Regarding a letter to the editor from Matthew Boyle regarding the IU Opera Theater production of Alcina in your Feb. 11 edition.
“Arthur Fagen was not the driving force and in fact disagreed with stage director Chas Rader-Shieber’s decision to have the continuo play at the moment the arias were ended in order to avoid applause and preserve the dramatic moment.
Had Mr. Boylenot jumped to conclusions and assumed he understood the behind the scenes story related to this staging decision he could have avoided his unwarranted and ?inaccurate attack on maestro Fagen. Should Mr. Boyle feel compelled to come to Alcina and applaud at the end of all arias I invite him to do so without regard or respect for the artistic decisions that go into each production of the IU Opera and Ballet Theater.
For our part we will continue to take into account all artistic concepts put forth by our creative ?professionals.
We will agree with some and not agree with others, but we will ?continue to respect all.”
Best Regards,
Timothy Stebbins
Executive Director of Production Indiana University Opera and ?Ballet Theater
Jacobs School of Music
tstebbin@indiana.edu
