Two Events Will Honor Memory Of Arts Program
Katherine Gellhorn, who died on Aug. 22, requested no memorial service.
However, her friends and supporters have come up with an idea that even Gellhorn, Spokane’s supreme patron of the arts, might have condoned. Two major arts performances this week will be dedicated to her memory.
The focus won’t be on her, but on the arts she loved the best, which is just the way she would have wanted it.
The first event will be the Spokane Symphony’s big Comstock Park concert Monday at 6 p.m.
The second will be the opening night performance of Uptown Opera’s “Cosi fan tutte” Friday at 8 p.m. at The Met.
Gellhorn, a native of Switzerland, was tireless in support of all of the arts, but classical music and opera were her passions. In the basement of her Spokane home, she and her late husband, Howard Gellhorn, had a collection of 56 full-length operas and 1,250 classical albums on LP. During the ‘50s, she and Howard would host parties in the basement during which guests would eat, drink and listen to a complete opera or symphony on Howard’s state-of-the-art (for the times) stereo system.
More recently, Gellhorn was known for being the leader and driving force of the Opera Buffs. This group supported opera in Spokane, but also took regular journeys, by bus or plane, to operas in San Francisco, Santa Fe and Seattle.
So this is probably the best way to remember Gellhorn: to immerse yourself in a Mozart aria or a Tchaikovsky overture.
I am Tiger Mozart
Speaking of “Cosi fan tutte,” this Uptown Opera version will have an unusual directorial approach. The main plot, about the competition for the love of women, will remain intact. But it will also include competition among cast members in several sporting events, including golf (it will be set in the 20th century).
Hmm. Do you think they might yell “fortissimo” instead of “fore”?
Anyway, directors Bill Graham and Marge Halvorson have subtitled this version “Cosi fan tutte - the Sport of Love.”
The opera runs Friday through Sept. 13 at The Met. Call G&B Select-a-Seat at 325-SEAT or (800) 325-SEAT for tickets.
Broadway single tix on sale
Single tickets for the Best of Broadway touring shows went on sale through G&B Select-a-Seat on Thursday.
Single tickets are the way to go if you want to see only one or two favorites this season, instead of subscribing to the whole shebang. The shows are: “West Side Story,” Oct. 28-31; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Dec. 15-16; “State Fair,” Jan. 26-29; “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” Feb. 18-21; and “Carousel,” March 30-April 1.
“West Side Story” and “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” have already added extra performances due to demand. Tickets for “Joseph” are already going fast, too. A special school matinee for “Joseph” has been added Dec. 16 at 10:30 a.m. for groups of 20 or more.
‘Riverdance’ is rising
Speaking of high demand, the response to “Riverdance” has already been phenomenal, considering that it doesn’t come to the Opera House until April 7-12.
Tickets went on sale only two weeks ago, yet the majority are already sold for eight performances. Chances are this Irish bounce-fest will be sold out before Christmas. Stay on your toes, or you’ll miss this one.
Debut Performing Arts season
Debut Performing Arts has announced its third season of shows at The Met, many of them with a world music accent:
George Winston, the godfather of Windham Hill-style solo piano, Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m.
Tingstad & Rumbel, Seattle’s atmospheric guitar-and-oboe duo, Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m.
Jose Greco II Flamenco Dance Company, one of the world’s bestknown flamenco troupes, Jan. 16, 7:30 p.m.
Lakota Sioux Indian Dance Company, an Inland Northwest debut, Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m.
Global Divas, featuring Bolivian singer Susana Baca, Zimbabwean singer Stella Chiwese and Texan Tish Hinojosa, Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m.
Patrick Ball, Celtic harpist, March 6, 7:30 p.m.
Altan, Irish music group, March 24, 7:30 p.m.
Stephen Drury, renowned classical pianist, with special guest Yukiko Takagi, April 22, 7:30 p.m.
All shows are at The Met.
Individual tickets and season tickets went on sale this month through G&B Select-a-Seat outlets and at Street Music.
KSKN and UPN
It looks as if the inaugural date of KSKN-22 as Spokane’s UPN affiliate will be Sept. 8. This has still not been officially announced, although UPN is already running full-page ads in TV Guide trumpeting “UPN-22”!
And KSKN’s 10 p.m. news, produced by KREM, will be launched on Sept. 15.
Now, I need to clear up a few details about a KSKN item I ran two weeks ago. Somehow, I, Mr. Spotlight, have some kind of weird mental block which makes it hard for me to get KSKN-22 details straight.
KSKN-TV is owned by KSKN-TV Inc., which includes a number of local shareholders. Judy Querio is not the sole owner, but is the president and secretary. By the way, Querio was not part of the move of the KSKN offices into the KREM offices. Querio lives and works in Texas.
KSKN will retain its own general manager, Cris Salsbury. KREM will provide programming, marketing and technical expertise.
‘Vesta’ collaboration
Here’s a perfect example of a collaboration between the arts, business and society:
“Vesta,” by Spokane playwright Bryan Harnetiaux, has been chosen to be the kickoff event for a seminar series on elder-care issues in Spokane. Four performances of this play, which deals with the last years of an elderly woman’s life, are being sponsored by two local companies, Mature Matters and Care Management Resources Inc. These companies recognized that the play would be an invaluable tool for helping people to understand issues of elder care.
The audiences will consist of people who deal with elder-care issues. The performances are not open to the public.
In its original run at Spokane Civic Theatre’s Studio Theatre last year, “Vesta” proved to be an excellent vehicle for provoking thought while being fine theater at the same time.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo
MEMO: Spotlight is weekly column of news and commentary on the arts and media. To leave a message on Jim Kershner’s voice-mail, call 459-5493. Or send e-mail to jimk@spokesman.com, or regular mail to Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210.