Get a load of the student ticket line for the Cincinnati Opera production of Aida (WARNING: You get SOUND if you click on the link. And it is very, very corny.) Do you think they all thought it was the Elton John/Tim Rice musical, Aida?
Nawwwww. 😉
Let’s say you want to join a bowling league. Your two choices? Well … there’s ASOL or LAO.
Yeah, ASOL pronounced out loud doesn’t exactly thrill you, does it?
So … finally … the American Symphony Orchestra League has voted to change their name to the League of American Orchestras. You can read their announcement here (pdf).
I think it’s pretty funny that in their announcement they didn’t admit, “The ASOL name just looked and sounded bad!” Nope. They had to give all sorts of great reasons for the change.
But we all know the real reason.
Right?
OOPS! My friend, DK, sent me an email this morning: the article DOES actually mention the “real” reason for the change:
“The new name has already been received enthusiastically—at the League’s annual “Awards Celebration,” held a mere four and a half hours after the Conference Luncheon and Annual Meeting, Grammy Award-winning Nashville Singer/Songwriter Don Schlitz (most famous for having written “The Gambler”) presented and performed a brand new song, called “The Unfortunate Acronym.””
Can you tell that I frequently skim things? Shame on me.
“If you love the music of Ludwig van Beethoven, avoid this film.” (Read here.)
So … I’ve not really read a lot about the movie Copying Beethoven, but I hear it is coming out (or is out?) on DVD now. Guess I might not bother watching it.
Contrary to this reviewer I actually like Ed Harris. But it sounds as if this movie might be the sort to skip.
Other quotes:
Ed Harris plays Beethoven, but, with this material, maybe the producers should have turned to Ben Stiller. (Read here.)
Does Agnieszka Holland hate Beethoven? That’s the only explanation I can offer for this horrible, horrible attempt at making the maestro’s final year of life into a biopic. (Review here.)
and the best:
Da-da-da-dumb. (Review here.)
Music movies are tough to pull off. And I’m tough on music movies. I’m trying to think of even one that I fully liked. Anyone want to give me their list of approved music movies? Please?
The thing that’s always magic for me about opera is the extraordinary fusion of beautiful music and arresting lyric and a glorious voice soaring out and telling you the story.
-Bruce Beresford
