While You Were Out

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Over the weekend:

- Close to home, The LA Opera began it's long awaited Ring Cycle. Opening night was met with about two dozen protesters outside, but the reaction inside was quite positive. How are tickets sales? Apparently behind what was originally planned, that damn economy is still making life difficult.

- The sour economy is affecting opera halfway around the world, Australia's famed Sydney Opera House is in such severe financial straits it could face permanent closure. Reports are indicating that the iconic house is so antiquated that it poses a safety risk to performers and stage crews. Yikes.

- Crossover: n.
5.
a. The adaptation of a musical style, as by blending elements of two or more styles or categories, to appeal to a wider audience.
b. A recording designed to appeal to more than one segment or portion of the listening audience.
c. One that appeals to a wide or diverse audience

See "Dark Hope", the new album by Renee Fleming. And the NY Times classical music critic Anthony Tommasini and pop music critic Jon Pareles chime in.

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