[From www.sfcv.org]

Two facts are clear enough: 1.  Luciano Berio, 77, is a major musical
figure of our time, 2.  He has a poor track record of meeting deadlines
and commitments.  Beyond that, we have some uncertainty, depending on
one's geographical location.

On the one hand, the Los Angeles Opera has postponed indefinitely a
Berio-orchestrated "L'incoronazione di Poppea" this month, placing
responsibility entirely with Berio's health problems.  In fact, LA Opera
quotes Berio about the reason for his inability to complete the work:
"My recent recovery has been held back by new medical complications and
my doctors have ordered complete rest." One wishes the maestro well, but
wondering, all the same, about reports in the Italian media.

Berio, it seems, has been out and about, attending throughout December
some big public functions that mark the opening of Rome's new, $157
million, concert hall complex, Parco della Musica.  Berio and architect
Renzo Piano have directed the project - a partnership suggesting a "dream
team" of Harrison Birtwistle and Norman Foster (of the new Reichstag and
the British Museum's stunning Great Court) to English journalists, if
only London would ever have a similar center to develop.

Two smaller halls on the 20-acre site near the 1960 Olympic village
opened earlier, but Sala Sinopoli (1,200 seats) and Sala Piccola (700)
are peripheral to the big gala opening on Dec.  21 of the 2,756-seat
Sala Santa Cecilia.  Berio, Italian president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi,
European Commission president Romano Prodi and thousands of others
attended the inauguration of what is expected to become a new national
center of music in Italy.  A 3,000-seat open-air amphitheater will be
added soon, enabling the center to provide music each night to as many
as 8,000 listeners.

Conducted by Myung-Whun Chung, the orchestra and chorus of the Accademia
Nazionale di Santa Cecilia performed three premieres on opening night
in Sala Santa Cecilia: Fabio Vacchi's "Terra comune," Fabio Nieder's
"Due lumi" and Alberto Colla's "Somnium." Beethoven's "Choral Fantasia"
(with Maurizio Pollini) and Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" completed
the program.  The Accademia will move into the center next month, making
it its new home.

During the opening ceremonies, Berio spoke proudly of "Resonances," the
museum of modified musical instruments he created, complete with Calder
mobiles and Keith Haring sculptures.  "The kind of experimentation I
introduced in music," Berio said, "can be seen here applied to other
disciplines."

Meanwhile, back in LA, there is more news, fresh on Monday, about illness
and infirmity: Placido Domingo is suffering from a bronchial infection
and will not sing in the LA Opera's "Concert of Passion and Poetry,"
itself a substitute for the Monteverdi production cancelled by Berio's
inability to complete the score.

-----

Music News from Pyongyang

 [Verbatim, unadorned reproduction of a news item from the Korean Central
News Agency of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea]

   Kim Jong Il enjoys performance of merited chorus of KPA

   Pyongyang, December 28 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il
   Friday enjoyed together with servicemen a performance given by
   the merited chorus of the Korean People's Army on the occasion
   of the Day of the Socialist Constitution.  The performance began
   with the national anthem.  Put on the stage were "Song of General
   Kim Jong Il," "Song of Declaration of People's Republic," "Song
   of Comradeship," "Long trip for army-based revolution, "Arirang
   for Unity between Army and People," "Eternal Song of Our Hearts,"
   "We will go on and on along the road of loyalty," and other
   choruses.

   The performers sonorously sang of the proud feats performed by
   the heroic KPA and people in the struggle for glorifying the
   people-centered socialist system of the country with the powerful
   constitutional weapon provided by President Kim Il Sung and fully
   demonstrated their steel-strong faith and will to firmly defend
   the socialism of our own style and accomplish the revolutionary
   cause of Juche [self-reliance], remaining true to the army-based
   leadership of Kim Jong Il with loyalty.

   Kim Jong Il congratulated the artistes of the chorus on their
   successful performance and highly appreciated the feats they
   have performed in encouraging the army and people in their sacred
   struggle to defend the socialist system of the country, a precious
   gain the people won at the cost of their blood.

Janos Gereben/SF
www.sfcv.org
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