Gheorghiu
and Alagna Cancel Met Engagements
Soprano Angela Gheorghiu and tenor Roberto Alagna have canceled their remaining two performances of Faust at the Metropolitan Opera in New York because of war concerns. The husband-and-wife team left the United States after Monday night's performance, Met spokesman Francois Giuliani said Thursday.
"They had war concerns and terrorism concerns," Giuliani said, adding they
also cited "their presence being needed for their children in France."
The couple will be replaced by Emily Pulley in the role of Marguerite and Marcus Haddock, who makes his Met debut Friday night, in the title role. After the September 11 terrorist attacks, the cancellation-prone Alagnas withdrew from five Met performances of Puccini's La Bohème, because they were concerned about flying. Alagna had been slated to sing the Met's opening night gala and at a World Trade Center benefit.
Similarly, the Los Angeles Times reports that the Belcea Quartet, a British string ensemble,
did not make its West-Coast debut Friday, having decided not to leave home
during wartime. And a handful of pop musicians have canceled performances,
including Matchbox Twenty, which postponed a European tour that was set to begin
Tuesday in Cologne.
The
Show isn't Always Going On Los Angeles Times 03/21/03
They Get Out of the Aria
Newsday 03/21/03
Popular
Music Avoids Commentary
Recently, the Dixie Chicks saw their new CD boycotted from playlists and crushed
in the streets after the lead singer, Natalie Maines, casually mentioned that
she was ashamed of President Bush sharing her home state. But the mainstream
music industry has generally avoided the topic of war, despite the medium's
potential for unifying public opinion. "In the last year and a half our world
has altered, but it seems that today, the changing national landscape is not
yet being reflected in a changing national music," writes John Pareles in the
New York Times.
The Sound of Silence? New York Times 03/20/03
UK Radio Observes Playlist Guidelines
The BBC reports that British radio stations are editing their playlists, avoiding songs that contain "offensive or insensitive material" during the war with Iraq. "We need to match the mood and tone of the nation, which seems to be changing on an hourly basis," said a spokesman from Virgin Radio.
Similarly, MTV Networks Europe has issued strict guidelines, using examples of specific tracks in a memo sent by their broadcast standards manager. The memo has been distributed over the internet. The memo listed several example songs, including "Bombs Over Baghdad" by rappers Outcast, Aerosmith's "Don't Want to Miss a Thing" and Manic Street Preachers' "Why So Sad." The latter two songs were singled out because of imagery in their videos.
War Prompts Song Guidelines BBC News, 03/21/03
Internet
Offers a Home to Anti-War Views
While political songs have largely been left off mainstream radio playlists, artists have another way to reach their constituency: The Internet. "From hip hop artists Chuck D and the Beastie Boys (right) to veteran singer/songwriters such as John Mellencamp and Billy Bragg, a general distaste for political fare on commercial radio has lead them to the Web, where songs they've written to protest the looming war with Iraq are readily available for free," says Murray Whyte in the Toronto Star.
Protest songs find a home: Anti-war songs posted on the Net Have always been left off playlists Toronto Star 03/19/03
Related Links:
- Listen to Chuck D's anti-war song, "No Boom Boom" on his site,
Slamjamz.com.
- Listen to the Beastie Boys "In A World Gone Mad" at Beastieboys.com.
- Read a
statement about the War from Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks.
- Planners of the 75th Academy Awards say the Show Must Go On