Yes we can!
Counter Critic for the Directorship of The New York City Opera
“A Key-Change We Need”
[Update: WATCH VIDEO]
Preamble
I hereby announce my candidacy to assume directorship of The New York City Opera.
In these uncertain times, artistic organizations need stalwart leadership that will provide vision, direction, and most importantly, thought that isn’t lodged in the dark recesses of somebody’s ass.
As the New York City Opera continues to flounder in the murky waters of economic recession and general disregard, without a willing captain at the helm, it is imperative that someone who actually gives a damn about the institution be put in charge of leading the behemoth to safe and prosperous waters. (Yay, maritime metaphors!)
C.C. is that captain.
As Director of the New York City Opera, I propose to institute the following 12-step course of action:
1. Assemble a crack-pot para-advisory board of cultural thinkers
Like Obama, I will surround myself with a menagerie of “the best and the brightest” thinkers in the arts and culture. L. Ro., Andy Horowitz and Earl Dax (oh, and La Cieca) are def. on the short list. Maybe RoseLee, if she gets her act together. I’m open to suggestions, but the important thing is that more than just one ego will be involved in this process. Think of it as one ginormous mega-ego of ideas. [Updated here.]
2. Rout the Board
Boards are notoriously over-committed and under-concerned groups of people who constantly need to be coddled, have their asses kissed, and virtually begged to in order to fulfill the basic commitments they agreed to when they accepted their positions.
All Board members are subject to review, upon which time, if their behavior and past activities as a board member show sufficient benefit to the New York City Opera, then they will be allowed to stay, while also doubling their annual give-or-get commitment. (Yes!)
If a Board member’s performance has been sub-par, resistant, or complainy, they will be summarily dismissed without further adieu.
Institutions don’t need to cow kowtow to lazy, annoying, or creepy board members. There are NICE WEALTHY PEOPLE out there who would donate their money and efforts to worthwhile institutions. They only need to be found. So let’s find ‘em!
3. Umm…get some productions going!
Without delay, bring up some old and trusty productions out of the basement. Some opera is better than no opera at this point. Let’s keep the musicians and stage hands employed. Hey, we might even get an audience!
4. Commission no less than four new operas a year
It’s bullshit that Mozart got to compose like a new opera every year practically, and our living composers are relegated to writing maybe ONE per lifetime. To make new opera a viable contender in contemporary culture, it needs to be newer, faster, smaller, and have a constant presence in the world.
Hey, I’ll write them all, if that’s what it takes. That’s how committed I am to making The New York City Opera a better place… Read More…
December 9, 2008
Categories: CC for NYCO, Editorial, NYC Opera . . Author: countercritic . Comments: 25 Comments
Hello, everyone!
HDivas – For The New York Press
On Friday, 
