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Thursday, November 19, 2009
visual
In Armenia, Spectacular New Arts Center Uplifts The Nation
"The center, a mad work of architectural megalomania and historical recovery, is one of the strangest but most memorable museum buildings to open in ages. Imagine an Art Deco version of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon stretching nearly the height of the Empire State Building, its decorations coded with Armenian symbolism. Did I mention the artificial waterfalls?"
"The center, a mad work of architectural megalomania and historical recovery, is one of the strangest but most memorable museum buildings to open in ages. Imagine an Art Deco version of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon stretching nearly the height of the Empire State Building, its decorations coded with Armenian symbolism. Did I mention the artificial waterfalls?"
The New York Times 11/19/09
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Posted 11/19/09@08:02AM
media One Medium Popcorn, Please, And A Larger Pair Of Pants
"A medium-sized popcorn and medium soda at the nation's largest movie chain pack the nutritional equivalent of three Quarter Pounders topped with 12 pats of butter, according to a report released today by the advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest."
"A medium-sized popcorn and medium soda at the nation's largest movie chain pack the nutritional equivalent of three Quarter Pounders topped with 12 pats of butter, according to a report released today by the advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest."
Los Angeles Times 11/19/09
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Posted 11/19/09@07:53AM
music What Community Orchestras Taught Joseph Schwantner
"They are more limited in terms of their experience, and to engage a new work is a major challenge," the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer says. "I've learned that you have to be patient; you have to give them an opportunity to digest this music and make it their own. But ... I've seen them rise to the challenge."
"They are more limited in terms of their experience, and to engage a new work is a major challenge," the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer says. "I've learned that you have to be patient; you have to give them an opportunity to digest this music and make it their own. But ... I've seen them rise to the challenge."
Detroit Free Press 11/19/09
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Posted 11/19/09@07:44AM
dance Dancer Plans To Induce Epileptic Seizure In Performance
"Rita Marcalo has stopped taking her medication ahead of the event at The Bradford Playhouse, which the audience will be invited to film. Arts Council England, which is funding the performance, said it aimed to raise awareness about the condition." An epilepsy charity has "urged Ms Marcalo to reconsider the event."
"Rita Marcalo has stopped taking her medication ahead of the event at The Bradford Playhouse, which the audience will be invited to film. Arts Council England, which is funding the performance, said it aimed to raise awareness about the condition." An epilepsy charity has "urged Ms Marcalo to reconsider the event."
BBC 11/19/09
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Posted 11/19/09@07:30AM
music Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg As Music Director
More than midway through her three-year contract as music director of the conductorless New Century Chamber Orchestra, "Salerno-Sonnenberg hinted strongly that she's inclined to stay a fourth year.... For now, New Century concerts have taken on the fascinating cast of a soloist meshing her distinctive traits with an integrated orchestral texture."
More than midway through her three-year contract as music director of the conductorless New Century Chamber Orchestra, "Salerno-Sonnenberg hinted strongly that she's inclined to stay a fourth year.... For now, New Century concerts have taken on the fascinating cast of a soloist meshing her distinctive traits with an integrated orchestral texture."
San Francisco Chronicle 11/19/09
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Posted 11/19/09@06:36AM
visual For A Cowboy Ex-President, Stern Designs A Quiet Library
"Architectural plans released today for the $250-million, 225,000-square-foot George W. Bush Presidential Center, to be built at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, carry no hint of the swagger, bravado or taste for confrontation that Bush was known for as president." Rather, Robert A.M. Stern's design is handsome and contextual.
"Architectural plans released today for the $250-million, 225,000-square-foot George W. Bush Presidential Center, to be built at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, carry no hint of the swagger, bravado or taste for confrontation that Bush was known for as president." Rather, Robert A.M. Stern's design is handsome and contextual.
Los Angeles Times 11/18/09
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Posted 11/19/09@06:25AM
dance If Day-Lewis Has Two Left Feet, Nine Viewers Won't Know
Daniel Day-Lewis told Oprah "that he managed to avoid dancing in a movie directed by Rob Marshall, who happens to be an accomplished Broadway choreographer. That's kind of like signing up for swimming lessons and then not getting in the water."
