verbalizing minutiae

[thoreau]

CONFLICTED: I was just handed a pair of tickets to see Phantom of the Opera at the Orpheum. It is no mystery that I have great disdain for Andrew Lloyd Webber - but it is also an unknown fact that I've never actually seen Phantom of the Opera - only listened to the soundtrack. So should I go - despite my horrific misgivings about anything Andrew Lloyd Webber? (ALW=Satan musically)








WAGNER AND LANGLANG: Dave and I have tickets to see LangLang with the the San Francisco Symphony tomorrow night. LangLang (referred to as the “hottest artist on the classical music planet” by the New York Times), is an amazing pianist - and I think it'll be a great treat. He'll be playing Chopin: Concerto No. 1 in E minor for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 11. They are playing Wagner in the first act, namely 'Overture and Venusberg Music' from Tannhäuser and 'Suite' from Die Meistersinger. I love Wagner - so the combination of LangLang performing Chopin and the Wagner is almost the perfect concert! Yay!³





Mormon Tabernacle: Now a few listeners of KDFC are writing in threatening a boycott over us playing tracks off the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's large holiday repertoire. Ugh. I love working at a station where listeners really pay attention to what we're playing - but tying a recording of "O Holy Night" to Prop 8 - is a little much don't you think? and people don't just write a few sentences - they take the time to write encyclopedia article length diatribes. I had a dialogue with a listener this week - who once he learned I was also gay (like gay people don't work in radio?) - his tone changed dramatically. It's amazing how free people are to be incredibly personal and rude and accusatory in front of a keyboard; wheareas if the conversation were happening face to face - they'd never say these sort of things. e-mail has turned into the defacto method to vent uncontrolled. I wonder if KQED television will get slammed for playing the annual Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Special?

Comments

[eric-mathgeek.livejournal.com]

Personally -- recognizing that ALW is all style and no substance, and steals a lot from other works, is helpful. OK, so yeah, it's like that -- now with your expectations low, go and have a good time! (Granted, I saw Phantom before I realized what a hack he is -- it was the show that made me realize the music's good for what it is but not the masterpiece that so many people seem to think it is. But I still enjoyed it.)

[grizzlyzone.livejournal.com]

On Phantom: Go. It's supposed to be a classic and I think it's a requirement. You can always kvetch about it later - and knowledgeably.

On listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir: There's an adage about cutting off your nose to spite your face. Not gonna bother the SLC folks one little bit if you listen or not. So, spend your energies elsewhere.

[musicbearmn.livejournal.com]

I agree with Eric -- everyone needs to see Phantom once in their lives. Just once.

On the whole MTC thing, goodness people, get a life or two, or three.

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

I have no opinion about POTO. It's been here twice and has sold out both times.

Interesting that I was listening to the MTC just last night in browsing. First, I had listened to a saved tab for "Deck the Halls in 7/8 Time" since the NMGMC is singing it again...of course that led me to browsing other music, including Betelehemu by the MTC. That just seemed ironic.

[brunorepublic.livejournal.com]

Go see Phantom. Even if you hate it, for no cost it's worth your time just to have a valid opinion on it.

My personal thoughts on it? I don't understand why everyone went on and on about the music, the music, the MUSIC!! As far as I can tell, there are only four songs in the entire show, just transposed, sped up or stripped down, etc.

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

the mormon tabernacle did betelehemu? with hand clapping and everything?! LOL!

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

i'll post a review of both Phanton and LangLang. :-P

[budmassey.livejournal.com]

First of all, I adore your new heading. You are gifted! How do you do those headings again? Do you need to have a paid account to do that?

Second, specifically why do you hate ALW so fiercely? I suppose that over time he has become a bit plebian, but isn't it somewhat pleasant as ear candy?

Finally, I can relate to your comment about the Morman Tabernacle Choir. I had dinner with a couple of friends on Sunday as was told I MUST boycott Subway restaurants(which I never patronize anyway) because of some gay firing incident. I mean, Subway's are franchised anyway, so unless I boycott the St. Louis Subway, what's the point? And if I am obligated to retaliate on behalf of every gay person for every slight ever suffered, will there eventually be ANYBODY I'm not boycotting?

Anyway, I say slum a little with ALW, revel in LangLang, and appreciate the MTC on whatever level feels comfortable. I saw them in Salt Lake City and thought they were magnificent, and I didn't feel diminished by their religious zeal.

