The Art-Music, Literature and Linguistics Forum

ARCHIVED TOPICS => Theory and tradition => Topic started by: Neil McGowan on January 11, 2012, 06:29:22 pm



Title: Small opera companies bloom in wake of NYC-Opera debacle
Post by: Neil McGowan on January 11, 2012, 06:29:22 pm
Small independent opera companies are experiencing a surge of interest in their shows in the wake of the NYC-Opera closedown. (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/05/arts/music/with-city-operas-woes-other-small-companies-step-up.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all)

Although NYC-Opera is not yet officially dead, the extraordinary mismanagement which has plagued the company of late seems set to seal its fate.



Title: Re: Small opera companies bloom in wake of NYC-Opera debacle
Post by: Ordinary working person on January 12, 2012, 12:48:54 am
... the extraordinary mismanagement which has plagued the company of late...

What happened exactly?


Title: Re: Small opera companies bloom in wake of NYC-Opera debacle
Post by: Neil McGowan on January 12, 2012, 02:45:01 am
... the extraordinary mismanagement which has plagued the company of late...

What happened exactly?


It's a very long story which has been clunking on for many months now.  The upshot is that the company - for whatever reasons - left its operating base at the Lincoln Centre, without having any new venue in which it can perform... leaving it unable to function currently.

There's an article here about the current position (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/09/arts/music/new-york-city-opera-declares-rehearsal-lockout.html?_r=1), as seen by the New York Times.  (The company's own view of the situation may not concur, of course).

Meanwhile it seems that elsewhere in the USA things are also glum - the withdrawal of promotional information and booking facilities for their upcoming performances gives all indication that San Antonio Opera (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/artbeat/2012/01/sa-operas-giovanni-in-jeopardy/) is in grave difficulties.


Title: Re: Small opera companies bloom in wake of NYC-Opera debacle
Post by: t-p on January 12, 2012, 03:41:57 pm
Sometimes institutions go through difficulties or reorganizatoin but opera as genre goes on.

Today there was Zandonai's opera on radio 3. Here is a clip.
I didn't know Sveta Vasileva who sings there. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvZyUsoET1k


Title: Re: Small opera companies bloom in wake of NYC-Opera debacle
Post by: Neil McGowan on January 18, 2012, 08:18:59 am
A bit more news - this time positive - about the NYC-Opera debacle. (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/18/nyregion/new-york-city-opera-and-union-reach-deal.html?_r=1)
[NY Times]

But Opera Boston's demise now looks certain :( (http://articles.boston.com/2012-01-15/arts/30627936_1_development-director-metropolitan-opera-board-president)
[Boston.Com]



Title: Re: Small opera companies bloom in wake of NYC-Opera debacle
Post by: Neil McGowan on January 19, 2012, 05:30:14 pm
There's further comfort for NYC-Opera (http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2012/01/18/city-opera-reaches-deal-with-orchestra-union/), now that a new Management team have led more constructive talks and ended the lock-out


Title: Re: Small opera companies bloom in wake of NYC-Opera debacle
Post by: Neil McGowan on February 23, 2012, 08:33:15 am
Foolish management decisions at NYC Opera have laid the organisation open to poorly-argued criticism...  suggesting that there's no need for live performance for those who can't afford seats at the Met, and that they should be happy with cinema relays of the Met's turgid overblown mainstream ultra-conservative output  >:(

The Wall Street Journal puts forward the case for a cultural plutocracy.... (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204909104577237021030485312.html?mod=rss_Arts_and_Entertainment)


Title: Re: Small opera companies bloom in wake of NYC-Opera debacle
Post by: t-p on February 23, 2012, 04:02:18 pm
Offenbach in France, etc, etc. Nothing is Opera companies usually go through difficult periods. In Purcell's time many companies went bankrupt. It was so in time of Handel and forever in this world.
Times change and it is interesting to live in  our period because new things appear.


Title: Re: Small opera companies bloom in wake of NYC-Opera debacle
Post by: Neil McGowan on March 06, 2012, 07:35:46 pm
Alex Ross discusses the malaise in opera in NYC currently (http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/musical/2012/03/12/120312crmu_music_ross?currentPage=all)