Kathleen Battle fiasco at the Brevard Music Center
Keeslerg23
North Carolina last night for Kathleen Battle's appearance with the Brevard
Music Festival Orchestra, conducted by David Effron.
The program as listed:
Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture
Debussy: Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune
Mozart: Exsultate, jubilate
--- Intermission ---
Bernstein: "Symphonic Dances" from West Side Story
Four Spirituals: This Little Light Of Mine
Let Us Break Bread Together
Jesus Lay Your Head In My Window
Witness
The program was scheduled to begin at 7:30pm. It didn't start until 7:45pm, a
bad sign already. The orchestra played their two selections superbly and
during the applause for the Debussy, David Effron left the stage. We waited
while the orchestra shifted a bit; we waited some more; we still waited.
Finally, the conductor came out without Miss Battle and groans were heard
throughout the audience. He stated that "Miss Battle has requested a change in
the order of the program." The woman sitting two seats down from me said very
loudly, "No wonder the Met fired her ass!" So we went to intermission.
We came back and the orchestra again played superbly. At the conclusion of the
Bernstein selection, the conductor left the stage. Again we waited more than
five minutes. Finally, at 9:10pm Miss Battle came walking out very slowly as
if she were in a daze. She got to the front of the stage beside the
conductor's platform, then turned her back to the audience and approached the
concertmaster. She spoke briefly with him then turned around and nodded to the
conductor. Of course, everyone thought we would hear the Mozart, but she began
with the spirituals. After "This Little Light Of Mine" she turned sideways
towards the conductor and placed her hands in his. They spoke of something,
then he cupped her face in his hands. At this point, I heard someone around me
say, "He ought to slap her." She finished the other songs and there was
applause. I kept thinking, "Don't let her leave the stage... don't let her
leave the stage." Well she did. We waited and waited. Finally the orchestra
got up and left the stage. That's when the booing started. Miss Battle ambled
back out on stage and attempted to speak, but numerous people in the audience
kept shouting, "We can't hear you!" So David Effron came out and she told him
what to say... something to the effect that she was very honored to be at the
Brevard Music Center, but it was with a heavy heart that she came out on stage,
and she wanted to sing something from her heart. The conductor sat down in the
empty violin section. She pulled out her pitch pipe and sang something,
another spiritual, I think, that had the words "forgive me" throughout. After
lukewarm applause, she sang something else I had never heard. By this time,
people had begun leaving and in the middle of this second "encore" (though I
don't think it qualified as an encore since she didn't complete the original
program) someone repeatedly blasted a car horn as they drove by (it's an
outdoor auditorium - covered but with open sides). The audience began to
laugh, Miss Battle stopped singing and pointed her finger in the direction of
the horn and said "not music," whereby a woman in the audience yelled out very
loudly "What about the Mozart?" Miss Battle completed this piece, then sang
one more unaccompanied short spiritual and that was it - a very disappointing
evening.
It's even hard to comment on the state of her voice, since what she sang was
not that challenging. She seemed to be having a little problem at the very top
of the voice, but other than that she sounded okay. So she should have been
able to perform the Mozart. However, she still breathes very loudly and
frequently.
I sincerely hope that the Brevard Music Center doesn't let her get away with
those shenanigans. She sang a total of no more than 20 minutes, if that much.
The Saturday performance was completely sold out - I didn't see an empty seat
anywhere, which is unusual. Audience members should demand refunds - they pay
to hear the guest artists, and tickets for Miss Battle were substantially
higher than normal. I only wish I knew what kind of stunt she pulled during
the Thursday night performance.
That woman has some serious problems.
Greg Keesler
Richard Loeb
"Keeslerg23" <keesl...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010715142933...@ng-ci1.aol.com...
Don Drewecki
If she was physically ill, then either she could have come out and said
so to the audience and apologized, or an official might have also made
such an announcement. This is ridiculous.
--
Don Drewecki
<dre...@rpi.edu>
Mary S.
> Finally, at 9:10pm Miss Battle came walking out very slowly as
> if she were in a daze.
> of the voice, but other than that she sounded okay.
Sounds like she was ill.
Matthew B. Tepper
No doubt. The question is, physically, or otherwise?
--
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Terry Simmons
on 16/7/01 12:16:
Sounds like she's dumb.
Brad Renwick
>
>No doubt. The question is, physically, or otherwise?
>
Most likely mentally ill.
Matthew B. Tepper
news:20010716115059...@ng-mc1.aol.com:
That is a great tragedy.
MarkZ1000
>>
>>No doubt. The question is, physically, or otherwise?
>>
>
>Most likely mentally ill.
>
Do you know this for a fact or are you just being an ass?
Mark Zimmerman * Chicago
To reply remove "nospam"
Matthew B. Tepper
news:20010716145228...@ng-fy1.aol.com:
>>>> Sounds like she was ill.
>>>
>>>No doubt. The question is, physically, or otherwise?
>>>
>>
>>Most likely mentally ill.
>>
>
> Do you know this for a fact or are you just being an ass?
One can only guess that her continuing erratic behavior is the result of a
treatable personality disorder, as opposed to the possibility that she is
just a bad person.
Uttini1813
I am as cruel a p***k as anyone on this list and Battle never rang my bell,
even in her prime. But I'm going to leave his one alone. She obviously needs
some help, but is not getting it. Perhaps that is because it is not in the best
interest of those for whom she is a meal ticket
Brad Renwick
>Do you know this for a fact or are you just being an ass?