Daniel Day-Lewis told Oprah "that he managed to avoid dancing in a movie directed by Rob Marshall, who happens to be an accomplished Broadway choreographer. That's kind of like signing up for swimming lessons and then not getting in the water."
Los Angeles Times 11/18/09
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Posted 11/19/09@06:19AM
issues Live Online, Seeking Better Data On Arts' Economic Impact
On Friday, "an assortment of academics, federal bureaucrats, and staffers from private think tanks and research organizations will assemble in Washington, and in cyberspace at www.nea.gov." The forum is an attempt "to broaden and improve the statistical evidence" that what artists do "is not just fluff and filigree, but part of the dollars-and-cents fiber of the country."
On Friday, "an assortment of academics, federal bureaucrats, and staffers from private think tanks and research organizations will assemble in Washington, and in cyberspace at www.nea.gov." The forum is an attempt "to broaden and improve the statistical evidence" that what artists do "is not just fluff and filigree, but part of the dollars-and-cents fiber of the country."
Los Angeles Times 11/19/09
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Posted 11/19/09@05:58AM
people Lloyd Webber Hospitalized Again
He was readmitted when a "chronic infection" developed after his prostate cancer surgery. "His spokesmen said last month that the cancer was in its early stages and he hoped to return to work before the end of the year. But an update on his website said he now hoped to be back in the New Year."
He was readmitted when a "chronic infection" developed after his prostate cancer surgery. "His spokesmen said last month that the cancer was in its early stages and he hoped to return to work before the end of the year. But an update on his website said he now hoped to be back in the New Year."
The Guardian (UK) (Press Association) 11/18/09
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Posted 11/19/09@05:37AM
theatre Deal With Shuberts Guarantees Producers A B'way House
In an uncommon agreement with the producers of "A Steady Rain," the Shubert Organization will invest in their projects and guarantee them a Shubert house. The deal gives the producers "a strong advantage on the Main Stem, where real estate is a hot commodity and numerous incoming productions vie for a limited number of available theaters."
In an uncommon agreement with the producers of "A Steady Rain," the Shubert Organization will invest in their projects and guarantee them a Shubert house. The deal gives the producers "a strong advantage on the Main Stem, where real estate is a hot commodity and numerous incoming productions vie for a limited number of available theaters."
Variety 11/18/09
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Posted 11/19/09@05:13AM
Wednesday, November 18, 2009issues
What Are The Rules For Being A Good Critic?
"Bloggers are wondering just that this week as Charles Spencer, the Telegraph's chief theatre critic, kicked the discussion off … 'The critic's obligations can be summed up very briefly,' he writes. 'Arrive sober, stay awake, stay to the end and don't take a bribe unless it is big enough to allow you to retire in comfort for the rest of your life'." Is that really all?
"Bloggers are wondering just that this week as Charles Spencer, the Telegraph's chief theatre critic, kicked the discussion off … 'The critic's obligations can be summed up very briefly,' he writes. 'Arrive sober, stay awake, stay to the end and don't take a bribe unless it is big enough to allow you to retire in comfort for the rest of your life'." Is that really all?
The Guardian (UK) 11/18/09
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Posted 11/18/09@10:31PM
dance Royal Winnipeg Ballet Feels The Pull Of The Cancan
In its 120 years, the Moulin Rouge has evolved from "essentially a dancing brothel" to a music hall to Gallic neo-vaudeville for tourists. But the hall's constant is "the cancan, a strenuous chorus-line number in 2/4 time that demands balance, rhythm and stamina. It is popular entertainment incarnate, which is what drew Royal Winnipeg Ballet artistic director Andre Lewis to the Moulin Rouge as the theme for a new full-length story ballet."
In its 120 years, the Moulin Rouge has evolved from "essentially a dancing brothel" to a music hall to Gallic neo-vaudeville for tourists. But the hall's constant is "the cancan, a strenuous chorus-line number in 2/4 time that demands balance, rhythm and stamina. It is popular entertainment incarnate, which is what drew Royal Winnipeg Ballet artistic director Andre Lewis to the Moulin Rouge as the theme for a new full-length story ballet."
