Ken Lane's "Shakespeare" opera/S's 450th birthday/Premiere

[Ken B Lane]

The disconcerting disarray of pronouncements by so-called experts on the
economy has prompted me to defer my opera "Shakespeare" premiere to
Shakespeare's 450th birthday, Friday April 23, 2004 or .Saturday April 23,
2005, his 451st. . Either way, in 2004 or 2005, the nation's economy will
factor into my plans.

The opinions I have heard/read suggest a three year-long depression with a
distinct turn inwards towards vicarious entertainment, people in their own
"castles," remote in their enclaves, purportedly protected from the swirl of
panicked hysteria they fear.

However, I have every confidence that given the heady vibes of prosperity,
works that require intent cogent audience attention can thrive.

Should a groundswell of optimism, reflected in an astounding turnabout upswing
of the economy, convince me of the viability of high-price ticketed
entertainment, then I shall opt for the 450th anniversary.

The better the economy, the likelier people would spend on the luxury items.

My second opera, "Political Shakespeare," is coming along formidably given
these atrocity-ridden times.    It is in many ways more potent in its subject
matter than the musings of eternal truths, no matter what the panoramic
landscape.

Kenneth Bennett Lane
Wagnerian romantischer heldentenor
www.WagnerOpera.com [one can download samples of my Carnegie Hall "Live"
performances on Valhalla records CDs]     

[Francois Desnoyers]

money, money, money....

[Thomas Muething]

Ken B Lane wrote:

The disconcerting disarray of pronouncements by so-called experts on the
economy has prompted me to defer my opera "Shakespeare" premiere to
Shakespeare's 450th birthday, Friday April 23, 2004 or .Saturday April 23,
2005, his 451st.

From Ken's website: "Frieda Hempel who was Kenneth Lane's voice teacher from 1954-1956"

How old is this guy?

Thomas

[Peter T. Daniels]

He was 72 three years ago when I went to one of his presentations.

He didn't sing; he played some recordings of his singing in the early
50s and ca. 1980.
--
Peter T. Daniels gram...@att.net

[Ward Hardman]

Ken B Lane <kenb...@aol.com> wrote:
: The disconcerting disarray of pronouncements by so-called experts on the

: economy has prompted me to defer my opera "Shakespeare" premiere to
: Shakespeare's 450th birthday, Friday April 23, 2004 or .Saturday April 23,

: 2005, his 451st. Either way, in 2004 or 2005, the nation's economy will
: factor into my plans.
[snip]
: However, I have every confidence that given the heady vibes of prosperity,

: works that require intent cogent audience attention can thrive.

: Should a groundswell of optimism, reflected in an astounding turnabout
: upswing of the economy, convince me of the viability of high-price ticketed
: entertainment, then I shall opt for the 450th anniversary.

: The better the economy, the likelier people would spend on the luxury items.

But Ken, don't think about the monetary/economic rewards... remember what
you have often proclaimed:

"The highest reward for a man's toil is not what he gets for it,
but what he becomes by it."
-John Ruskin

Ken hesitates to don his buskin...
Has he forgot those words of Ruskin?
Forego worldly ill-conceits
That count only cash receipts!
Delight Bard and opera buff's kin.
;-)

--Ward Hardman

"The older I get, the more I admire and crave competence, just simple
competence, in any field from adultery to zoology."
- H.L. Mencken

[Evelyn Vogt Gamble (Divamanque)]

Thomas Muething wrote:
>
> From Ken's website: "Frieda Hempel who was Kenneth Lane's
> voice teacher from 1954-1956"
>
> How old is this guy?

Quite elderly, I think - which is why a lot of the folks
here tend to cut him some slack, despite his incessant
self-promotion. (At that age, what's to promote but
memories/fantasies of the "great career" that may or may not
have existed in fact?)

[brudge]

"Ken B Lane" <kenb...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20020226144106...@mb-cr.aol.com...

> Should a groundswell of optimism, reflected in an astounding turnabout
upswing
> of the economy, convince me of the viability of high-price ticketed
> entertainment, then I shall opt for the 450th anniversary.

That we should be denied this cultural treat - nay, feast - for so long is,
of course, most regrettable. However, let us not forget that, while we await
"heady vibes of prosperity in which the fortunes of works that require
intent cogent audience attention can thrive", many comparable entertainment
opportunities will remain available to us.

I for one will be having all my teeth extracted by a sweaty Lithuanian
goatherd, while listening to selections from Lloyd Webber musicals performed
by Charlotte Church. Does it get any better than that?

B.