GUEST BLOGGER Yvonne Caruthers–Slatkin's response

Leonard Slatkin responded via email (see yesterday’s blogpost) to my request for information about the article on his website. I have excerpted his comments:

“The article was written the day after the Met[‘s recent production of] Tosca was trashed.   How come opera directors can get away with mangling the instructions from a composer, but the musicians cannot?  It is sort of like those who chastise an audience for applauding between movements, but have no problem when the entire flow of an operatic work is disrupted by cheers and boos after an aria.

Hopefully, if people read the whole thing, they will figure it out.  If not, I get some great responses.  For example, a couple people have called the DSO [Detroit Symphony Orchestra] saying that the new changes will not bother them if we reduce ticket prices…”