There will be chats with the leading professionals in the fields of music, art, theater, dance, and literature. You will see the latest news in the museums and art galleries. Arts managers and press agents will provide valued information.
Check out audition and television tips. Writers (not only in the arts field) will contribute their knowledge - along with a few surprises.
I hope you will find "Artistically Speaking" interesting, fun, and informative.
I was so delighted to meet with my friend and colleague Frank Conlon recently. We have done many concerts together, with me as the singer and Frank as my able accompanist. We met at the parish center at the Church of the Annunciation where he is Music Minister. His life has been dedicated to music and he is still as enthusiastic about music as ever. He has won many awards and has expanded his career into conducting and teaching. So I am taking special delight in presenting him to you. So please read on.
MD: How did you decide to become a pianist?
MD: Where do you teach?
FC: I am on the faculty at George University for piano and I am the music director for vocal music workshops and operatic productions. We will be doing Aaron Copland’s The Tender Land. It will be performed April 13 and 14 at the Marvin Center at the University. I accompany recitals and I enjoy every minute of it. I am also on the jury for the piano competitions and recitals.
MD: What up-coming concerts do you have?
MD: If you could hang around any studio of artists living or dead whom would they be and why?
FC: Artur Rubinstein. Whenever he came to Washington I bought a ticket. I was even lucky enough one time to be in the first row. Judy Garland She was fantastic and Marian Anderson. I heard her not exactly in her prime but I was so moved by her singing. That is with all of them. They moved me. They were all great artists.
MD: Many thanks Frank. I always enjoyed collaborating with you and you have given many people great joy with your music making. Carry on.
FC: I was a Navy brat. When I lived in Philadelphia, my parents who were not musicians, both worked and they purchased a piano for me and I started lessons at age 5. Then we moved to Guam. The woman who played the organ at church was pregnant and didn’t want to play anymore and they needed someone. I popped up and said I can play. Here I am at age 8. My feet couldn’t even reach the pedals. I am still a church organist. I have also played in a synagogue for many years. In high school I was in a play and won first prize as an actor. At the same time I won a music prize for a three minute rendition of the Rhapsody in Blue. I have a picture showing me holding a trophy in each hand (he laughed). My serious piano studies were at Catholic University. I won a couple of competitions and played several concerts.
FC: February 6th I’ll be playing an all Debussy concert and on Feb. 14th I ll be doing a lecture on 20th Century Piano Music. A most interesting concert will be in Loudon County where I will be conducting two students each at 6 pianos and I’ll play a solo. It is a varied program, classical, folk and pop. And they are celebrating their 25th anniversary. When this concert is over, they start planning the next one. In March I’ll be doing an all Chopin program at Whittermore House in D.C.
Something of Splendor: Decorative Arts from the White House is an exhibition currently at the Smithsonian American Art Museum at the Renwick Gallery. This is a beauty of an exhibition. There are 95 objects from the permanent collection of the White House including furniture, ceramics, metal glass and textiles. The exhibition is organized to honor the 50th anniversary of the White House Historical Association. The White House also known as the People’s House gives you an idea of the rich history of the house. Gorgeous exhibition on view until May 6th. (See Books.)
The Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design is offering the first exhibition of the Australian artists Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro: Are We There Yet? This exhibition is the third in the NOW at the Corcoran Series which features the works of emerging and mid-career artists. The materials the artists use are “readymade” found on our supermarket shelves, and in toy stores. The exhibition can be found on two floors showcasing American history, pop culture, and current affairs. You have until March 11th to see it.
Theater J should be applauded for their new theater festival: “Locally Grown Community Supported Art From Our Own Garden.” They presented the world premiere The Helen Hayes winning playwright Renee Calarco’s play The Religion Thing. Although it has some flaws, there is more good in it than not. It is the story of two couples with troubled relationships, not fabricated, but true to life. Nimbly directed by Joe Calarco, Renee’s brother the play is witty as well as thought-provoking. The actors are talented and expertly deliver the biting crisp dialogue. Closed on Jan. 29th.
Fabulous describes the play at The Studio Theatre. It is written by Donald Margulies and it is Time Stands Still. It follows a globe-trotting photojournalist who returns home injured from the battlefields of Iraq. How she copes with her new life, a relationship and her past is powerfully acted by Holly Twyford. Greg McFadden, Dan Illian and Laura C. Harris complete the cast and are wonderful. It is expertly directed by Susan Fenichell. Highly recommended. Closes on Feb. 19th.