Vancouver Sun 11/18/09
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Posted 11/18/09@10:22PM
theatre Britain's National Theatre Plans £50M Renovation
"The National Theatre has confirmed the initial details of its £50 million plan to modernise its Grade II-listed London home. The scheme, designed by architects Haworth Tompkins, will aim to improve the 'transparency' of the building."
"The National Theatre has confirmed the initial details of its £50 million plan to modernise its Grade II-listed London home. The scheme, designed by architects Haworth Tompkins, will aim to improve the 'transparency' of the building."
The Stage (UK) 11/18/09
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Posted 11/18/09@10:12PM
music Indianapolis SO Reports Largest Deficit Ever, $2.8M
"The deficit is the result of shortages in ticket sales and annual fund donations, as well as declines in major one-time gifts and contributions from the ISO Foundation, whose board manages the orchestra's endowment." Musicians and staff took pay cuts earlier this year.
"The deficit is the result of shortages in ticket sales and annual fund donations, as well as declines in major one-time gifts and contributions from the ISO Foundation, whose board manages the orchestra's endowment." Musicians and staff took pay cuts earlier this year.
Indianapolis Star 11/17/09
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Posted 11/18/09@10:08PM
people John Irving Explains Why His Novels Aren't About Himself
"I was pretty determinedly not a practitioner of autobiographical fiction. But the longer I get away from something - the political anger, the personal hurt, the psychological obsession - the easier it is to write about. And the more I can afford to be playful or, a better word, manipulative."
"I was pretty determinedly not a practitioner of autobiographical fiction. But the longer I get away from something - the political anger, the personal hurt, the psychological obsession - the easier it is to write about. And the more I can afford to be playful or, a better word, manipulative."
Bookforum Dec/Jan 2010
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Posted 11/18/09@10:07PM
visual U.Cal. Berkeley Abandons Plans For New Art Museum
"A shortage of funds has prompted UC Berkeley to abandon its plan to construct a new Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive downtown. The building, a distinctive and innovative design by Tokyo architect Toyo Ito estimated to cost $143 million, was to replace the museum's present, seismically endangered quarters on Bancroft Way, completed in 1970."
"A shortage of funds has prompted UC Berkeley to abandon its plan to construct a new Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive downtown. The building, a distinctive and innovative design by Tokyo architect Toyo Ito estimated to cost $143 million, was to replace the museum's present, seismically endangered quarters on Bancroft Way, completed in 1970."
San Francisco Chronicle 11/18/09
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Posted 11/18/09@10:04PM
ideas Umberto Eco Considers The Nature Of Lists
The author sees lists as falling into two (very Eco-ist) categories: "those that evidence the 'poetics of 'everything included'' and those that express the 'poetics of the 'etcetera'." The former covers a finite number of items (as with a phone book) and aims for completeness; the latter (as with a medieval writer's list of devils) "is limited only by the imagination's disinclination to invent more."
The author sees lists as falling into two (very Eco-ist) categories: "those that evidence the 'poetics of 'everything included'' and those that express the 'poetics of the 'etcetera'." The former covers a finite number of items (as with a phone book) and aims for completeness; the latter (as with a medieval writer's list of devils) "is limited only by the imagination's disinclination to invent more."
Bookforum Dec/Jan 2010
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Posted 11/18/09@10:03PM
media This Year's The Wrestler? Oscar Buzz Builds Around Crazy Heart
"A few weeks ago Crazy Heart was just another invisible movie, one with so little promise that the company that made it refused to put it into theaters. Now, suddenly, this low-budget film about a washed-up country singer finds itself at the heart of the Oscar race, with … its star, Jeff Bridges, a likely best actor candidate."
"A few weeks ago Crazy Heart was just another invisible movie, one with so little promise that the company that made it refused to put it into theaters. Now, suddenly, this low-budget film about a washed-up country singer finds itself at the heart of the Oscar race, with … its star, Jeff Bridges, a likely best actor candidate."
New York Times 11/19/09
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Posted 11/18/09@09:53PM
music Colorado Public Radio To Raise Funds For Colorado Symphony
"Colorado Public Radio (CPR) said Wednesday it will stage an unusual three-day on-air fundraising drive for the Colorado Symphony Orchestra (CSO) that will include a live broadcast of a CSO performance featuring cellist Yo-Yo Ma."
