First, there was the emasculation of arts coverage at the Atlanta
Constitution last weekend, with the elimination of positions or the
music critic (Pierre Ruhe), book editor (Teresa Weaver), visual arts
(Catherine Fox), and other writers and editors.  Commented Atlanta
Symphony Music Director Robert Spano: "It makes me suspicious that
they really don't know what they're doing.  I don't probably want to
be reviewed by a food critic."

Second, the San Francisco Chronicle is working out details of which 100
(of its 400) employees will leave, 80 from the editorial staff.  Will
that make a difference in arts coverage?  What do you think?

Third, word comes today - yet unconfirmed - that Peter G. Davis was let
go from New York magazine, where "classical music coverage will be
combined with other subjects..." - food, maybe?

Another firing today is of soprano Hope Briggs as Donna Anna, from the
SFO production of "Don Giovanni," two days before opening (and after
yesterday's excellent rehearsal and without previous indication of
anything being wrong), the announcement not bothering with niceties:
"David Gockley, in consultation with Music Director Donald Runnicles and
members of the artistic staff, made the decision that soprano Hope Briggs
was *not ultimately suited* for the role of Donna Anna in this production."
Instead of the cover, Rhoslyn Jones, Elza van den Heever is the replacement.

Janos Gereben/SF
www.sfcv.org
[log in to unmask]

             ***********************************************
The CLASSICAL mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R)
list management software together with L-Soft's HDMail High Deliverability
Mailer for reliable, lightning fast mail delivery.  For more information,
go to:  http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html