NYT article about Stew's foray into opera, 1989

[Divemistress of the Dark]

http://www.nytimes.com/ads/vh1/police2.html

Interesting stuff.

"Copeland is quick to rebut with disarming candor one anticipated criticism: "I know this is coming: 'There are all these people who have paid their dues, studied hard, learned the techniques. Why haven't they been given this opportunity? Why does this pop star millionaire, just by virtue of being able to bang drums in time, get this big chance?' Which is a fair comment. My answer is that those students have earned a chance through application, and I hope they get it, but I've earned it through achievement. My pop music has thrilled millions of people. I've proven my music works in films. Whether it's fair or not to give me this opportunity, I will give something back to Cleveland Opera in particular and to opera in general by bringing in new fans. I may not have studied at a conservatory, but I've worked hard as a musician. Even if I don't get it right this time, I will probably stick it out. Opera's an addictive medium."

[jedsoon]

a fascinating read. i've learned more about holy blood thru posts and links in this forum in the past year than the fifteen prior. this was the most insightful article yet!

also, thanks in general to the links and info you've been providing lately, even if i'd already read most of them at least once before. do you get the yahoo copeland alerts? i do, despite most of them being dead ends.

another performance come and gone that i can only wish i had seen. i'll bet there are no bootlegs of THIS floating around!

[sockii]

>another performance come and gone that i can only wish i had seen.
> i'll bet there are no bootlegs of THIS floating around!

*cough cough* Come talk to me, if you like...

[Divemistress of the Dark]

!! I'd like to see it too.

Actually, the NYTimes kind of panned it later on, piling on Stew's adherence to traditional forms of opera.

You get the feeling he couldn't have won no matter what; if he'd done some big experimental thing, they'd have trashed it as the insane rantings of a spoiled pop star.

I'm sure that's why many artists famously don't read their own reviews.

You're welcome on the articles, guys. I'm not on Yahoo, I'm just usually chasing down something for a thread on the forum here and find something interesting while I'm on the hunt. Helps that I'm a big huge music nerd with a billion websites bookmarked.

[jedsoon]

email sent, sockii. mucho thanks in advance!

i totally agree it was a very risky move. too far removed from his usual forays to appeal to any but his most diehard fans, while the opera purists wouldn't be able to get past his background. i might even have put myself in the former category at one time.

but, as stewart himself said famously to bob costas: everybody reads their reviews!