WQXR opera host George Jellinek has died at age 90. Jellinek was on the air in New York for 36 years, and internationally he was often a guest on the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts as part of their intermission panel. The New York Times has a fascinating obituary posted today.
Using the Airwaves to Raise Money for Haiti
The National Association of Broadcasters is encouraging stations to use the power of their airwaves to help with the Haitian relief efforts, but if you are a public station be warned that you can’t just do on-air fundraising without FCC approval.
And a Child Shall Lead Them
So, by now you’ve probably heard about the new kid on the block in Seattle. Alexander Prior, no relation to the comedian but a crazy connection to the world of method acting, is just 17 but apparently no joke. His great-great grandfather was Stanislavsky, the famous founder of a system from which method acting was derived. The British lad apparently has a deep enough well of personal musical experience from which to draw for his own emotional connection to the music, as Stanislavsky would say, to seek “theatrical truth” with his more than 40 works including symphonies, operas and a requiem.
Some would disagree. The UK’s Telegraph on-line calls him, “insufferably cocksure”. That’s what you call a proper British snub.
WQXR Tops the Charts
For all the grumbling in New York City about the new WQXR, the news is pretty fabulous. The station ranked No. 1 of ALL public radio stations in the December Arbitron listings. And people say that classical music on the radio is dying. hah!