"Colorado Public Radio (CPR) said Wednesday it will stage an unusual three-day on-air fundraising drive for the Colorado Symphony Orchestra (CSO) that will include a live broadcast of a CSO performance featuring cellist Yo-Yo Ma."
Denver Business Journal 11/18/09
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Posted 11/18/09@09:52PM
visual Preserving A Wonderland Of Medieval Architecture, Using Medieval Techniques
The Old City in the Yemeni capital, San'a, "is one of the world's architectural gems, a thicket of unearthly medieval towers etched with white filigree and crowned with stained-glass windows. But more unusual than their mere survival is the fact that the traditional building arts continue to thrive here."
The Old City in the Yemeni capital, San'a, "is one of the world's architectural gems, a thicket of unearthly medieval towers etched with white filigree and crowned with stained-glass windows. But more unusual than their mere survival is the fact that the traditional building arts continue to thrive here."
New York Times 11/16/09
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Posted 11/18/09@09:51PM
issues Armenia's New Arts Center: 'A Mad Work Of Architectural Megalomania'
Michael Kimmelman on the Cafesjian Center for the Arts in Yerevan: "Imagine an Art Deco version of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon stretching nearly the height of the Empire State Building, its decorations coded with Armenian symbolism. Did I mention the artificial waterfalls?" What the Center will house, however, is a different question.
Michael Kimmelman on the Cafesjian Center for the Arts in Yerevan: "Imagine an Art Deco version of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon stretching nearly the height of the Empire State Building, its decorations coded with Armenian symbolism. Did I mention the artificial waterfalls?" What the Center will house, however, is a different question.
New York Times 11/19/09
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Posted 11/18/09@09:48PM
people Shaquille O'Neal, Art Curator
The longtime basketball star has made rap records, acted in film and TV, worked as a reserve police officer and earned an MBA. Now, "[m]oonlighting for the first time as a curator, O'Neal is overseeing 'Size DOES Matter,' an exhibition on the theme of scale in contemporary art coming in February to New York's nonprofit Flag Art Foundation."
The longtime basketball star has made rap records, acted in film and TV, worked as a reserve police officer and earned an MBA. Now, "[m]oonlighting for the first time as a curator, O'Neal is overseeing 'Size DOES Matter,' an exhibition on the theme of scale in contemporary art coming in February to New York's nonprofit Flag Art Foundation."
Bloomberg 11/18/09
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Posted 11/18/09@09:47PM
ideas In Brains, Is Bigger Really Better? Consider The Insect World
Bees and ants, to name two, have famously complex behaviors and social structures governed by their tiny cerebella. "Instead of contributing intelligence, big brains might just help support bigger bodies, which have larger muscles to coordinate and more sensory information coming in. Like computers, … size might add storage capacity but [not] necessarily speed or usefulness."
Bees and ants, to name two, have famously complex behaviors and social structures governed by their tiny cerebella. "Instead of contributing intelligence, big brains might just help support bigger bodies, which have larger muscles to coordinate and more sensory information coming in. Like computers, … size might add storage capacity but [not] necessarily speed or usefulness."
Discovery News 11/16/09
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Posted 11/18/09@09:45PM
people Find Your Favorite Poet's Grave With New Website
"Planning your next vacation and don't want to miss Lord Byron's final resting place? Want to see Charles Baudelaire's last stop? With this handy website [www.poetsgraves.co.uk] you can search by poet's name or by location, get maps to the gravesite, read a sample of the deceased's work or a brief but informative biographical note."
"Planning your next vacation and don't want to miss Lord Byron's final resting place? Want to see Charles Baudelaire's last stop? With this handy website [www.poetsgraves.co.uk] you can search by poet's name or by location, get maps to the gravesite, read a sample of the deceased's work or a brief but informative biographical note."
MobyLives 11/18/09
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Posted 11/18/09@09:42PM
media Nude Scenes In Movies Don't Help Ticket Sales
"'Analyses of 914 films released between 2001 and 2005 indicated that sex and nudity do not, on the average, boost box office performance, earn critical acclaim or win major awards,' reports a new study titled 'Sex Doesn't Sell - Nor Impress'."