[celtictats.livejournal.com]

Go, Go, the first time you see Phantom you should stay for the whole show. If you have a chance to see it a second time, only stay until Mascarade, the opening number of the second act. It's all down hill from there.

[quirkstreet.livejournal.com]

How to put this? I kind of dug ALW when I was a kid and into my early 20s, though in my own defense, that was based mostly on Jesus Christ, Superstar, which people in the know tend to say is one of his stronger works. I never really "got" Evita, though I do have the LP around somewhere. Joseph, nope. Cats ... I found the CD disappointing so I never bothered to see the show itself. Starlight Express, the one or two songs people played me just made me cringe.

Phantom, on the other hand, I adored, in my not-caring-about-his-reputation, just-enjoying-it way. It's so goth and over the top, which suited my twenties just fine.

Seeing it live, I got to witness all the spectacle, and get caught up in it once or twice ... yet mostly find it goofy and laughable, though in an entertaining-almost-trainwreck way.

So for me it turned out to be a nice way of getting over ALW and getting on with my life. ;-)

Go in the spirit of campy fun.

[excessor.livejournal.com]

I like ALW. The music is hummable. It's not Wagner, but so what? Some of the music is nice music. Not great, but nice.

I can understand targeted boycotts. Writing hateful, impersonal, and probably poorly punctuated email messages doesn't do much. It's like saying, “Hey, a million people signed my e-petition.” (Hon, it would be news if you couldn't get a million people to sign something.) All people have to do is to stop listening or stop buying shit that gets advertised at the MTC segment.

[robearal.livejournal.com]

I'll admit that when I realized I had some Mormon Tabernacle Choir stuff in my iPod xmas playlist, I felt conflicted. If we're going to boycott the Mormons, I think the choir should be included. But they sing so well. What's a good homosexual to do?

[audrabaudra.livejournal.com]

"...but tying a recording of "O Holy Night" to Prop 8 - is a little much don't you think?"

I dunno, Robert. Undoubtedly, I need to get a life, but my issues aside, is it right to give the Mormon church more royalties and residuals from the MTC? Moreover, is it advisable to help the Mormons' publicity profile? Is it good to help them depict themselves as a lovely sounding, harmless bunch of Xmas enthusiasts, after their involvement in Prop 8 shows what they really are and what they really stand for?

The personal is the political. The MTC won't be on any Xmas playlist in this household, anyway.

A backward compliment

[wescobear.livejournal.com]

Well, The one thing I liked about POTO was just inspired by it. I certainly didn't like the sugar pop music! The year after POTO's US premier I an amazing costume in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Since I couldn't figure out how to get a picture into a comment (I'm new here), I just created a new LJ entry. Check it out!

[kent4str.livejournal.com]

I've always thought of ALW as more the Neil Simon of musical theater - it'll be a fun bit of fluff, but nothing terribly memorable. At least since he & Tim Rice stopped working together.

There are parts of Phantom I really love - in small doses. But someone really needs to show him how to write overlapping singers without it sounding like a cat fight.

So, go. I've loved the staging when I've seen it (yes, several times), so for free it's worth going just for that.

And, yes, KQED will get flack. Pity - the MTC just sing well. If non-Christians can appreciate the music despite the preaching behind them, then we can all appreciate the music despite the politics behind the organization. Just don't buy a copy.

ALW = Satan?

[wescobear.livejournal.com]

But I thought Philip Glass was Satan! Don't tell me it's like department store Santas...

Re: ALW = Satan?

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

ALW is to music as Satan is to religion

Sondheim: God!
ALW: Satan!

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

thats what I thought - just go for the spectacle of it all. :)

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

:-) thanks for the props on the header... i built for another project and well - it worked fine here instead. :) you do need a paid account to use the method that I use for blog headers. if you are a paid user - let me know and i can "set you up"

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

its just that particularly w/POTO - its the same hummable song over and over. I'm going simply for the spectacle.

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

and because it's free!

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

boycotting a radio station for playing a single track by the MTC is going after the wrong target - - - Don't like the MTC? don't buy their cds or dvds - but saying "lets boycott KDFC for playing MTC" is sorta silly.

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

Yes indeed...I bet you can find it online easily!

