Past and future

This article from Monday's New York Sun demonstrates Peter Gelb's remarkable talent for getting reporters to take his spin of renewal and novelty at face value. It's valuable -- he needn't actually tamper with success to generate hype. (Whether he nevertheless will tamper remains to be seen, of course.)

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Tonight I -- along with pretty much everyone else in operaland -- will be in attendance at Joseph Volpe's retirement gala. I may try posting by email at the break, though giant gala gatherings don't usually inspire such brevity. Those not able to attend can listen (with a slight delay) on internet radio. Either way, it's a fittingly grand conclusion to the season.