Comments on: Opera review: Backstage drama and some real excitement in the Atlanta Opera’s “Aida”

By: Peter Stelling

Peter Stelling — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:42:23 +0000

Ladies and Gentlemen:
Please see the review written by James Paulk and printed in the Tuesday, March 2 AJC for a really accurate account of the Atlanta Opera’s opening night AIDA. The above review is so off the mark I refuse to dignify it with a direct response.

By: Lew

Lew — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:17:18 +0000

Methinks the bitterness comes not from Mr. Ruhe but from his detractors! The AJC gutted their entire arts staff, which says more about the paper (and it’s readers) and this city than it does about Mr. Ruhe’s reviews. This city has no real support for the arts. It’s money, money that fuels this city. Is it any wonder we have no soul?

By: Traveled Taster

Traveled Taster — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:22:55 +0000

For years Mr. Ruhe’s ‘reviews’ about the Atlanta Opera’s performances have been nothing more than snarky comments. The manner in which he made it his mission to run Fred Scott out of town sounded like a jilted lover seeking revenge. Now with his comments about the rotund singers he has tipped it completely over the edge to render his writing completely worthless. No wonder the AJC didn’t keep him on as a staff writer – a monkey with a typewriter could do better. ( There – how does that feel? )
With an ear as rarefied as his seems to be and an eye so easily offended by the foibles of the varieties of the human body in costumes designed to fit all sizes slim and not so slim, one must wonder why Mr. Ruhe continues to subject himself to so much constant disappointment. Why don’t you, Mr. Ruhe, leave Atlanta to those less prone to emotional jabs and move to NYC where there are no rotund singers and every costume is individually designed and all singers are in top voice at every utterance. You’ll feel better, I promise.

By: Lew

Lew — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:54:34 +0000

Mr Ruhe already answered this, but countertenor I put the asterisks around *the chorus* because he did not mention *the chorus.* He mentioned *opera singers.” As Mr. Ruhe pointed out, if he were referring to *the chorus* he would have said so. The opera singers in his review are the principal cast. And I’m sorry if this hurts folks, but singers whose size detracts from their performance (e.g. their believability in a certain role) is cause for a critic to take notice. Many of us have seen aging rotund sopranos attempting to pass themselves off as Butterfly. From a dramatic standpoint it Just Doesn’t Work.

By: hmmm

hmmm — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:00:14 +0000

i may be mistaken, but i believe that the original post specifically referred to the chorus in the “rotund” remark. i feel like i remember this because it was the only reference to the chorus in the whole review. is it possible that the article has been changed since countertenor’s comment? regardless of who it referred to, was it really a necessary comment?

By: Leif the Countertenor

Leif the Countertenor — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:41:06 +0000

Dear ArtsCriticAtl Staff,

Most of the time I find performance reviews very helpful for both the prospective audience member and the performer. The review of Aida that Pierre so tactlessly accomplished was beyond the brink of kitsch, as he so stated of the chorus members. I understand that as a music critic, one must voice their artistic opinion.

Pierre stated: costumes evoked ancient-empire epics, from “The Ten Commandments” to “Caligula,” and would probably look better on a slimmer bunch of people. Rotund opera singers in faux Egyptian frocks exaggerate the kitsch factor.

This is not even close to being a remark you would expect from a widely accepted and educated music critic like himself. It is not only rude and tasteless, but discouraging to the efforts that the chorus members put into the production of this performance. As a musician, I expected an educated useful critique, but instead was offered an easily dished insult.

Critiquing is not about insulting. If that was the case you should hire a rebellious high schooler with an elaborate vocabulary to do the job. I hope and expect, if there is any ounce of support for local arts, that remarks of this nature are edited or removed from such reviews. I await your response.

An extremely disappointed reader & musician.

Leif Westermark

By: countertenor

countertenor — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:15:31 +0000

Lew, You obviously did not read the entire review.

“would probably look better on a slimmer bunch of people. Rotund opera singers in faux Egyptian frocks exaggerate the kitsch factor.”

but i digress.

By: Lew

Lew — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:26:32 +0000

No, it’s a review. Reviews are critical (by definition!) I don’t see any reference to *the chorus* as fat and kitschy. A critic’s job is to call it like he sees it.

By: countertenor

countertenor — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:10:31 +0000

How professional is it to call the opera chorus Fat and Kitsch. This isn’t project runway Mr. Ruhe. You are tastless.