Russian singer reaches new height

March 7, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

NEW YORK

Star baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky is fearless when reaching for musical heights. But the Russian singer says he’s always been scared of physical heights — even on stage sets.

So he decided to tackle his fear by reaching sky-high — literally.

The 47-year-old, silver-haired opera singer parachuted from a plane over Florida in December. The proof is a video on his new Facebook page as he dropped at more than 100 mph.

“I had to do that, because it’s another way to challenge yourself, and life is all about challenges,” he said in a recent interview. “I’m so used to adrenaline, in everything I do.”

He acknowledges that “in some crazy productions, when I’m up very high, I’m trembling.”

Next month, Hvorostovsky is to sing a Carnegie Hall recital with American soprano Sondra Radvanovsky, after appearing with her in late March at Montreal’s Place des Arts and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

And he wants to parachute again sometime soon.

“When I jumped out of the plane, it was the most glorious moment in my life,” he said. “You really feel on top of the world.”

Kennedy Center to celebrate JFK, India

WASHINGTON

The living memorial to President John F. Kennedy is planning a two-week series of performances early next year to honor the 35th president and mark the 50th anniversary of his inauguration.

The tribute is part of the largest programming slate for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The 2010-11 season announced Tuesday also includes a festival of the arts and culture of India, a celebration of Mexico and an expanded theater season. Christoph Eschenbach will begin as music director of the National Symphony Orchestra.

Glover: Help Ohio plant, shun Hugo Boss

CLEVELAND

Actor and activist Danny Glover is calling on Academy Awards nominees and others in the film industry to not wear Hugo Boss suits at tonight’s awards ceremony.

The “Lethal Weapon” star, in collaboration with Workers United labor union, made the request in a letter on behalf of 375 Cleveland-area factory workers who’ll lose their jobs if the German company closes the plant at the end of next month as planned.

The Feb. 26 letter asks Hollywood to “take a small stand for American workers.” It asks Oscars attendees to wear on their lapels a pin reading, “Keep the Hugo Boss Plant Open.”

Hugo Boss AG, based in Metzingen, Germany, said the plant is under capacity and isn’t globally competitive. It makes two lines of men’s suits there. It announced the closing in December, stunning employees, most of whom are at the $13-an-hour pay level.

Kathy Griffin takes aim at Sarah Palin

ANCHORAGE, Alaska

Comedian Kathy Griffin has brought her “Life on the D-List” show to Sarah Palin’s home state, skewering the former Alaska governor at a raucous show in Anchorage.

Griffin was escorted on stage on Friday by Playgirl model Levi Johnston, who fathered a child with Palin’s oldest daughter and is involved in a child-support battle with Bristol Palin.

Griffin said she spent a day ice fishing with Johnston in Wasilla and was surprised when 19-year-old Levi’s friend brought along a camera — but only to photograph the fish they caught.

Griffin helped Johnston’s celebrity star to rise, taking the aspiring actor to an awards show last year as her date.