NEWS

Marin Alsop is surely one of Barber's greatest champions today. Bravo! ... See MoreSee Less

Review: Conductor Marin Alsop makes high-octane debut with S.F. Symphony

datebook.sfchronicle.com

Alsop’s first subscription appearance with the orchestra is highlighted by Gabriela Montero’s brilliant Piano Concerto No. 1, with the composer as soloist.

What we've been saying forever! And while they're at it, The Metropolitan Opera must revive the opera that opened their house altogether, "Antony and Cleopatra." Acolytes like Leonard Slatkin and John Mauceri are eager and ready to deliver this.

At the comments, I wrote: "The writer of this article perhaps hasn't seen my documentary 'Samuel Barber: Absolute Beauty,' or digested Barbara Heyman's biography now in its second edition, for further context about the complicated relationship of the Met with the composer who opened its house. There's an anecdote, for example, about how Barber and Menotti got turned away during a backstage visit for another production, and Barber declared, "But I opened this opera house!" He already felt betrayed by the outsized stage ambitions of Zeffirelli's inaugural production and surrounding treatment, complicated by critics who got distracted by the celebrity gala. Sam didn't hold back his thoughts, and management heard. But "Antony and Cleopatra" is a strong work, even in its original edition (compared to Menotti's romanticized revisions for his Spoleto reboot), and that's especially what we should be talking about. We're getting John Adams' own take very soon, but you'll see little reference or reverence to his progenitor: count another forensic of bad blood. Perhaps Barber will need to wait a little longer, for that reason alone; but the general notion in this article is well-taken, that 20th century American composers are long neglected at the Met (actual patrons have bemoaned this for years, so it's hardly a novel comment)." ... See MoreSee Less

Why Is an Entire Age of American Opera Missing at the Met? (Gift Article)

www.nytimes.com

A concert performance of “Vanessa” freshly argued for the vitality of a work that deserves to be staged but languishes with its midcentury peers.

🎂 ... See MoreSee Less

I'm still making films, @followers (and it was nice to see the shout-out to Samuel Barber: Absolute Beauty): please enjoy this new freely streaming, feature-length opera! (Would Sam like it? Maybe.) ... See MoreSee Less

New Opera Film of Handel's 'Admeto' Makes Premiere - OperaWire

operawire.com

Opera Essentia and H. Paul Moon of Zen Violence Films have released a new opera film of Handel's "Admeto."

The fine folks at Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association, seen in this film performing Barber's Cello Concerto, will tackle the Symphony in One Movement tomorrow/March 24 in Alexandria, Virginia! ... See MoreSee Less