Alexander the Great
Thank you for covering the production of Alexander the Great in your February issue of Patrides.
The piece is mostly complimentary and criticism on artistic matters is a matter of right.
Unfortunately, your article contains some serious falsehoods that I would like to correct.
The Pan-Macedonian Association (the organizer of the event) had nothing to do with the artistic side of the production. I and the rest of the organizing committee very assiduously avoided any involvement or even comment on the artistic side of the production. The Association agreed to pay the expenses of the production, promote it, prepare a programme and sell tickets.
More particularly:
The theatre was chosen by the composer. If the acoustics were inadequate, so be it.
The composer was invited to meet with the technical personnel of the theatre to discuss details about lighting and the sound system. We had nothing to do with it.
The choice of orchestra, singers and what parts of the opera would be performed were all decided by the composer and the conductor. We had nothing to do with any of that and in fact I had quite time to keep up with the names of the singers to be included in the programme!
We did not cut or alter a single note. I do not have a copy of the score. All the changes were made by the composer and the conductor without our knowledge or involvement. The allegation that we made changes to the score and chose the pieces to be played is a simple lie. It was simply impossible for us to do that.
We had nothing to do with the choice of singers nor with paying them. We agreed to pay the conductor a set amount and that was to cover the cost of the singers and the orchestra. The contract was in writing. The allegation that we made changes in order to save money is a lie. I repeat we made no changes whatsoever.
The choice of orchestra was the composer's. If the size and competence of the orchestra were an issue, it was outside our competence and area of responsibility completely.
Some
of the allegations against us are serious and quite insulting. They are
also completely untrue.
We spent countless hours to promote the work of a Greek-Canadian composer, to help the Hellenic Home of the Aged and to bring something new to our community. Our reward seems to be some compliments coupled with defamatory lies.
Yours truly,
James Karas
President
Pan-Macedonian Association of Ontario
