Opera Commisions

Why is it that major symphony orchestras are commissioning more new operas than the major opera companies?
The short answer is that there are actually more major orchestras than there are major opera companies. The second short answer is that in general, American symphony orchestras are slightly more adventurous than their counterpoints in opera. That's sad.

The good news is that a Pulitzer has been handed out for a new opera, Madame White Snake, which is very exciting and I sincerely hope this helps it break into some of the major houses. I would think that San Fransisco and New York (City or Met) would have an interest in it given the cross cultural connections of the story and those cities. Once a set and costumes are constructed other cities could then go about renting the production and remount it, one of the ways operas spread and costs are cut.

Here is the story in the Boston Globe
Work commissioned by Opera Boston wins Pulitzer - Culture Desk - An Entertainment and cultural blog by The Boston Globe

Now if The Importance of Being Earnest (see my previous blog) won a Pulitzer that would really be something. I guess we'll wait and see.

While I think any fan of new opera is absolutely thrilled that these major players are commissioning operas, I think most would agree that opera is something that needs to be fully produced (costumes, staging, dance, sets, etc.) to be truly experienced. The word opera is the plural form of opus which essentially means "work" or perhaps "creation". Composers often will number there works "opus number ..." to denote what order there pieces were written. The collected works of a composer are called their "opera" though that term is little used today because in American English we have such a strong connection with a certain artform. Still, the roots are there.

Opera (as an art-form) is a collection of several different creative works; the musical composition, vocalists, instrumentalists, visual artists (set-design, construction, lighting, etc), actors and often dancers, all in one. In some ways it is the culmination of "classical music" maybe even a the high point of western culture from 1750-1900. Any how, I think opera still has something to give is and will only die when it stops being new so I'm glad that there is new opera out there.

Promissing New Opera

Music review: L.A. Phil premieres Gerald Barry's sensational opera 'The Importance of Being Earnest' | Culture Monster | Los Angeles Times

A new comic opera? Written by an "avante garde" composer? Initially well received by critics? It almost sounds like satire or some kind of April fools joke. What seems even crazier is that it was commisioned not by some great Opera school or company but by symphony orchestra! I won't be able to make it to this series of concerts in LA but I do hope that this initial reading by major players in the music world opens doors for a staged production some time in the near future. Of course in opera time lines near future is likely still five years away.

Levine's legacy

In the weeks following James Levine's announcements regarding his leadership at Boston and then the Met we heard much about his frequent absences and little about those that filled in for him. One of the good things that came out of those withdrawls is the opportunities they created for some younger conductors. Perhaps we will be hearing more about Julian Kuerti and the other assistants who have filled in for Jimmy and some of the other big name conductors over the years.

Julian Kuerti following his ‘individual path’ - The Globe and Mail

At 91, Ravi Shankar seeks new musical vistas - SignOnSanDiego.com

Easily one of the most iconic figures of 20th century music and one of the first and most important people to cross genres, Ravi Shankar embarks on a world tour! Incredible. At 30 a world tour seems like a daunting and energy consuming endeavor to me and he is 91.

At 91, Ravi Shankar seeks new musical vistas - SignOnSanDiego.com

The search for the perfect band name

The search for the perfect band name - chicagotribune.com

I am not alone! In my journal I keep a running list of band names that spring into my head, and though it does put me in a unique class of nerdiness (ooh, right that one down) I am clearly validated in my interest. I think that for anyone who has ever had a band, finding a name is one of the most difficult things you can do. Obviously the name brings a certain sense of identity and often times associates the performers with a genre.

The days of one name are over, at least one preexisting word. New words or odd compound words are not only acceptable they are almost encouraged. When I was growing up in southern california there was a strong third wave Ska movement and bands were always looking for ways to put the words "ska" or "tones" into their names. Bob Marley's original backing band the "Skatalites" were icons in our minds and Boston based "The Mighty Mighty Bosstones" were also legends. Other similar names included the Skeletones, Skankin' Pickle, Skandel and on and on. We even used to have a song called "Surfin' Skafari" ... I know, we we're awesome!

My latest creation of a compound word turns out to be a real term already which totally kills the allure. I combined the brand name Xerox with graphic to form the compound word
"Xerographic" and of course that term already exists and refers to Electrophotography which doesn't sound sexy at all. Before I realized it was an existing word I worked on variations of it such as; Xerographical, National Xerographic or the Xerographics. Oh well.

These days strings of words or even a phrase is more common. I'll skip the existing names because I know you're really interested in what I came up with... My two front runners are "Larry is on to something". Since Larry is my father in law I'd rather not go down the road of "onto" rather than "on to". Another idea was "Exercise Induced" which could have albums or tour names like Exercise induced... asthma, bliss, exhaustion or my favorite "funkiness". I can just picture those retro looking cartoon type drawing of some guy with a sweat band, 70's shorts, tank top and high tube socks on something like an elliptical machine with smelly squiggles coming from his armpits.

The ultra nerdy band name that I've been hung up on lately is "Daniel Sitteth" which is a reference to an obscure memory device for formal English diction. The rule is that when "ew" follows D, N, L, S, T and H that it is pronounced (in formal settings) as a diphthong: EE-OO. Side note: "the Diphthongs" is already a band name. I actually would advocate that it should be "Daniel Sippeth" because if you did not apply this rule to the word "pew", people will think your diction really stinks! Unfortunately "sippeth" is no longer a recognized word in our language so there goes my hope for this variation gaining any acceptance.

I'm not sure where this will take bands in the future. Perhaps they will spend all of their creative energy working on their names and not have much left over for writing music or maybe this will only spur the creativity and we will reach new heights of artistic expression. I'm pretty sure that as long as teenage girls think that guys playing guitar is cool there will be new bands and new band names.