Re: ALW = Satan?

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

No, no! John Cage is Satan!

[tonethbone.livejournal.com]

http://tonethbone.livejournal.com/126404.html

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

it should be fun - and the tickets are free so it's not like I'm out anything right?

[nudewoody.livejournal.com]

I am so over all of this Mormon bashing. The Catholics had just as big a hand in this, so why aren't we going after them? If we need to blame anyone I think we should be holding Geoff Kors, Joe Solmonese, Kate Kendell, et all accountable.

[allanh.livejournal.com]

ALW is boring, repetitive, and unimaginative.

That having been said, "Phantom" is a well-crafted piece of theatre that's worth seeing once, if only for the imaginative staging.

Don't sit under the chandelier.

[audrabaudra.livejournal.com]

Boycotting the entire station probably comes down to a question of feeling ownership on the part of those who are reacting that way. It's hard to feel fondness and a sense of positive ownership for the station when it plays the MTC.

And when the station plays the MTC's Xmas repertoire, it burnishes the Mormon image. I can't see anything to do with it as benign. Religions like Mormonism do a lot of harm to a lot of people--Yes on 8 was just a little example of outreach on the part of the faithful.

[audrabaudra.livejournal.com]

I'm not Mormon-bashing. Nope, not me. Totally Equal Opportunity over here. I'll hate on any passel of priests who start their self-righteous chanting this time of year, too.

The Catholic and the Mormon churches are dangerous organizations that use their vast amounts of money, tithed from congregants in exchange for a pretend passport to heaven, to run rampant over the Establishment Clause.

Geoff Kors, et al might not have done the best job, but it's going to take a majority made up of more than the GLBT leaders and community to straighten things out. No quarter asked, no quarter given to the religious organizations behind this caper in the meantime.

[starzinked.livejournal.com]

ive never sen it either, and not a fan of that ALW either.. but, ya know.. this one i'd have a hard time passing up .. GO!

[nudewoody.livejournal.com]

Good for you, but Kors, et al are still getting the big bucks and the year end bonuses for NOT delivering. And they are now the self-appointed leaders in the clean-up campaign. Talk about no accountability. Don't forget, Obama did us no favors with his double speak the night before the election.

[wescobear.livejournal.com]

Actually I think it's okay to sit under the chandelier on the US production. When I saw POTO years ago in New York, the chandelier wafted down and made a genteel three point landing. Yawn. However I heard that in the London production (with different safety regulations obviously) the chandelier absolutely roared to the stage floor.

[allanh.livejournal.com]

My comment was strictly tongue-in-cheek. Swear.

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

at tonight's show is sauntered to the stage - it was the cheapest staging of a broadway tour I've ever seen.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Go see the show! It's the Music Box Company, the tour I was on for four years. If I can do the show for four years, one performance isn't going to scar you for life:) I'd like an objective opinion on whether the production is holding up after 16 years on the road. One of the ballerinas has been with this tour since July 1992 when it opened in Seattle. I still have friends in the show.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

You ought to have tried to sing in the Managers scenes. The septet was very hard to do!

Re: ALW = Satan?

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

If this is the case, God and Satan share a birthday ... with me! Hehehe

[wrascalbc.livejournal.com]

Wowsers! Now that's a header!

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

I'd side with the boycotters, sorry though. Mulitparagraph skreeds, however don't do anybody any good.

I've a friend who did a lot of anti-bashing work, and his attitude was figure out what you want to say, and reduce it down to 25 words.

Humour's also needed--thing's like Prop 8, The Musical, for example.

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

so you'd boycott a station for playing MTC? how does that help the cause at all? people can find any reason at all to boycott if they want to.

it's a gift

[arkanjil.livejournal.com]

so you either take it in gratitude, or gift the tickets on and then take the karmic hit sending someone else into that audiosonic hell in your place.

I think that you might as well go: know your enemy n all that. And just think, you'll be able to say with pride, "Well, at least it wasn't Cats

[bukephalus.livejournal.com]

IAWTC. That seems to be the case with all ALW shows.

[bukephalus.livejournal.com]

This.

[bukephalus.livejournal.com]

"People can find any reason at all to boycott if they want to."

How true.

[bukephalus.livejournal.com]

I am planning on boycotting KDFC for playing ALW.

If they ever do.

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

hater.