Rumor has it the NYT will do at least five full-time hires and bring in another half-dozen or so dedicated freelancers to provide in-depth coverage of the artistic event of of the decade: next summer, Leon Botstein conducts Franz Schreker. [Bard Summerscape]
The 1990s never ended, it seems. Joe Volpe back at the Met, and his one-time sidekick Alberto Vilar back in the news. The Felonious Philanthropist, donor of abut $12 million to the Met during Volpe’s tenure, was sentenced yesterday to nine years in prison for such charges as securities fraud, wire fraud and money laundering. [NYT]
“Maybe this bold staging was a little overwrought. But when you have Ms. Garanca as Carmen, why not?” Anthony Tommasini offers an object lesson in the art of Criticism as Starfucking. Read more »
"Although they work in different genres, both Plácido Domingo and Elaine Stritch continue to impress and inspire with their dedication to stretching their talents in new directions." If only Charles Isherwood could somehow have found a way to mention Israel, he'd have created the platonic ideal of a Times arts story. [NYT]
There’s something happening at Zankel Hall. Lieder recitals are not what they used to be. Christine Schäfer threw us for a loop Wednesday night in a recital program juxtaposing just two composers - George Crumb and Henry Purcell – who have what, exactly, in common? Read more »
Enjoy your mockery while you can, cher public. The New York Times has decided they are going to start charging for content "in early 2011." So, in a year or so, you won't have Tony Tommasini to kick around any more. Read more »
"There are thousands of papers, stretching back over hundreds of years, affecting Belle Reve as, piece by piece, our improvident grandfathers and father and uncles and brothers exchanged the land for their epic fornications -- to put it plainly! The four-letter word deprived us of our plantation, till finally all that was left -- and Stella can verify that! -- was the house itself and about twenty acres of ground, including a graveyard, to which now all but Stella and I have retreated!" [NYT]
"And the news of this revival of Franco Zeffirelli’s opulent production continues to be the exciting work of the young Latvian conductor Andris Nelsons, who searches out the modernist touches in Puccini’s final work." [NYT]
Cher Public