CBC's big Dick

Why do Canadian cultural institutions constantly insist on hiring toxic bureaucrats who know very little about Canadian culture?

CBC in its finite wisdom six years ago hired Richard Stursberg - the man who nearly destroyed Telefilm because he was interested solely in making the place an American cloning device. It may have ended up being a financially viable idea, except the decision-makers responsible decided to green-light absolute clap-trap - devoid of any indigenous character whatsoever. They were expensive movies with cardboard actors, generic plots, and huge financial losses. Telefilm finally got rid of him, as did CBC just a month ago, for similar reasons.

Stursberg became hated by virtually every employee of the CBC because of his smugness, weird non-sequiturs, and for making Peter Mansbridge stand up while reading the news.

His other accomplishments include:

- a bitter 7 week lockout during his second year
- the loss of the broadcasting contract for the Olympics
- the loss of the broadcasting contract for the Grey Cup
- the loss of the broadcasting contract for curling
- the loss of the Hockey Night in Canada theme song
- the complete revamping of Radio 2 which has lost 20% of its faithful fan base
- the complete revamping of CBC Newsworld which has lost viewers to CTV
- sold off 1000 hours of CBC programming assets to foreign distributors

Ian Morrison, a spokesman for the watchdog group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, says Stursberg was appointed "as a complete outsider" with no previous radio or television production, scheduling or marketing experience.

In fact, Stursberg didn't even know that CBC had a radio station when he accepted the job...until he pretty much destroyed it.

He was most likely chosen because he is the son of famed foreign correspondent - Peter Stursberg - who ran around the world, reporting back to Canada, but hardly living here. That means little Ricky didn't grow up with 'Friendly Giant' & 'Don Messer's Jubilee' and doesn't give a rat's ass about what makes this country distinctive from the States.

So now Head Honcho of CBC - lawyer and sports colour commentator, Hubert Lacroix - has dismissed Richard Stursberg, saying: "We are in the midst of developing a new strategic plan that will guide CBC/Radio-Canada through the next five years. This is the opportune time to bring new leadership...." meaning, the CBC has no idea what direction it's taking, as long as it's not Richard Stursberg's.

Gosh, Telefilm could have told Lacroix that seven years ago. But at least Stursberg was savvy enough to buy 'Jeopardy' and 'Wheel of Fortune.' Fortunately, Alex Trebek just happens to be a Ukrainian-Canadian from Sudbury.

Singing in Canada

Canada has produced an amazing array of musicians - the list of top-notch classical singers alone is enough to make St. Cecilia ratchet up her organ bench to its top notch. One only needs to consider early beacons of warbling icons such as Emma Albani, Lois Marshall, Maureen Forrester, Jon Vickers, George London and Louis Quilico. Today we have singers such as Isabel Bayrakdarian, Measha Brueggergosman, and much easier ones to spell, such as Ben Heppner and Gerald Finley. But what is it in this country that keeps spawning such uvulatic behemoths? I have a few theories, but the most important attributes which all of these great artists have shared are the unbelievably long Canadian winters and Kraft Dinner. Historically, it has been just too freaking cold to do anything but stay indoors, vocalize, and build up a tremendous reserve of carbohydrates. Kraft Dinner to the Canuck singer is as the potato was to the 19th century Irishman - lots of starch, inexpensive and no fuss to prepare.

(A little talent may have something to do with it too).

Boyz 'n the Hood

Went to London a couple of weeks ago thanks to Dan Taylor and the coffers of the Canada Council. I was part of his 'Theatre of Early Music' group and sang some of the most difficult Bach and Handel (Lutheran Mass in g- and 'Choice of Hercules')that's ever been thrust into my hands.

The occasion was the 57th Tilford Bach Festival; a small but stunning rural English village with several restored 16th century farm houses. I lived in one which previously must have belonged to a Hobbit because I kept bonking my head on ancient timbers which were no higher than the Baggins family.

The concerts were terrific and the conducting duties were shared by three first-rate musicians: Adrian Butterfield, who in real life is a baroque violinist but was suffering a broken shoulder; Laurence Cummings, harsichordist extraordinaire; and Daniel Taylor, stratospheric counter-tenor.