"'Analyses of 914 films released between 2001 and 2005 indicated that sex and nudity do not, on the average, boost box office performance, earn critical acclaim or win major awards,' reports a new study titled 'Sex Doesn't Sell - Nor Impress'."
Miller-McCune 11/18/09
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Posted 11/18/09@09:40PM
music New Horizons In Classical Music Outreach: Concert In A Brothel
"Punters and employees at the Eros Centre in Leipzig [will] be treated on Friday to six musicians and a singer from the city's Forum for Contemporary Music (FZML) performing 'licentious and erotic' works."
"Punters and employees at the Eros Centre in Leipzig [will] be treated on Friday to six musicians and a singer from the city's Forum for Contemporary Music (FZML) performing 'licentious and erotic' works."
Agence France-Presse 11/17/09
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Posted 11/18/09@09:38PM
theatre Losing Govt., Corporate Funds Could Be Good For Theatre
"While hardship will not necessarily produce better art, standing outside official patronage might at least encourage artists to kick against the establishment rather than adorn it. The art we have enjoyed over the last 12 years has been wealthy, and wealthy art is supine."
"While hardship will not necessarily produce better art, standing outside official patronage might at least encourage artists to kick against the establishment rather than adorn it. The art we have enjoyed over the last 12 years has been wealthy, and wealthy art is supine."
The Guardian (UK) 11/17/09
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Posted 11/18/09@07:39AM
people FBI Spent 45 Years Tracking Studs Terkel
The oral historian and radio host applied for a job with the FBI in the 1930s, but he looked like a communist to the bureau, which started a paper trail on him in 1945. "His file ends in 1990, when agents clipped a Wall Street Journal article quoting his reaction to financier Michael Milken's junk-bond scandal."
The oral historian and radio host applied for a job with the FBI in the 1930s, but he looked like a communist to the bureau, which started a paper trail on him in 1945. "His file ends in 1990, when agents clipped a Wall Street Journal article quoting his reaction to financier Michael Milken's junk-bond scandal."
Chicago Tribune 11/18/09
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Posted 11/18/09@07:31AM
issues What's The Etiquette For Spoilers?
In this era of live blogging and TiVo time-shifting, "[p]eople are, if anything, more insistent on keeping their bubbles of cultural innocence intact. Heaven forbid they should learn that, in a romantic comedy that opened three weeks ago, the guy gets the girl in Act 3."
In this era of live blogging and TiVo time-shifting, "[p]eople are, if anything, more insistent on keeping their bubbles of cultural innocence intact. Heaven forbid they should learn that, in a romantic comedy that opened three weeks ago, the guy gets the girl in Act 3."
Chicago Tribune 11/20/09
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Posted 11/18/09@07:16AM
music In LA, The 110 Freeway Is Operatic Material
"According to L.A. Opera, 'The 110 Project' tells the story of four central characters as it travels through 70 years of L.A. history" in communities along the freeway. "So what will the opera sound like? You guessed it: the music is said to be inspired by freeway sounds...."
"According to L.A. Opera, 'The 110 Project' tells the story of four central characters as it travels through 70 years of L.A. history" in communities along the freeway. "So what will the opera sound like? You guessed it: the music is said to be inspired by freeway sounds...."
Los Angeles Times 11/17/09
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Posted 11/18/09@06:59AM
media When Universal Removed Black Actors From A UK Poster
"Studios make dumb decisions all the time. But ... the real underlying issue behind these kinds of gaffes" is homogeneity among the higher-ups. "The decision-makers at studios are virtually all white, so they don't see potential racial slights in the same light as they would if they had someone -- anyone! -- of color in the executive suite."
"Studios make dumb decisions all the time. But ... the real underlying issue behind these kinds of gaffes" is homogeneity among the higher-ups. "The decision-makers at studios are virtually all white, so they don't see potential racial slights in the same light as they would if they had someone -- anyone! -- of color in the executive suite."
Los Angeles Times 11/17/09
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Posted 11/18/09@06:46AM
media Why Is This Year's Best-Actress Oscar Pool So Shallow?
