Anthony Piccolo, who led the New York City Opera children's chorus, stepped in and has been appointed full time to the job.
It's as if the Greek drama of the city has been temporarily halted to let members of the chorus step forward and sing about themselves.
As she took her curtain calls after singing her final Orfeo in Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice at Glyndebourne, a member of the chorus stepped forward and presented her with Orfeo's lyre, the instrument that had protected the character in the underworld by charming the furies, and now, it was hoped, would look after Dame Janet on her own journey into the unknown world of retirement.
At the start of the chorus, he stepped forward, guided by For Real.
It is as if, in the manner of a Greek tragedy, a member of the chorus had stepped forward to speak.
Other than the perky pabulum of prostitution singalong Lola and a big fat feelgood chorus on Step with Me, the hooks and hits are thin on the ground.
Like dancers in a Broadway production, they shimmied their hips in synchronized chorus lines, stepping in time to the thumping music.
Her association with Stock, Aitken and Waterman continued until her fourth album, Let's Get to It (1991), and only a few of those songs stand time's tests: Got to Be Certain (1988) is still adorably sweet, Hand on Your Heart (1989) still perfect bubblegum with a brilliant chorus, and Step Back in Time and Shocked (both 1991) still bounce hard.
The presentation will include a lecture and slides, video and live performing of the Savoy Lindy hop and chorus women's steps of the time.
In the Bicentennial year of 1976, he began a series of I Love America rallies — elaborate, choreographed affairs with singers and choruses — on the steps of state capitols around the country.