But what I remember most about Tilford, aside from The Barley Mow and adjacent cricket pitch (2nd oldest in the world - a fact Tilfordites are extremely proud) is the fact that it's the 'secret' location of the latest Robin Hood film, presently in production.



This 180 million dollar feature reunites the principals of 'Gladiator' - Director Ridley Scott and Aussie actor, Russell Crowe. But apparently, the two are not getting along as well as expected; Mr. Crowe does not want to be near the film sets but in his mansion in Windsor, and has demanded that he is flown daily by helicopter. It's enough to make one Blanchett. (She's playing Maid Marion)

I've added photos of the Tilford set. The castle is supposed to be French, even though the set decorators have added a King George flag. Sir Ridley shot the opening battle sequence of Gladiator on this very location.









http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1189545/EXCLUSIVE-First-look-scenes-new-Robin-Hood-movie-starring-Russell-Crowe.html

Jeremy Sings

Every once in a while I search Youtube for classic performances of great artists: Sam Ramey in one of his devilish roles; Domingo in pretty much anything; Jon Vickers singing Wagner; (a gravitational pull toward darker voices). And every once in a while, up pops something completely rare and unexpected, a jewel among the quagmire.

In this case, it is the alluring natural voice and charm of Jeremy Brett, the best Sherlock since Rathbone, singing an English (or is it Irish?) folk song accompanied by harp. The person who introduces him is none other than Twiggy (!) that popular stick figure from the '60's.

Of course, it's not as incongruous as it may first seem; Brett once had to sing to Audrey Hepburn in 'My Fair Lady' and had at least to read the treble clef to play Sherlock Holmes playing the violin.

One can sense the sincerity in everything Jeremy Brett set his mind to; what a pity he was taken so soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrMBdQm9P10&feature=related

Enjoy.

Behind Every Successful Woman...

As an addendum to the post below, I noticed in the Globe and Mail today a reproduction of the Dolores Claman notation of the Hockey Night in Canada song. It looks like a Grade 4 Conservatory student had written it with two fingers. The real reason the song sounds so fantastic is because of the masterful orchestration by that great Canadian arranger and composer, Howard Cable.

Hats off to the business acumen of CTV, but the composer should really dip into her 2.5 million dollars and buy Mr. Cable a nice bottle of Ontario champagne.

Hockey Night in Corporate-land

So the Hockey Night in Canada theme song has been bought by CTV; is there anything else the CBC can possibly screw up? Granted, the woman who wrote the tune lives a good life in London, England, a very expensive town, and she must continue to live a lifestyle to which her famous jingle has made her accustomed.

Renowned choral composer, Derek Holman, told me a couple of weeks ago about the occasional dime he makes from the British Novello Publishing Company. He's been writing music faithfully now for well over 40 years, which is about how long ago the Hockey Night theme was penned.

I suppose I'm trying to make a point here, but I'm not sure what it is.

Also 40 years ago, CBC television was doing wonders with its not insubstantial budget, and followed its national mandate beautifully, putting a great emphasis on live dance, theatre, music, and some earnest Canadian drama. Now, it just lies through its teeth about its mandate (some years ago, a top CBC TV producer told me, "yes, what we ARE doing and what we OUGHT to be doing are two completely different things") and tries to cater to absolutely everyone while forgetting its connection to the past.

The well-crafted, gladiatorial hockey fanfare - perhaps no more costly than Don Cherry's cravat collection - is a case in point.

Moore's Muffet

I'm a big Benjamin Britten fan; his choral music is always extremely well crafted and a joy to sing; his orchestral writing is usually economically savvy and colourful; and his fantastic opera, Peter Grimes (1945), was a watershed for all singing fishermen.

His many folksong arrangements are cleverly inventive, even if some are a bit bizarre. And here to demonstrate the quintessential Britten folksong, is Dudley Moore, borrowing the voice of Sir Peter Pears:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ8ZltDdbUI

If you're a Britten/Pears fan, don't miss this.