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Opera

Greek Soprano Dimitra Theodossiou on Board Burning Ferry Norman Atlantic, Rescued by Helicopter

Greek opera star Dimitra Theodossiou is reported to have been one of the 478 people among the burning ferry "Norman Atlantic" in the Mediterranean Sea.Theodossiou was rescued by helicopter and taken to the hospital in Lecce, but is safe and located in Rimini, Italy.The ferry caught fire Sunday, Dec. 28, en route to Ancona, Italy, from the Greek port of Patras. But the boat workers are undergoing criticism for how they handled the emergency situation. Theodossiou described a harrowing wait for rescuers on the bridge of the ship. She said men had rushed forward from lower decks, even after being told to “give precedence to children, the elderly and women.”“They pulled people away, pushing people aside to save themselves,” she said. “I was also struck, but I reacted to get to the helicopter, I had rage inside. I thought, it’s now or never. It was awful. I will never forget it.”She told the newspaper that no alarms had sounded and that she awoke in her first-class cabin after smelling smoke. Initially, she said, she went to the lower deck because the lifeboats were there.
By Jaime Prisco

  • With Not Much Else, New York City Opera Takes Bids on Name and Assets Due Jan. 20

    The New York City Opera has been in a grueling lawsuit that has convened in court since it filed for bankruptcy in 2013. For now, the brand of the City Opera is still in the hearts of most New York operagoers, but whether it will make a comeback has yet to be seen.The City Opera board has elected to sell its name and other assets, per "The New York Times," to a group called NYCO Renaissance. NYCO, thus, has plans to make Michael Capasso the general manager of a newly reconstituted opera company.Capasso, though, has a notorious record with his own, small Dicapo Opera Theater, which still owes money to its musicians and singers.
    By Ian Holubiak

  • British Musicians Offered Money, Lodging and Car to Train Qatari Military Bandsmen to Perform at Controversial 2022 World Cup

    Despite all the controversy surrounding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, British musicians seems to be receiving the best treatment. Musicians are being offered £66,000 — or $102,406.26 — to train Qatari military bandsmen to perform in front of a global TV audience during the event.The musicians will be offered tax-free salaries of up to £66,000 for training and the first wave of recruits will also get free accommodation and a car. This includes violinists and woodwind, brass and percussion players. There are also former military pipers and drummers and at least three orchestral conductors.The teachers will be expected to stay in Qatar for up to three years, by which time it is hoped the Qatari bandsmen will have reached the required standard to play at the opening ceremony and other high-profile events during the tournament. So far, Qatar has already signed up 60 professional musicians from Britain, who will set out to start sometime next month, but they are continuing to look for more.
    By Jaime Prisco