THE SCHÉHÉRAZADE OF DIAGHILEV (AND BAKST)
“IMPRESARIO” CONJURES up the image of a larger-than-life individual, not just an artistic director of something or other, but one whose influence extends considerably further. Serge Diaghilev, founder of the … Continue reading
FROM LITHUANIA, WITH LOVE
I HAVE been remiss in scant praise of my ancestral homeland, Lithuania. Alas, when I toured nearby during especially historic times (see “He’s Got a Lot of Balts”), the pesky Russkies … Continue reading
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UNCLE SAM!
THE TALE of our Uncle Sam is oft-told, but not completely inappropriate on this, the 239th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Uncle Sam is a … Continue reading
MICKEY AND A MELTING WATCH??
WALT DISNEY had a way with fantasy. And so did artist Salvador Dali. Amazingly, these otherwise vastly different art icons worked together. In researching this, I learned of John Hench, … Continue reading
ORSON WELLES AND THE FEDERAL THEATRE PROJECT
THIS YEAR is the 100th anniversary of the birth of theatrical great Orson Welles. Likely, he’s best remembered for his 1941 movie Citizen Kane, consistently ranked among the all-time greatest … Continue reading
OPERA FEASTS
OPERA IS a high-energy art form, lots of dancing around all the while singing at the top of one’s lungs. Reflecting this, many opera stars keep their strength up with … Continue reading
QUENTIN CRISP—A LIFE OF STYLE
QUENTIN CRISP was the 20th century’s Oscar Wilde. He was a man of extravagant lifestyle and immense wit. Paraphrasing the Noël Coward song title, Crisp referred to himself as “one … Continue reading
ROBERT MERRILL: BARITONE AND MAN OF LETTERS
BARITONE ROBERT Merrill must have been a hoot as well as a Metropolitan Opera stalwart from 1945 to 1976. Well, there was the time in 1951 when the Met’s high-toned … Continue reading
HAPPY 800TH, MAGNA CARTA!
IT WAS JUNE 15, 1215, that King John of England granted concessions to 25 of his barons at Runnymede, about 20 miles west of what’s now central London. From then … Continue reading
IN GOD WE TRUST—BUT FROM WHEN?
I SEEM to be finding religion and patriotism at this point of my life, prompted by a piece by Michael Kazin in The New York Times Book Review, May 17, … Continue reading
