With the ongoing angst of the MO lockout still not yet resolved, it seems just a bit curious that those professionals who have experienced what they have called ‘the real magic flute’ personally continue to stay mum about the possibility that there is a connection between it and the lockout. Has anyone even bothered to wonder if this difficult situation is not just an act of fate, but perhaps a consequence of events that happened some time ago, some of them even on the stage at Orchestra Hall? Just a thought…
Monthly Archives: December 2013
Slipped Disc reply…what is this year’s top story? #Minnegeddon, of course…
It seems to me that the “Minnegeddon” in Minnesota may have the greatest long-term impact of any story of this year, especially taking into consideration the fact that Mr. Vanska felt he had no choice but to walk away from the MO after having had such a meaningful effect on its stature.
http://www.artsjournal.com/slippeddisc/2013/12/the-years-top-stories-on-slipped-disc.html#comments
Back from the real world…
I have spent the last two months focused on the JFK assassination and my presentation in at the JFKLancer conference in Dallas, which took place on November 23, 2013. It was a great honor to be asked to present on the JFK Presidential limousine, which has been my area of specialty since 1988. Here is a link to the text…
But now I am back in the world of music… 🙂
#Minnegeddon — thinking outside of the box…
There have been a spate of articles recently on the stalemate of the MOA and the locked-out players. Here is just one:
http://www.polyphonic.org/2013/12/12/another-missed-opportunity/
Unfortunately, all of these articles seem to have been written from a mindset of thinking ‘inside-the-box’. Everyone is fretting and worrying about the “Minnesota Orchestra” and its players. This is all fair and good — however, it seems to be only part of the picture.
As I have stated in other posts, when the MO decided the name “Minneapolis Symphony” no longer suited its needs, despite the fact that it had gained worldwide aclaim under it, everyone involved in making this decision should have done their homework. Especially the now-conductor-emeritus SS, who undoubtedly has a detailed understanding of music and music history. Apparently, nobody bothered to take anything but a superficial, if any, look at a profound mystery that could be impacting itself on this state, as symbolized by the name change of the orchestra.
Why was Wolfgang Mozart’s life cut short in such a dramatic and unexpected way? Did he die a natural death, or was he, perhaps murdered? Why was there always so much conflict around Mozart and everything he did? Why, no matter how hard he tried, was he unable to be treated as anything other than the ‘bad boy’ of classical music — almost universally disliked and disrespected? How could one man be at the center of what seemed to be such a vicious vortex?
Ironically, another product with a connection to Minnesota attempted to explain this — the sardonic, sarcastic and even contemptuous portrayal of Wolfgang Mozart in the 80’s movie “Amadeus”. It was Sir NM, who was, at the time, director of the MO, who was responsible for the sound track for that movie.
One might get the impression from “Amadeus” that Wolfgang Mozart was dead and gone, never to be a bother again. And good riddance, one might add. But again, as I say, that may be a very superficial view.
It is my thesis that the name change from the MSO to the MO heralded a new era, not just in the history of this particular orchestra, but in that of classical music itself. All the angst and apparent death pangs of the last fifteen months, however, may, instead, be indications of a new and exciting time for everyone involved.
Just a thought to consider…
Midnight Blue to Black — the Vanishing Act of the JFK Presidential Limousine SS100X In Broad Daylight
For anyone interested in the JFK assassination (the other part of my life :-0)…
Presented at JFKLancer Conference November, 23, 2013
Pamela Brown
Midnight Blue To Black: the Vanishing Act of The Presidential Limousine SS100X In Broad Daylight
It is an honor to be invited to speak here today, and to have been given a spot in the schedule following the ceremonies at Dealey Plaza. Now we have a new beginning. Perhaps we can even look for some hope in Dallas and not just the tragedy. Ironically, however, in the last few weeks, we have all experienced the respinning of a lot of old disinformation about the JFK assassination from both sides. That also applies to the presidential limousine, as I hope to demonstrate to you.
I wish to dedicate my presentation to my Advanced Placement English Teacher at Andrew Warde High School in Fairfield, Connecticut, Miss Evelyn Copeland.[Exhibit 1}] She was both outrageous and brilliant, and challenged us at every turn. We were…
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Le Chant du Rossignol...(song of the nightingale) 