>
Can you question someone's statement without you being an ass???
The fact remains that it's well known in the music world that Battle is not
playing with a full deck of cards. It's one thing to be a "diva" but it's
completely different to pull the stunts that she has in the past and continues
to do so. What is sad is that it's apparent that she's not getting any help.
June
June
"Uttini1813" <uttin...@aol.com> wrote in message
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Matthew B. Tepper
news:20010716152611...@ng-cg1.aol.com:
Like her recording company, perhaps?
Matthew B. Tepper
news:KbJ47.18499$JN6.3...@news1.rdc1.mi.home.com:
> If she keeps it up, she won't be a meal ticket for long.
>
> June
But as such is eminently discardable by the recording industry, who make
and discard "stars" all the time.
REG
"MarkZ1000" <mark...@aol.comnospam> wrote in message
news:20010716145228...@ng-fy1.aol.com...
REG
although I would be careful in making these kind of accusations. My own
sense of her is that these difficulties developed slowly over the course of
a decade, and in such a situation "help" is often difficult to get. It may
be for all we know that she is getting help just to keep going (I seem to
remember her performance schedule is down to 30-40 concerts and recitals
this year; let's face it, Alagna and Borodina ain't going to be appearing at
Brevard this year with the local orchestra), and it may be that those who
manage her have tried to get help for her. Not everything is Sunset
Boulvard.
"June" <s...@noway.com> wrote in message
news:KbJ47.18499$JN6.3...@news1.rdc1.mi.home.com...
Operatunenity
>>
So was Bruna Rasa and Hugo Wolf as well as numerous others
david melnick
June
antique shop because someone doesn't recognize you does sound a mite "off
balance" to put it mildly.
June
"david melnick" <dmel...@pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:3B53917A...@pacbell.net...
Evelyn Vogt Gamble (Divamanque)
"Matthew B. Tepper" wrote:
>
> One can only guess that her continuing erratic behavior is the result of a
> treatable personality disorder, as opposed to the possibility that she is
> just a bad person.
Have there ever been any reports of alcohol or drug
problems? The description sounds as though she might have
come onstage "under the influence". (The whole bizarre
scenario would fit such a picture, for that matter). Sad,
if true - but she wouldn't be the first who couldn't take
the pressures of a career without turning to some sort of
"crutch".
John Conway
>>>
>
>So was Bruna Rasa and Hugo Wolf as well as numerous others
And don't forget Donizetti.
Oxydols,
John
Corelli rules, Vince Gill drools.
Ivan Lalis
tell me what was the accident at Antique Mall? Any details given? Not
recognizing can mean anything. Ranging from "Do you know who I am?" to
"Today is a concert of that bitch Battle". If I heard the latter about
myself I'd be quite pissed off, I tell you.
Ivan
MAD4OPERA
even in her prime. But I'm going to leave his one alone. She obviously needs
some help, but is not getting it. Perhaps that is because it is not in the best
interest of those for whom she is a meal ticket>>
For one to accept help, one has to believe that there is a problem that needs
resolution. With the numerous incidents in Battle's past, I'm sure that Ms.
Battle believes that the problem is with the rest of the world and we all need
to seek psychiatric help.
cheers,
Terri
Eric Nagamine
A friend of mine who has a friend playing in the Brevard festival
orchestra passed on some other background to the story.
Given Ms Battle's reputation, festival management had arranged to have 4
different accommodations available for her. When she arrived however,
she chose another one farther away from Brevard than the 4 originally
planned. Reports are that she was very demanding of the hotel staff.
As to the Antique store, she had gone in the day before the incident
where the police were called and reportedly was very verbally abusive to
the owners. They therefore asked her to leave. She returned the next day
and continued to be abusive to the owners who called the police.
Originally, she was scheduled to appear only on Saturday night. However
since the concert sold well, a thursday(?) concert was added. According
to the report, the Thursday concert went well. The problems for Saturday
night started when Battle failed to show up prior to the concert,
causing the program order to be changed. What Greg recounted was
basically what happened after she arrived.
--
-----------
Aloha and Mahalo,
Eric Nagamine
Skip
"Eric Nagamine" <en...@hawaii.rr.com> wrote in message
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Mark D. Lew
<s...@noway.com> wrote:
> I am as cruel a p***k as anyone on this list and Battle never rang my bell,
> even in her prime. But I'm going to leave his one alone. She obviously needs
> some help, but is not getting it. Perhaps that is because it is not in the
> best
> interest of those for whom she is a meal ticket.
There are people who used to be close to Ms Battle who have attempted to
help her, but she has resisted their efforts. (I know this because I have
met one of them and heard him discuss it.)
--
In article <3B53BEAD...@earthlink.net>, "Evelyn Vogt Gamble
(Divamanque)" <evg...@earthlink.net> wrote:
> Have there ever been any reports of alcohol or drug
> problems? The description sounds as though she might have
> come onstage "under the influence". (The whole bizarre
> scenario would fit such a picture, for that matter). Sad,
> if true - but she wouldn't be the first who couldn't take
> the pressures of a career without turning to some sort of
> "crutch".
I never heard anything about substance abuse. That doesn't rule it out, of
course, but if that were the problem it seems like it would be widely known
by now.
mdl
MarkWAlexander
an antique store that had a very clear "no returns" policy. The incident
occured when she tried to return the item the next day.
Also heard that she complained about her 9 room suite in the Biltmore mansion.
Gotta love her