"The lack of depth has led to a slew of awards-season chatter, from the expected downplaying -- all categories are cyclical -- to blanket explanations about studios making fewer awards movies in general. If the latter explanation were a factor, best actor also would be weak this year. It's not. ... So what's really going on here?"
"The lack of depth has led to a slew of awards-season chatter, from the expected downplaying -- all categories are cyclical -- to blanket explanations about studios making fewer awards movies in general. If the latter explanation were a factor, best actor also would be weak this year. It's not. ... So what's really going on here?"
Hollywood Reporter 11/16/09
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Posted 11/18/09@06:40AM
visual Survey: US Architects Got More New Contracts In October
"It was the highest level of new business for the nation's architects since August 2008, a report from the American Institute of Architects says. 'This news could prove to be an early signal toward a recovery for the design and construction industry,' said Kermit Baker, the AIA's chief economist."
"It was the highest level of new business for the nation's architects since August 2008, a report from the American Institute of Architects says. 'This news could prove to be an early signal toward a recovery for the design and construction industry,' said Kermit Baker, the AIA's chief economist."
Los Angeles Times 11/18/09
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Posted 11/18/09@06:35AM
visual Conserving Robert Smithson's Masterpiece
"Preservation concerns about 'Spiral Jetty' have arisen lately not only because of the work's re-emergence from the water but also because of plans announced in the last two and a half years by companies to initiate industrial projects near the site." The piece's owner, the Dia Art Foundation, is trying a tack involving weather balloons.
"Preservation concerns about 'Spiral Jetty' have arisen lately not only because of the work's re-emergence from the water but also because of plans announced in the last two and a half years by companies to initiate industrial projects near the site." The piece's owner, the Dia Art Foundation, is trying a tack involving weather balloons.
The New York Times 11/18/09
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Posted 11/18/09@05:50AM
media After Protest, Greek State Film Awards Canceled
"More than 200 directors, producers and screenwriters withdrew 52 films from the [Thessaloniki Film Festival], undermining the state awards, which selects winners from Greek films that unspool at the fest." Filmmakers were protesting the nation's film funding laws.
"More than 200 directors, producers and screenwriters withdrew 52 films from the [Thessaloniki Film Festival], undermining the state awards, which selects winners from Greek films that unspool at the fest." Filmmakers were protesting the nation's film funding laws.
Variety 11/17/09
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Posted 11/18/09@05:41AM
media Report: White Guys Still Have A Lock On TV, Film Writing
"The WGA West's 2009 Hollywood Writers Report finds 'little if any' improvement in employment and earnings for women and minority writers. The report ... found that women scribes remain stuck at 28% of TV employment and 18% in features while the minority share has been frozen at 6% since 1999."
"The WGA West's 2009 Hollywood Writers Report finds 'little if any' improvement in employment and earnings for women and minority writers. The report ... found that women scribes remain stuck at 28% of TV employment and 18% in features while the minority share has been frozen at 6% since 1999."
Variety 11/17/09
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Posted 11/18/09@05:34AM
music Hollywood's Composers And Lyricists To Join Teamsters?
"Composers and lyricists are among the few Hollywood creatives without a collective bargaining agreement. Services like orchestration, conducting and music performance are covered by American Federation of Musicians (AFM) agreements, but not the act of writing music or lyrics."
"Composers and lyricists are among the few Hollywood creatives without a collective bargaining agreement. Services like orchestration, conducting and music performance are covered by American Federation of Musicians (AFM) agreements, but not the act of writing music or lyrics."
Variety 11/17/09
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Posted 11/18/09@05:32AM
music Between Classical And Rock, Solo Percussion Finds Niche
"Part of the appeal of percussion music is visual." Indeed, "the extramusical elements may be the reason percussion music is so popular with audiences, and often draws crowds that are substantially younger than average."
"Part of the appeal of percussion music is visual." Indeed, "the extramusical elements may be the reason percussion music is so popular with audiences, and often draws crowds that are substantially younger than average."
