baltimoresun.com

« Elmar Oliveira gives spirited recital for Community Concerts at Second | Main | Reissue of Bernstein's 1960s Mahler cycle sounds great, includes invaluable reminiscences »

May 18, 2009

Another perspective on the Baltimore Opera's demise

Thought you might find this blog posting interesting. It's about the Baltimore Opera and its demise from someone with a longstanding personal link to the company.

 

Posted by Tim Smith at 5:36 PM | | Comments (1)
        

Comments

Ha! I loved the comment about the toilets and hobby-horses! EXACTLY how I feel about so many of these whacked-out productions... (Reminds me of the WNO's "Siegfried," though I would probably have found that to be tolerable at the very least. ;^)

Once upon a time, I loved theatre -- and then I went to UMBC and saw a series of _really_ "out-there" productions, with acting that was all about ridiculous shouting and histrionics. (Kinda like watching Jim Carrey without the humour -- oh, wait a minute, what humour?) I think WWII messed up the European psyche quite a bit, and it eventually trickled (then gushed) over to our shores.

I've experienced some Eurotrash productions that left me cold, but I've also found that bold changes of perspective can make opera more exciting than ever, especially when well-worn works are approached from different angles. Traditional is fine with me, too, as long as the music-making is anything but routine.TIM


Posted by: Doug Halfen | May 18, 2009 9:34 PM

Post a comment

All comments must be approved by the blog author. Please do not resubmit comments if they do not immediately appear. You are not required to use your full name when posting, but you should use a real e-mail address. Comments may be republished in print, but we will not publish your e-mail address. Our full Terms of Service are available here.

Verification (needed to reduce spam):

About Tim Smith
Born and raised in Washington, D.C., I couldn't help but develop a keen interest in politics, but music, theater and visual art also proved great attractions. Music became my main focus after high school. I thought about being a cocktail pianist, but I hated taking requests, so I studied music history instead, earning a B.A. in that field from Eisenhower College (Seneca Falls, N.Y.) and an M.A. from Occidental College (Los Angeles). I then landed in journalism. After freelancing for the Washington Post and others, I was classical music critic for the Sun-Sentinel in South Florida, where I also contributed to NPR. I've written for the New York Times, BBC Music Magazine and other publications, and I'm a longtime contributor to Opera News. My book, The NPR Curious Listener's Guide to Classical Music (Perigee, 2002), can be found on the most discerning remainder racks.

I joined the Baltimore Sun as classical music critic in 2000 and, in 2009, also became theater critic, giving me the opportunity to annoy a whole new audience. In 2010, my original Clef Notes blog expanded to encompass a theatrical component -- how could I resist calling it Drama Queens? I hope you'll find both sides of this blog coin worth exploring and reacting to; your own comments are always welcome and valued (well, most of them, at least).

Think of this as your open-all-hours, cyber green room, where there's always a performer or performance to discuss, some news to digest, or maybe just a little good gossip to share.
Note: Tim Smith now writes about the fine arts at baltimoresun.com/artsmash. This blog will be kept in place as an archive for an indefinite period. Please visit the new location to get the latest Mid-Atlantic arts coverage.
View the Artsmash blog
-- ADVERTISEMENT --

Recent posts

Baltimore Sun coverage
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Marin Alsop
PHOTO GALLERY
Famous faces in classical music
Local links and resources
BALTIMORE AREA RESOURCES
• Marin Alsop's official site
• An die Musik
• Bach Concert Series
• Baltimore Chamber Orchestra
• Baltimore Choral Arts Society
• Baltimore Classical Guitar Society
• Baltimore Concert Opera
• Baltimore Opera Co. Inc.
• Baltimore Opera Theatre
• Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
• Chesapeake Chamber Opera
• Community Concerts at Second/Chamber Music by Candlelight
• Concert Artists of Baltimore
• Greater Baltimore Youth Orchestra
• Handel Choir of Baltimore
• Lyric Opera House
• Maryland State Boychoir
• Mobtown Modern
• Music in the Great Hall
• Opera Vivente
• Peabody Institute
• Pro Musica Rara
• Soulful Symphony
• Shriver Hall Concert Series
• Towson University Center for the Arts
• UMBC Arts Calendar
• University of Baltimore Student Center Performing Arts Theater

WASHINGTON AREA RESOURCES
• Clarice Smith Center
• Kennedy Center
• Music Center at Strathmore
• National Philharmonic
• National Symphony Orchestra
• Washington National Opera
• Washington Performing Arts Society

ANNAPOLIS AREA RESOURCES
• Annapolis Chorale
• Annapolis Opera
• Annapolis Symphony Orchestra

MARYLAND RESOURCES
• Maryland Symphony Orchestra

CLASSICAL RESOURCES
• Arts Journal
• Musical America
• New Music Box
Sign up for FREE entertainment alerts
Get free Sun alerts sent to your mobile phone.*
Get free Baltimore Sun mobile alerts
Sign up for nightlife text alerts

Returning user? Update preferences.
Sign up for more Sun text alerts
*Standard message and data rates apply. Click here for Frequently Asked Questions.
  • Weekend Watch newsletter
Plan your weekend with baltimoresun.com's best events, restaurant and movie reviews, TV picks and more delivered to you every Thursday for free.
See a sample | Sign up

Most Recent Comments
Blogroll
Monthly Archives
Stay connected
Powered by Movable Type 3.36