When Caucasians collide When Caucasians collide

Here’s a charming example of an old European white male quoting another old European white male for the purpose of mansplaining to those silly Asians why they have no business getting offended at ethnic stereotypes.

“Specialist subject, the bleeding obvious” “Specialist subject, the bleeding obvious”

Jonathan Miller‘s Carmen for Mid Wales Opera has no sexual electricity, complains Rupert Christiansen

Update on great operatic scandals of the 20th century Update on great operatic scandals of the 20th century

Noted junk sculptor Dr. Jonathan Miller is now the subject of a biography and it appears he’s mellowed in his old age.

Can this “Marriage” be saved? Can this “Marriage” be saved?

The performance at the Metropolitan Opera last night proved that yes, it is possible to kill this opera. I don’t know how they managed it, but they did.

In lieu of donations, send flowers

Avid scoopster Dan Wakin just couldn’t wait until next Tuesday like the rest of us, and so he’s spilled enough details about NYCO’s “next” season to make it bleeding obvious 2011-12 will also be the last. A “new” “production” of La traviata by the undead Dr. Jonathan Miller and the U.S. premiere of the dreck Prima…

Contant complainer continues cranky

“[Dr. Jonathan] Miller openly wonders if his defiantly naturalistic approach to opera makes him unfashionable in an art form bent on conceptualism.” La Cieca, in constrast, openly wonders when this whingeing old prat will finally shut the fuck up and retire already. [straight.com]

La vie en rose

“As Ernesto, Barry Banks struggled against an allergic reaction and a humiliatingly camp pink get-up…” [The Telegraph]

The doctor is still in

Dr. Jonathan Miller, the autodidact and polymath who has redefined the words “coot” and “windbag” for the 21st century, took a well-deserved hiatus from his — what is it? – 11th or 12 absolutely final irrevocable annual retirement from operatic stage direction to announce that he doesn’t attend the theater, and, what’s more, nobody begs…

he’s too much

Dr. Jonathan Miller‘s “keenly awaited” new production of La boheme for the English National Opera has been postponed for two nights due to a blizzard in London. “Having made enemies of virtually every individual in the human race, I have concluded that, at 75, I should move on with my life,” Dr. Miller whinged.  “My…

dog bites hack

Celebrated fact-mangler Norman Lebrecht is at it again. Did you know that the Metropolitan Opera has in its repertoire a production of Der Rosenkavalier directed by Jonathan Miller? This interview includes a statement by Dr. Miller insisting his current La boheme (inspired by “the photo­graphic world of Brassaï, Cartier-Bresson and Kertezsz,” dontcha know) will be the…

with apologies to Nerva Nelli

New York City Opera has commissioned American composer Charles Wuorinen to write an opera based on “Brokeback Mountain,” a love story about two U.S. ranch-hands that won three Oscars when it was turned into a movie. The opera house’s spokesman Gerard Mortier said in a statement on Sunday that Wuorinen had accepted an invitation to…

kill me. kill me now. or at least kill me before next summer.

Verdi’s La Traviata opens the season and will run July 18 through August 25. Arguably Verdi’s most popular work, it returns to the Glimmerglass Opera stage after 20 years in a new production directed by Jonathan Miller Yes, that’s right, the oft-retired Dr. Miller has been dragged kicking and screaming into the opera arena yet…