A ballet of optimism

As almost everyone knows by now, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and the Pittsburgh Musicians' Union have reached a one-year agreement in their recent contract negotiations. It calls for a live orchestra for two productions during the 2006-07 season instead of the four that the orchestra would typically play.

What may not be as clear to the public is the new spirit of cooperation that exists between the ballet management and the musicians. The musicians' union understands the financial position in which the ballet finds itself. We have seen its financial information first hand. While both management and musicians agree that live music is best, the union also understands that there is no quick fix to the ballet's money problems. The financial woes of the PBT didn't come about overnight nor will they be solved in short order. There is much work to be done to raise the kind of money that will put the ballet back on its feet financially.

Most encouraging is the appointment of Harris Ferris as the PBT's new executive director. He has begun to raise funds dedicated to bringing back the ballet orchestra full time. The orchestra members will be part of this effort, a campaign that the musicians have asked to participate in for years. Mr. Ferris is also looking for new money to fund the ballet, replacing money sources that are no longer available. There is cause for cautious optimism. There are reasons to believe that the PBT will regain its financial footing and remain a beacon to the arts community in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area. We wish Mr. Ferris and the ballet the best in this effort. If these steps should fail, we will all be the poorer.

George Clewer
President, Pittsburgh Musicians Union

Absence of melody

I am delighted to know that Jennifer Higdon "is swamped with commissions" as the program notes said for the Feb. 16 Pittsburgh Symphony Concert.

Her trombone concerto is filled with interesting sounds and stunning extravagances on the solo instrument, and there are two sections in up-tempo, which is always effective, fun and enjoyable. Alas, the tunes. Did you ever notice that a melody exists only in your brain? When a chain of notes have passed by your ears and disappeared into nowhere, you decide whether they amount to, whether they sum up to, a melody -- or not. Ms. Higdon's do not. And the many voices by the various instruments of the orchestra seem quite independent agents and unconcerned what the other voices are doing.

They make quite a pleasant noise together, but that is what it finally amounts to, noise. Noise is, of course, the enjoyment of babies and of grown-ups who have not grown up. This accounts for much of popular music these days. It is not surprising that this has spilled over into the symphony orchestra also.

With Lucas Richman's concerto one did have, indeed, the feeling that the right hand knew what the left hand was doing and that not every instrument struck out on its own in whatever interesting exploit it might be engaged. And when the oboe had played a phrase of some notes, one did recall it as a melody that had a shape, a gestalt, something that would fit somehow into a scale we are naturally disposed to enjoy.

The applause for the concertos was about the same. We are always inclined to applaud the soloists, especially when they are of the caliber as they were on this occasion. Besides, our concert-goers always rather applaud than boo. They have spent their money and want to believe that the experience was worth the expense -- and, importantly, they are loath to confess that they did not "understand" the work (who does?). So they applaud the emperor's new clothes.

But thanks to the PSO for giving composers a chance. After all, probably 90 percent of contemporary music at any epoch did not make it into eternity.

Rudolph Fellner
Squirrel Hill

Alarmed by 'Grey'

As a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, I would like to comment on the episode of "Grey's Anatomy" that aired on Feb. 5. We in the anesthesia community were alarmed at the depiction of the anesthesiologist who, during a "code black" situation in the hospital, deserted his patient and left a young paramedic alone in the O.R. to cope.

I understand that the actions of this fictional character were scripted for dramatic effect and not intended to represent the profession of anesthesiology in a realistic sense. However, I would like to point out that, of all medical specialists, an anesthesiologist is probably the least likely to fall apart or "bail out" in a crisis situation.

Anesthesiologists are at the forefront of treating soldiers on the battlefield. They volunteer to be part of disaster medical assistance teams that are deployed as first responders in all types of dangerous scenarios. Their training prepares them to act decisively in critical care and emergency situations.

I would also like to point out that there is much more to the job of the anesthesiologist than was portrayed in this episode. It's not just about breathing for the patient and "keeping him under." A real anesthesiologist would be sustaining and monitoring all of the life functions of the patient during the events in the O.R.

The "Grey's Anatomy" episode also supported the idea that getting an epidural for pain relief during labor will increase the chance of the mother having a cesarean section. Actually, the latest medical literature shows there is not a cause-and-effect relationship between epidurals and cesarean sections.

I urge readers to keep in mind that the way anesthesia is depicted on television, in books and in the movies is fiction. A wealth of reliable information about anesthesiology can be found on the Web site of the American Society of Anesthesiologists at www.asahq.org/patientEducation.htm, or by talking to an anesthesiologist.

John P. Williams, M.D.
Peter and Eva Safar Professor and Chair,
Department of Anesthesiology,
School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

Not the norm

In response to last week's Feedback letters, while I agree that "Brokeback Mountain" is a love story, I completely disagree that there is anything "normal" about it.

Many may think that the relationship formed in "Brokeback Mountain" is the norm or natural. Perhaps these people also feel that the increasing exclusion of God in our society is "normal."

We live in a world where it has become unacceptable to include God in the workplace, schools and in many political outlets; even the Pledge of Allegiance has been taken out of some schools because of the words "One nation, under God."

But don't dare say in public, as George Bordell bravely did (Feedback, Feb. 9), that gays are "sick and perverted." Perhaps the removal of God in society is convenient for some -- it is in that society that their beliefs are accepted. Only when God is brought back into our society will "normal" once again exist. God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve! Mr. Bordell was wrong about one thing -- the horrors that he feels await us in the future due to new trends of thinking are already here.

Jennifer Freker
Bethel Park

Hey, pup, no candy

Regarding a recent "Mutts" comic: Please be advised that chocolates are harmful to dogs -- and this is no laughing matter, either. Kids could get the wrong impression; I remember a silly song from my childhood about a cat that fell off a roof; after several horrific incidents (involving two classmates and their cats) the song was promptly banned. So, don't underestimate the impact of cartoons.

Cindy Merrill
Sewickley