloomberg neglects to mention whether the black-tie crowd pelted her with garbage.
How Mortierfying!
Who knew that behind that bow tie lurked the soul of a degenrate! Only Raymond knows for sure.
It was Mr. Russell who brought Dame Anne Evans and Jonathan Peter Kenney and many more such to Glimmerglass.
This is a *really* bad move for BLO.
Based on the impressions I’ve been given by several people, it would seem many of you might be feasting on your words after a few seasons with Nelson and Russell at the helm at BLO.
I don’t know either of them personally, but it would seem to me that if I were to count among my enemies the types who would anonymously post such clearly vindictive and asinine remarks, then I must be doing something RIGHT.
How nice to see such an outpouring of altruistic concern among La Cieca’s well-informed readers for Boston Lyric. It’s a company that has survived and frequently excelled in the face of serious obstacles, not the least of which was Sarah Caldwell poisoning the well for opera in Boston for decades. Yet I can’t ever recall seeing it mentioned before by any of you…
How did Sarah Caldwell poison the well for opera in Boston for decades? She seemed to be well thought of in the national press (if kind of a shambles in her working methods). What don’t those of us beyond Boston know? Tell, tell…
Huh, I thought the phrase “poison the well” was used exclusively in blood libel.
Sarah managed to balance artistic genius with a criminally irresposible business sense and an unwillingness to delegate the slightest bit of authority. Every brilliant production, and there were many (e.g. a Benvenuto Cellini they’re still talking about) was countered with a creaky old chestnut to pay some bills. She built a company on the backs of generous donors and them threw them away when they couldn’t put out. After Boston’s top philanthropists had to bail her out one too many times, and the city foreclosed on her “opera house” the company went bankrupt and everyone swore they’d never give a dime to opera again. Truly one of the greatest artists and worst managers ever.
Maury: I think the phrase you’re looking for is “throw the Jew down the well,” which is of course the merry 2/4 opening chorus of “La Juive.”
Quanto Painy: It’s a reliable rule of thumb that anyone who wears a bow tie is some kind of degenerate. The ascot is a red flag as well.
Letch: It does seem that Sarah Caldwell’s activities in Boston are somewhat outside the scope of current gossip on this blog.