Sponsor Pulls the Plug on Brucknerthon 2003

Sponsor Pulls the Plug on Brucknerthon 2003

CARLSBAD BUGLE: Ramon Khalona confirmed that former RMCR contributor Lawrence Kasimow , owner of Super Duper Computers (stores in Pasadena, Beverly Hills, and Compton ) will not sponsor the Brucknerthon 2003 Festival held in Carlsbad, California. Kasimow told the Bugle: 'As you know Super Duper bought all the refreshments for the Brucknerthon Festivals in the past. We supplied a rich and varied menu of Austrian dishes, prepared by Elsa's German Deli in Carlsbad. Also we flew in several kegs of Pilsner Urquell from the Czech Republic. Unfortunately, business has been poor the last 2 years, and we must cut costs. Last week our Pasadena store sold one refurbished Gateway 500, 2 mouse pads, and a can of air. It's tough out there.' But not everyone is happy about the decision. Curtis Croulet harshly criticized Kasimow's decision: 'Lawrence is so cheap the mice in his house cry. I'll be damned if I buy so much as a keyboard from Super Duper'. Kasimow angrily pointed the finger at Croulet: ' If Curtis didn't eat all the potato salad at Brucknerthon 2001, and have a second helping of sauerbraten, costs wouldn't have skyrocketed as they have...he's got some nerve.' In the meantime, an unshaven and tired Ramon Khalona is searching for a new sponsor. 'Well I tried Padilla's Bakery in Carlsbad. I explained our problem to Carlos the owner. He listened intently and said 'Ramon, don't you think it's a little early in the day to be drinking?'. In the meantime the state of California wants to retroactively tax the Brucknerthon festivals. Music critic David Hurwitz called this latest black eye for classical music ' A bad day for the Big B. Personally I wouldn't be caught dead at such an event, but for classical listeners like Ramon, Curtis, and Lawrence, who obviously have DEEP-SEATED psychological problems which SHOCK-THERAPY and years of HEAVY ANALYSIS might cure, the festival played an important part in their pitiful lives. I wish them the best of luck' Featur ed guest speaker for Brucknerthon 2003 was to be Dr. J.Anthony Movshon. He was scheduled to lecture on Microphone placement in Van Beinum's Bruckner 8th. Hearing that there would be no beer, he cancelled.

Considering California's current power shortage, Brucknerthons are no longer affordable.... not even in Karlsbad

dk

following letters to be typed in

DANG! I'll never buy gasoline out of the back of Lawrence's truck again.

Well, actually, I was siphoning it while he was shopping at Record Surplus, but you get the idea.

No more Pilsner Urquell? I suppose the next thing you'll tell me is that they'll be serving coffee and donuts.

I would like to reassure everyone that the event will take place as scheduled (Saturday before Labor Day here in the U.S.) The organizers are working diligently in this harsh economic climate to find a new sponsor.

For the record: Dr. Movshon's long anticipated talk is in jeopardy because we absolutely cannot serve mayonnaise at these events, but we are working through an experienced mediator (perhaps even Mr. Fogel might be called to help) to see if Dr. Movshon will accept a marmite substitute.

Ramon Khalona

Marmite? Sorry, no.

But in the interest of helping you out, I will see if I can arrange for my esteemed colleague Mr. Roberts to give his brilliant and controversial, if somewhat deranged lecture on the topic of 'If Bruckner Had Eaten Marmite He'd Have Finished the Ninth'.

Tony Movshon

Lawrence Kasimow might be there, if not for the fact that I siphoned all of the gas from his truck's tank. ;

Is there any truth to rumor that has been circulating since the withdrawal of Super Duper support that Lady Shirley Beecham has been approached as a benefactor with the assurance that her late husband's Bruckner 7th Symphony performance will be featured at this year's commemoration?

I hear Ken Lane is willing to set that to music.

(etc.)

Regrettably, I must announce that I will be unable to attend this year's Brucknerathon as I have already accepted an invitation to be the guest speaker at the 2003 Chaussonaorgy (to be held this year in Carlsbad Caverns). This year's schedule looks delicious: We are planning on listening (straight through) to every recording in existence of the Symphony in B flat. (Come to think of it, that's what we did last year as well.) Anyways, in place of my absence, I would be delighted to submit my 23 page monograph 'The comparative scarcity of CD cues in Bruckner recordings as contrasted with the abundance of CD cues in the contemporary Mahler Cd' (just published by Highlights Magazine Press). If that doesn't promote a healthy dialogue, I would also be happy to fax over my treatise (as submitted to last year's Saint-Saens' Symposium) 'Poor judgment in LP & CD side breaks: A historical perspective.'

Many Regards,

Joe V.

^^^^^^^^ You probably meant 'enlightening'