You forgot to mention the millions of dollars that thing cost. Imagine dividing that money among some public schools for a few years. I live down the block from that museum and the rock is not pulling in the throngs of extra visitors they anticipated would generate more revenue for the museum. It's a trite, ugly, barren concrete trench with a boulder enslaved on top of it. And the surrounding landscape is barren, nothing but dirt. It's the emporers new clothes and it reinforces the perception that Californians are flakey. It's only a matter of time before the rock gets graffitied and the trench smells of urine.
Bugs is still what I think of whenever I heard the overture to Barber of Seville.
Nice article! I took my one year old to an outdoor performance of Beethoven's 9th last year; he wasn't quite old enough to appreciate it yet. :)