A blogger wrote the above comment in a post about a performance I conducted 18 months ago at our annual “Firefall” festival, a patriotic extravaganza with incredible fireworks. I think the blogger was right in this case since when I talked, the fireworks paused! When judging whether or not talking to an audience is a good idea, I believe what is said by a conductor is secondary to their motivation to talk…..
Here we go again with the Funding!
We read about funding cuts and immediately there is outrage, “how can they do this?”, “where is the soul in our government?”, “how can they devalue the arts like this?” and so on. We never look at ourselves or for that matter outside of our sphere to realize that we have not yet made ourselves a necessity. If we are vital to the world’s well being, providing a basic human need, then obviously we’ve not totally proved it yet, or they wouldn’t keep targeting the arts…….
For Goodness Sakes Let Me Move, and Please Clean the Piano!!!
When I go to Syracuse I sometimes stay with a wonderful couple, Todd and Debbie Cornell. They are Symphony subscribers, donors, and volunteers. Whenever I am with them we have long discussions (usually while gorging on Debbie’s incredible blueberry pancakes) about the orchestra world, and as audience members they recently expressed to me two very different desires for the concert experience………
Hearing the roar of de Lyon
Sometimes a person has to be hit over the head before he/she/it realizes the opportunity in front of them. All to often I am that person.
Bring out yer Dead!
This will be the first in a long series of posts which will center around France. That country is going to be the epicenter of my life for a while as I will be conducting Porgy and Bess at the Opera de Lyon in May, rehearsals starting in early April. But that’s Lyon – this post is about Paris and those who used to walk the streets of the City of Lights.
Plugging the Holes before Filling the Barrel – part 5 -“Bordering on the Personal!”
For the final part of this series, I introduce a program we call “Coffee and Classics” and also give a cost summary of each audience initiative program I have outlined in this series. Regarding my criticism in recent posts regarding gimmicks especially of the cupcake variety, for this program we serve coffee……hypocrisy?
What’s in a Name?
It is funny – as a Music Director you’re responsible for putting together a season that is coherent and musically fulfilling. But then it’s thrown into the hopper of PR/Marketing and God only knows what is going to come out. You’re thinking one thing and then you catch a glimpse of what is going out to the public and – “that’s not what I had in mind!” So, what’s in a name?
At the “Knight”, it’s a new Dawn!
After my rant about the Heinz Endowments last week, it came as a complete but welcome surprise to read of how the Knight Foundation has changed their philosophy of giving, at least for three arts organizations in South Florida. I believe they will ultimately prove that vision always begins with common sense!….