Six Centuries of Korean Ceramics return to view at the Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art. There are forty-four stone vessels dating from the 11th to 16th century illustrating a decorative technique known as sanggam. This is the art of inlaying designs using black and white pigments. The exhibit is called Clouds and Cranes: The Korean Art of Ceramic Inlay. It is a small exhibit but quite lovely. On view continuously.
The Shakespeare Theatre Company is presenting Shakespeare’s earliest romantic comedy Two Gentlemen of Verona. Great fun. It is the story of adolescent love and friendship- strained but all ends well. PJ Paparelli is the director. Walt Spangler is the set designer and Paul Spadone is the costume designer. That is important because the clothes are Elizabethan and the set is modern. All the actors are first rate and you can understand every word. A special nod to the dog Crab, played by Oliver. You have until March 4th to see it at the Lansburgh Theatre, and I recommend that you do.
The Nineteenth Century French Galleries are again open at the National Gallery of Art after a two year renovation. They are located on the main floor in the West Building. There are fourteen galleries devoted to impressionist and post-impressionist paintings including works by Manet, Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Van Gogh and Gauguin along with many others. Wear comfortable shoes and also know that there are couches where you can stop and rest. They also have text panels and new audio-tour stops.
Run to the box office at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater to see Red, a play by John Logan the Tony-Award Winning playwright. This is a co-production with the Goodman Theater under the direction of Robert Falls. It is the story of the artist Mark Rothko and his assistant. Edward Gero is Rothko and Patrick Andrews his assistant and both give brilliant performances in their battle of wills. It is a close-up look at the world of art. This play packs a wallop. A certainly must see. At the Kreeger Theater until March 11th.
The Folger Theatre is presenting The Gaming Table adapted from the 1705 hit The Basset Table by Susanna Centlivre with additional material by David Grimm. This is a stylish production which sparkles with wit. It is a high-spirited comedy directed by Eleanor Holdridge. The actors seem to be having as much fun as the audience. It is the women who are taking risks at the gaming table and in love. They want to win it all. Do they? Go and see for yourself. The costumes by Jessica Ford are marvelous, especially the wigs. Set designer is Marion Williams. All in all a winner. Closes on March 4th.
That’s it for now. See you in March.
Are you committed to what you do, truly committed through thick and thin or do you crave adulation?
I have been very fortunate to attend the Classic Conversations with Michael Kahn and his guests Sir Patrick Stewart, Kevin Kline and James Earl Jones (see photo). It was immediately clear that they are all committed to what they do. They all talked about their risks, failures and their fears.
Patrick said when he auditioned for Gene Roddenberry for Star Trek, Roddenberry told his people he doesn’t even want to hear Stewart’s name again. He stuck with and the rest is history.
Kline spoke of his fear at doing Falstaff. He was petrified but stayed with it and was at the end glad he did it.
Jones said he has done Otello seven times and is still working on it. He told the story of his walking on a New York street, very down and feeling low when he met Joseph Papp, director of the Shakespeare Festival in Central Park. Papp asked him. “Will you carry a spear” he answered, “I’ll carry a spear.” Commitment. All of these actors have gone on to great success and they are still working and learning about their chosen profession.
This isn’t just for performers, it is important in whatever your profession is.
So it might be time to ask yourself am I committed or do I crave adulation?. Must you always have flattery, fawning, always telling anyone who will listen how you are the best in this or that. Criticism is not too welcomed. And quite often when challenged you walk away.
With commitment you are on solid ground. Adulation, your footsteps on in the sand.
What will lead you to your goal? I vote for commitment.
This catalog accompanies the exhibition of the same name which is on view at the Smithsonian American Art Museum the Renwick Gallery.
The fiftieth anniversary marks the milestone featuring historic furnishings and artworks from the White House collection.
In 1962 First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy initiated a three part program to restore the historical integrity the mansion’s public rooms. She told Life magazine “It is such a beautiful old building. It is so bound up in our history. We need to bring it back to the way our founders envisioned.”
This is an illustrated catalog by William G. Allman and Melissa G. Naulin. There is extended information about selected decorative art objects on view in the exhibition.
The pictures are colorful and beautiful. It is a small catalog in size certainly not in content.
This is an exciting and important catalog to have. (See Applause.)