And since life is too short to be spent thus, you’re seeing the last of Alto. He’s going the way of Bunbury.

And besides, I have never disputed Francesca Zabello’s fine qualifications for the job she has been awarded. What I dispute is the hysterical nonsense served up, in Bloomberg sources and elsewhere, with much darker motives than praising her excellent qualities. I trust that those qualities will be much in evidence Upstate and will be heralded in publications that can be respected for objectivity.

Where have I ever claimed any special expertise about or special relationship with Steel? I hope common decency towards a known character does not require a special relationship. You of course don’t even have the well-distributed knowledge of him, or you couldn’t attribute a “plodding intelligence” — something you certainly can’t be accused of — to that person. Your fantasizing about things you don’t understand is reckless and inconsiderate of people and institutions.

“’She knows what she is doing and has influential (and wealthy) friends …’

Name one. Just one.” Of course when you challenged us to name “just one” influential person FZ knows you did that because you knew it would be so easy!

Now I can undertand your affinity for George Steel, you both have the desire to appear as ridiculous as possible.

George’s quote from the Times is as follows;

“When asked what these challenges (to NYCO) were, Mr. Steel said, “’I don’t know whether you’ve read the paper, but there’s a downturn that’s affected opera companies all around the country.’”

Given Mr. Steel’s other quotes, among them “It costs more money to put on concerts than not to put on concerts.” I think your irony defence is rather weak. It seems we are dealing with a rather plodding intelligence here.

But since you are the expert on all things Steel (even conversations in which you took no part) explain this to me. Why would a conductor, a protege of Bernstein, pass on the chance to conduct Bernstein’s work?

It can’t be because he is overwhelmed with his responsibilities is it? Why should he be? He’s turned NYCO into the “Spinal Tap” of opera companies. Next year I expect the marquis will read “Puppet Show and New York City Opera.”

Of course, there’s always the possibility someone with some real moolah will walk in the NYCO front door and insist George be sent out the back before that happens. Believe me Mary Cronson does not have enough money to prop up this failing edifice.

(I have no idea whether any of this is true or not — I’m just letting you know what I’ve read online.)

And I did not even mention or in any way reference anything related to George Steel, and your bringing him up in this context must be significant to the drift (and perhaps source) of your response. (But, since you bring it up, the tone of voice in which your supposedly “undiplomatic” quote of him is uttered — in what was specified as a phone interview — means everything. You are clearly choosing to hear it in a snide tone that I don’t think anyone who has had the slightest exposure to him could ever attribute to the perhaps excessively breezy Steel.)

You post is embarrasing. Are you actually claiming Francesca Zambello doesn’t have at least one powerful or influential friend. Really? You don’t think she knows Placido Domingo? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placido_domingo)

You claim she controls “the Bloomberg” machine and also think she doesn’t know Mike Bloomberg?

As far as being “one of the least diplomatic and disliked people in the business.” I think it’s safe to assume any woman who has succeeded on that level has stepped on some toes. It’s an ugly sexist world.

But while we are on the subject of diplomacy, how about that Master of Diplomacy George Steele who recently told a report from the NY Times?

“I don’t know whether you’ve read the paper, but there’s a downturn that’s affected opera companies all around the country.” http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/10/arts/music/10opera.html?scp=2&sq=George%20Steel&st=cse

Where does he place on your list of least diplomatic people in the opera world?

“She knows what she is doing and has influential (and wealthy) friends …”

Name one. Just one.

“Her appointment should be a boon to fundraising efforts there.”

How, in heaven’s name? She is one of the least diplomatic and disliked people in the business.

“Many, many singers, conductors, choreographers and designers (a lot of them quite starry) love working with her.”

Many, many? Name only one.

“So do many opera house administrations.”

Name one, unless you’d rather list the “many.”

“She believes in what she is doing and is damn good at getting her passionate ideas for the continued survival of opera in this country across to anyone.”

An example of this, please, for those of us who don’t live in your world. And how is her believing in what she’s doing a guarantee of the health of opera “in this country.” And, while you’re at it, just what is a “passionate idea”? Does that involve some sort of insane raving? I grant you that she has a certain reputation for that.

“Young singers practically fall all over themselves trying to be in her productions because she has such a great reputation amongst them.”

Name just one of these young singers who has the slightest choice of another gig to rescue him or — emphatically — her from such a fate. Of course your rather vague if not meaningless expression, “practically fall all over themselves,” shows that you’re just making up words here in any case.

Clearly the Bloomberg machine is already in full operation.

Good Lord, woman, don’t just tantalize us. The info you can provide; we should be picking your brain. Is there an adversarial relationship between the director and the designer, and if so, how did you handle it? How do you define the relation of the on-stage to the pit? Above all, I want to hear your personal dealings with the decision to move from soprano to mezzo. How did you discover it was necessary? Was it an emotional crisis for you? Maybe you’ve set these down already somewhere, but I think they are things the next generation needs to know.

The success was phenomenal.

Your entire post is absolutely hilarious, but this comment in particular made me laugh out loud. Thanks for one of the funniest posts here in months!