New Mexico Attorney General Gary K. King issued a formal opinion (No. 11-01) on January 4 taking the position that under principles of comity New Mexico would recognize same-sex marriages validly performed elsewhere, even though the state's laws do not provide for same-sex marriages to be contracted within the state. King's formal opinion was co-signed by Assistant Attorney General Elaine P. Lujan, who is presumably the principal author of the document. The opinion was requested … <Read More>
Texas Appeals Court Turns Back Challenge to Same-Sex Divorce
The Texas 3rd District Court of Appeals at Austin has rejected an attempt by the state's Attorney General Greg Abbott to appeal an order by Travis County District Judge Scott H. Jenkins granting a divorce to Angelique S. Naylor and Sabina Daly. State of Texas v. Naylor & Daly, No. 03-10-00237-CV (January 7, 2011). The court did not address the question whether the Texas law against same-sex marriage is constitutional, resting its decision instead on the … <Read More>
9th Circuit Panel Takes Preliminary Actions in Proposition 8 Challenge
The 9th Circuit panel that has been presented with an appeal from now-retired U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling last year that California Proposition 8 (providing that only the marriage of one man to one woman will be valid or recognized in California) violates the 14th Amendment issued two opinions on January 4, 2011. Both were issued on behalf of the entire panel and not attributed to any single member.
In one, the court ruled … <Read More>
Fair Game: The Plame/Wilson Story on Film From Their Point of View
This film seems to have come and almost gone rather quickly and, unfortunately, not enough people who need to see it will get a chance or be motivated to do so. It is a dramatization of the story of Joseph Wilson IV and Valerie Plame, told from the point of view of their books about the incidents involved, and it contains important messages that every American citizen needs to hear – not least because of … <Read More>
Claudio Monteverdi Vespers of 1610 – An Annual Celebration
Here's something that threatens to become a "regular event" on the New York music scene. Last January (2010), Jolle Greenleaf had an inspiration to gather a group of early music performers together to put on what would likely be the very first 400th anniversary commemorative performance of Vespro della Beata Vergine, the music for a Marian vespers service included by composer Claudio Monteverdi in his earliest published volume of sacred music, in 1610 in Venice. … <Read More>
“Other Desert Cities” in Previews at the Mitzi Newhouse Theater, Lincoln Center
A few days ago I attended a preview performance of Jon Robin Baitz's new play, "Other Desert Cities," at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater in Lincoln Center. Joe Mantello directs the cast of Stockard Channing, Stacy Keach, Linda Lavin, Elizabeth Marvel and Thomas Sadoski in a drama about an unusual family buffeted by the political winds of the late 20th century as played out in the first decade of the 21st.
As this was a … <Read More>
Ohio Appeals Court Rules Gay Sperm Donor Who Sought Paternity Declaration Must Pay Child Support to Lesbian Mom
The Ohio Court of Appeals has ruled that a gay man who donated sperm to a lesbian couple so they could conceive a child and subsequently sought a declaration of paternity was obligated to pay for support of the child. Curtis v. Prince, 2010-Ohio-5999, 2010 Westlaw 5071195 (9th Dist., Dec. 8, 2010). The court invoked the doctrine of res judicata (collateral estoppel), holding that the appellant's failure to appeal the original paternity determination barred his … <Read More>
NYP Snow Days Trade-Off – Pops for Premieres
For some unaccountable reason, the New York Philharmonic had decided to devote the week between Christmas and New Year to a program heavy with "modern music" and premieres – works for soloists and orchestra by Paul Hindemith, Aaron Jay Kernis (a world premiere NYP commission) and Christopher Rouse (a NYC premiere), as well as a Vivaldi concerto for 4 violins (Op. 3, No. 10) and Ravel's Bolero to conclude. Rather an odd program for this … <Read More>
Grading Breaks – Movies and Opera
I haven't been posting so much because it is exam grading time, but I have been taking occasional breaks and wanted to comment just briefly on three of those.
About a week ago I went to see "The Fighter," the new movie about the boxing triumph as world welterweight champion of Mickey Ward from Lowell, Massachusetts. Mark Wahlberg, fascinated with the subject and eager to play the part of Mickey, worked hard to put this … <Read More>
“Three Pianos”: A Work of Genius About a Work of Genius
I saw "Three Pianos" tonight at New York Theatre Workshop in the East Village (NYC). This is a two-hour-plus meditation/dramatization of an impromptu performance of Franz Schubert's song cycle, "Winterreise" (Winter Journey), written, arranged and performed by Rick Burkhardt, Alec Duffy, and Dave Malloy, under the direction of Rachel Chavkin. Set design is by Andreea Mincic, lighting design by Austin R. Smith, sound design by Matt Hubbs and Dave Malloy, costume design by Jessica Pabst, … <Read More>