In T minus 20 minutes, this year's #OperaPlot begins again. The contest, started by blogger The Omniscient Mussel (yes, we know that sounds like a stripper name but she's not), is in its third year. Of #OperaPlot's inception, Miss Mussel told The Guardian:I started this contest a month ago on a whim. I was writing programme notes for the RNCM and tweeted that I was having trouble with word creep... one of those mundane details Twitter disparagers claim not to be interested in. @pattyoboe, an oboist blogger from California suggested I should … [Read more...]

The people who say all press is good press probably didn't have an adolescent Egyptian cobra escape from their Reptile House. Or. Did. They. Last Friday, the Bronx Zoo discovered a snake was missing and posted a note about it on their website. I'm not on their press list, but presumably they sent a media alert out as well. Why they needed to tell the public the reason the Reptile House is closed, I don't know. I won't judge, because while it often feels that way, I don't work at a zoo. Here's the note that's on their site today:We understand … [Read more...]

On Thursday, I was at a workshop performance of this:...so I missed this:(Via purple DIARY via OperaChic.)...and apparently also a threesome, or so says Alex Ross. … [Read more...]

When we last checked in with friend of Life's a Pitch Inon Barnatan, he was disproving evolution with his pianistic prowess. Now, he's just finished recording a new CD, and he checked in with us about cover options. It seems the two directions he's considering are (1) covered nipples and (2) feet . My (not humble) Professional Opinion is that the album's destined for greatness with any of these covers as inspiration. DIRECTION 1: Covered Nipples DIRECTION 2: FeetThis could also be an option, we're just not entirely sure where the piano would … [Read more...]

Just thought I would do my part to help spread the word in addition to, you know, doing my actual job spreading the word. Rather than stay home and play Wii Tennis when her Japan tour was canceled last week, Hilary decided to perform for Japan if she couldn't perform in Japan. She will play four concerts to help raise money for Direct Relief International (MD, GA, and NY concerts) and for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (VA concert). 100% of the proceeds will be sent to these charities and both charities have pledged 100% of the money will go … [Read more...]

My mother always told me "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." Maybe your mother did, too. This, however, can be a challenge in our little industry, because we are dealing with...artistic types...and they always need to be told something. I'll never forget the cellist who cold-called me and opened with, "This is So-And-So; have you heard of me?" I had not. A couple weeks ago, I was asked if I had come to an artist's show, by the artist. "I did," I said, then blinked blankly a couple times. If I went and had liked … [Read more...]

On Monday night, I went to (le) poisson rouge to see The Best Band in the World. MUCH to my surprise and delight, it seems György Ligeti has risen from the dead to perform at LPR this week! Elizabeth & the Catapult, Deerhoof, Doveman, LIGETI! What a crew. And there's the man himself on the table-tents: This brings me to a relatively new trend on Twitter: fake composer (and in one case, composer-spouse) accounts. The front-runners for my money are @FakeArvoPart and @CosimaWagner.Here's foul-mouthed Arvo:And lovely Cosima:I think it's hard … [Read more...]

Via Advertising is Good for You: … [Read more...]

Apropos of nothing, I noticed two plug-in roses recently. I spotted the first when I went to Arcadia last Saturday:It was good, not great. I'm sure the cast will settle into it, though, since the play is basically impossible. It's the kind of thing you really want to see on like, The Last Performance. Bel Powley as Thomasina is perfect, though. Per-fect.But I digress from my original...it seems silly to even call it a "point," but...So yesterday, I got a brochure in the mail from my former employer, McCarter Theater, and lo how another … [Read more...]

If you read anything other than ArtsJournal, you've probably heard about what's going down in Wisconsin. And what better way to damn the man than with a little musical theater? Although as one commenter points out, "This is great and all, but doesn't anyone else find it weird that they're using a protest song from a show where the revolution fails and everyone dies?"And then there's this, which is actually kind of elegantly done?In other important world news, it seems the original Eponine (at minute :39) has STILL GOT IT. "It" being the most … [Read more...]

A week or so ago, I blogged about video and physical previews of new works and unknown performers. Why do we expect people to spend money on classical music they've never heard, I wondered, if most other things in our lives offer us some kind of product sample? You know, like ice cream. Soon after I wrote that post, I came across this trailer for the Royal Opera House's production of Anna Nicole [yes, Smith: that's the one!]. My first thought was, "Fantastic! Look at the cool thing they made for the 'MTV Generation'!" It's professional, … [Read more...]

Oh, happy day! This very evening, Life's a Pitch's second-favorite soprano (favorite whom we don't work for) will appear on The Best Show On Television, aka Law & Order: SVU. Back in January, TheaterMania and other sites reported that Renée Fleming would be appearing on an episode in February:Tony Award nominee Kate Burton will guest star on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in February. The episode will also feature a cameo appearance by opera star Renee Fleming, as well as a guest appearance by Countess LuAnn De Lesseps. Then today, … [Read more...]

I first heard about Lincoln Center's Tully Scope Festival, which opens tonight at 6 p.m. with a free concert in the lobby, when I received their v. attractive brochure in the mail. Here it is, modeled Quite Professionally on the floor of my apartment: Sleek, right? It got my attention, anyway, and I hate paper.  Similar to their winning multimedia treatment of the White Light Festival this fall, Lincoln Center created a microsite for Tully Scope. This is especially useful because the proper Lincoln Center site is a bear to deal with. The … [Read more...]

Letter-writing 8-year-old Lucas Amory from the Special Music School at the Kaufmann Center answers all the inquiring (hive)minds' questions, including mine: The best moment comes at minute 3:28, when Lucas "suggests" that "Tommasini" (last-name basis) should learn to distinguish between personal favorites and all-time greats. I love this kid. … [Read more...]