Sadness that yesterday (Monday), Cirque du Soleil filed for bankruptcy protection in Canada. No doubt that the company will somehow survive given that it's a proven money making venture. Clearly, though, the deal offered is onerous to those investors who will receive little if anything on their initial entrepreneurship. And what does an out of work circus performer do for 6-8 months?!
Life isn't fair. At certain times with certain administrations businesses will get help in America. Yet the very nature of American capitalism is that the ebb and flow of the tide determines who wins and loses. It isn't nor ever was a level playing field. Watching the series Billions was like a documentary ofttimes. The protagonist(s) doesn't actually do what most others do do. Only, they gets caught out. The line of legality, though seemingly straight, so often is a maze embroiling everyone. Such is the system.
Europe, for the mostpart, is exemplary is supporting its national arts organizations, particularly Germany. The U.K. hasn't changed its colors on that stance in living memory. The bottom line there, is should the arts be supported at all? Creatives always must fight their turf as if fighting to be creative weren't enough in and of itself. So with the pandemic it's the same battle being fought yet again only with even more dire consequences.
Now Broadway is also dark until at least early 2021. You know, basic Broadway equity salary is around $100,000 p/a (plus health benefits). Of course far far more for some, and everyone worked their *%^((to get there, even more mentally). Having a significant other helps, but what of those who only really have themselves? And all those opera singers, all those not just freelance musicians….and all those…
Unprecedented times. At least there is a welfare system in America, and many if not most of whom I refer to never ever ever thought they would be filling in those forms and standing in that queue. Is that the start to a paradigm shift in thinking? I would hope so. But America isn't Europe. Well, I'm not writing this for the NYT or The Guardian so I can stop there:) I'm sure many many others deserve to be paid to expand these thoughts.
Couple of obits today, composer Johnny Mandel and all round funny guy Carl Reiner. Were they like smelling the same daisies last night-The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming? And what is it with blaming Russia for everything anyway in America? Didn't stop Hunter Biden falling in…But that's another 'love story'…I do have a fascinating tape of Reagan's Russian adviser speaking of her experiences with Gorbachev. Nothing sensation, a public arena. So please don't shoot me without advance warning, cause I do have a posthumous novel and would like to leave the proceeds to my 'cat':) !
A couple of great films scored by Johnny Mandel, that again, many may not have seen:
The Verdict (1982)
Being There (1979)
That Cold Day in the Park (1969)
Perhaps one of Johnny Mandel's most beautiful songs was, of course;) written with the genius lyricists Alan and Marilyn Bergman (who are still with us to tell the tale!). Don't they bring out the greatest in every composer they work with?
1992 doesn't seem that long ago to me, yet, know that is. Here's to Life is a 1992 studio album by Shirley Horn, arranged by Johnny Mandel (also the composer of three of the songs on the album), who received a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s)- [apologies quoting from Wiki]. A long time ago, maybe, but doesn't that album sound so kinda Billie Eilish and Lady Gaga in its modern spirit and simplicity?
t'b'
c"t
