tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066108.post1717791405359664676..comments2023-11-02T09:43:50.767-04:00Comments on A choral musician's blog: Otello, Rihanna, and Chris BrownCurrentConductorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496136929514285841noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066108.post-14642673302164631242009-07-19T09:40:40.662-04:002009-07-19T09:40:40.662-04:00@ Manly Man:
You make some interesting points, bu...@ Manly Man:<br /><br />You make some interesting points, but also some unacceptable comments, such as "'it's my fault, I should've left him.'" I will not allow any sort of victim-blaming on this post, so I have deleted your comments. They could be extremely triggering for someone who has experience abuse.CurrentConductorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17496136929514285841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066108.post-39865107046570423972009-03-15T19:18:00.000-04:002009-03-15T19:18:00.000-04:00@ Kris:It's true that boycotting can seem like a t...@ Kris:<BR/><BR/>It's true that boycotting can seem like a tempting idea, but in addition to all the excellent reasons you mention for not doing it, it just seems impractical to never perform Otello (in any of its versions) again. As Adrian says, if somebody is going to do it, it may as well be us so we can do it right.CurrentConductorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17496136929514285841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066108.post-7306993373779657702009-03-15T19:16:00.000-04:002009-03-15T19:16:00.000-04:00@ Terry:Sarah is moving to Hawaii! So we will hav...@ Terry:<BR/><BR/>Sarah is moving to Hawaii! So we will have a new general manager next year...but I will certainly suggest it to Channing.CurrentConductorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17496136929514285841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066108.post-65843544965875553622009-03-15T11:03:00.000-04:002009-03-15T11:03:00.000-04:00At first, I was thinking that boycotting such prob...At first, I was thinking that boycotting such problematic productions should be the answer. Performing works that are offensive in some way could be seen as endorsing them. And arguing that the historic or beautiful elements of the piece trump the racist/sexist/etc. bits seems like exercising the privilege of those who don't have to live with the real effects of those sorts of attitudes. I Krishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02898874383053369611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066108.post-155206599644758472009-03-15T09:39:00.000-04:002009-03-15T09:39:00.000-04:00Fine post! Harvard should have organized some disc...Fine post! Harvard should have organized some discussions around the opera. Suggest that to Sarah and Channing for next year. That has been happening in Austin with local productions to great effect.Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05438064092300869222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066108.post-69754817657397854112009-03-15T04:01:00.000-04:002009-03-15T04:01:00.000-04:00P.S. Although the end of Act II...that's pretty i...P.S. Although the end of Act II...that's pretty icky too. And there's an argument there that the opera IS glorifying domestic violence. Because it's pretty glorious music...and they're singing about swearing vengeance on Desdemona and Cassio. Eh? (I don't actually think the opera wants to glorify domestic violence, but I do find that finale very disturbing, and I can't really figure out whatCurrentConductorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17496136929514285841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066108.post-32198042426446501072009-03-15T03:58:00.000-04:002009-03-15T03:58:00.000-04:00@ Abby:I just got home from set strike, and it's n...@ Abby:<BR/><BR/>I just got home from set strike, and it's nearly 4 am, so I will only comment briefly now, and perhaps (hopefully!) further tomorrow.<BR/><BR/>I don't think that either Verdi or Boito is endorsing domestic violence. My problem is that there are certain subtexts (not overtly stated) that frame the issue in a problematic way. Everybody is always talking about whether Desdemona isCurrentConductorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17496136929514285841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066108.post-36528870295386240092009-03-15T00:38:00.000-04:002009-03-15T00:38:00.000-04:00This entry brings up a lot of really thoughtful an...This entry brings up a lot of really thoughtful and well-expressed points, both about domestic violence and about how to handle art with troublesome subtext. But rather than address either of these issues, I’m going to insensitively focus on Otello, because I just can’t agree with your assessment of Act IV’s implications.<BR/><BR/>To my mind, nothing in the libretto or the music indicates that Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066108.post-26774210749530867472009-03-14T17:23:00.000-04:002009-03-14T17:23:00.000-04:00I think the answer is what you are doing here - op...I think the answer is what you are doing here - open and honest discussion.<BR/><BR/>Refusing to perform pieces that are offensive I think is a bad idea. It makes it more likely that when the pieces are performed, it will be by people who don't fully understand what they're singing.Adrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05953649845499754508noreply@blogger.com