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To: BusterBear
I am NOT gay and I think Peter Gelb is the worst thing to happen to opera in America in 50 years. The paralells with Obama are striking: no real experience going in; extreme narcissim; refusing to engage competent experts; playing fast and loose with the truth; trying to silence his opponents; and ignoring normal rules of conduct. Oh, and spending money - well, I'd say like a drunken sailor, but drunken sailors usually only spend their own money.

Yannick Nezet Seguin is quite busy as the music director designate of the Philadelphia Orchestra (his term starts in September); Music Director of the Metropolitain Orchestra (Montreal); pricipal guest conductor of the London Philarmonis orchestra and principal guest conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. He debuted at the Met with a new production of Carmen; returned the following season for a new production of Don Carlo; and was the conductor of the past season's new production of Faust. He returns next year to conduct La Traviata, probably involving at least a five week committment. I doubt the Met could get any more time on his schedule even if they begged and pleaded. Opera conducting is much less lucrative than symphonic conducting, since operas have a longer rehearsal period and generally only get two performances a week; symphonic conductors can easily conduct 3 or 4 performances in a week. No knowledgeable opera-lover could expect N-S to be at the Met any more than he is.

28 posted on 06/08/2012 7:23:54 AM PDT by In Maryland (Liberal logic - the ultimate oxymoron!)
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To: In Maryland

Glad to hear that Nezet-Seguin is so busy elsewhere. I was present at his performances vis-vis Carmen, Don Carlo, and Faust (they were part of my subscription, unfortunately) - I thought they were quite lackluster, not a real opera conducter. Maybe he does better as a symphonic conductor.

I guess we’ll just have to disagree about Peter Gelb. I’m very happy with what he’s doing at the Met.

The last thing I would want to do is rely on write-ups in the likes of the NY Times, the New Yorker, the New York Observer, Opera News. etc. I prefer to make up my own mind based on my own experience, thank you very much. I don’t need some half-baked critic with a personal agenda to tell me what to think or what I have experienced.


36 posted on 06/08/2012 9:29:45 AM PDT by BusterBear
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