steel yourselves
Our Own JJ takes to the airwaves this afternoon to yak about the new regime at NYCO. He’ll be on “Soundcheck” on WNYC between 2:00 and 3:00 PM. La Cieca is told that George Steel himself will also be on the program, so she will caution JJ to be sparing in his use of the word “dick.”
In fact, the word “dick” may soon be used not at all, if the reaction of at least one NYCO staffer to Steel’s introductory meeting this morning holds true. La Cieca hears that the new GD’s brief remarks were “auspicious and well-received” and the staffer even sounded cautiously optimistic: “If he’s true to his words, I think sunnier days are ahead for NYCO.”
While doing some research on our new incoming man of steel…I stumbled upon another. Check out James Valenti, a barihunk of the tenor variety.
http://www.dallasopera.org/the_season/080904-index.php
Dear La Cieca, Dallas Opera’s new Rodolfo is much deserving of your attention.
Satisfied, Mr. Valenti’s qualifications as a Hunkentenor are well known.
La Cieca if you really want to know how much he knows about opera, tell JJ to put him on the spot. Ask him questions about the repertoire and singers. See what he really knows. The truth will show itself.
Aida, it’s quite evident why we don’t know you as a favorite guest on radio shows.
And the danger of the kind of rudeness that you endorse is that someone like Steel is equally able to find holes in other people’s knowledge. It can be done to anyone by anyone. The kinds of information and skills needed to run an opera company are infinite in their variety and extent, and any mortal will have strengths and weaknesses.
Our doyenne, mercifully, is of a far more constructive character.
At the same time, I’m puzzled by the attitude you and some others evince that the only way to know the repertory is to have previous direct experience of working in an opera house. Some people are ravenous for knowledge and acquire it without your necessarily knowing it.
Mr. Valenti has already appeared at NYCO, he was Sharpless last year and was in Boheme the year before.
Alto, I have never said that the only way to know the repertoire is direct experience working in an opera house.
Further, I have no doubt that our doyenne will not be rude. Though one cannot hear ‘tone’ in a blog comment, it was meant with a bit of sarcasm. Despite that, the truth will become known in time – and I wasn’t suggesting the truth is he doesn’t know anything. I hope Steel is much more expert than has been suggested.
Timmay, I think you mean Pinkerton, but true.
Nice interview. You were sooo on your best behavior (as the kids would say).
Cieca, please tell JJ that we were all proud of him.
So I missed the interview. Did he say he had seen any recent NYCO productions? Or any NYCO productions?