Wall Street Journal 11/18/09
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Posted 11/18/09@05:26AM
theatre Financial Troubles Sink DC's Catalyst Theater Company
"The company's move last season from the tiny 50-seat Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (a.k.a. CHAW) to the much larger Sprenger Theater in the Atlas Performing Arts Center on H Street NE proved more than its budget could handle."
"The company's move last season from the tiny 50-seat Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (a.k.a. CHAW) to the much larger Sprenger Theater in the Atlas Performing Arts Center on H Street NE proved more than its budget could handle."
Washington Post 11/18/09
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Posted 11/18/09@05:12AM
Tuesday, November 17, 2009dance
The Royal Ballet Plays Westminster Abbey
"It's not often that you see a manifestation of Satan within the precincts of Westminster Abbey, but at a ceremony to unveil a memorial to the founders of the Royal Ballet, he made a striking appearance. [Two dancers] took the part of the fallen angel in synchronised performances of an extract from Ninette de Valois's Job, performed at either end of the long nave, so that the entire congregation could see something."
"It's not often that you see a manifestation of Satan within the precincts of Westminster Abbey, but at a ceremony to unveil a memorial to the founders of the Royal Ballet, he made a striking appearance. [Two dancers] took the part of the fallen angel in synchronised performances of an extract from Ninette de Valois's Job, performed at either end of the long nave, so that the entire congregation could see something."
The Telegraph (UK) 11/17/09
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Posted 11/17/09@10:22PM
theatre 28-Year-Old Playwright Wins $25K Wendy Wasserstein Prize
"Chicago-based dramatist Marisa Wegrzyn has won the 2009 Wasserstein Prize for her new play, Hickorydickory." The award, which also includes a reading at New York's Second Stage Theater, is given "for an outstanding script by a young woman who has not yet received national attention."
"Chicago-based dramatist Marisa Wegrzyn has won the 2009 Wasserstein Prize for her new play, Hickorydickory." The award, which also includes a reading at New York's Second Stage Theater, is given "for an outstanding script by a young woman who has not yet received national attention."
Los Angeles Times 11/17/09
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Posted 11/17/09@10:18PM
music Anne Midgette Looks At The '00s In Classical Music
The Washington Post's classical critic answers ten questions about the decade past, covering such issues as the decline of record labels, the rise of the Web, hits (in both senses) at the box office, and the trajectory of classical radio. And she predicts the future. ("Classical music will survive. I predict that.")
The Washington Post's classical critic answers ten questions about the decade past, covering such issues as the decline of record labels, the rise of the Web, hits (in both senses) at the box office, and the trajectory of classical radio. And she predicts the future. ("Classical music will survive. I predict that.")
NPR 11/17/09
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Posted 11/17/09@10:17PM
issues Panicking Over A 2012 Apocalypse? NASA Says You Can Relax
What with the movie, the Mayan calendar, and the solar-galactic-alignment thing, one NASA astronomer has "been getting about 20 letters and e-mail messages a day from people … scared out of their wits," seriously wondering if they should euthanize themselves and loved ones before the end of the world less than three years hence. So the agency "felt it was prudent to provide a resource."
What with the movie, the Mayan calendar, and the solar-galactic-alignment thing, one NASA astronomer has "been getting about 20 letters and e-mail messages a day from people … scared out of their wits," seriously wondering if they should euthanize themselves and loved ones before the end of the world less than three years hence. So the agency "felt it was prudent to provide a resource."
New York Times 11/17/09
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Posted 11/17/09@10:15PM
ideas Maybe Perception Is Reality: How Illusions Are Important
"For all the fun we have with them, illusions do serious work in illuminating how our brains work, and in particular how perception works. They may also help us understand how consciousness developed, and tell us about our 'neuro-archaeology'."
"For all the fun we have with them, illusions do serious work in illuminating how our brains work, and in particular how perception works. They may also help us understand how consciousness developed, and tell us about our 'neuro-archaeology'."
New Scientist 11/12/09
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Posted 11/17/09@10:13PM
media 'The Most Anti-War War Game I've Ever Played'
There's a "reprehensible message" underlying most war-themed video games: "Killing foreigners on behalf of one's country is one hell of a good time." But Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is "a first-person shooter that plays as a tragedy, not a power fantasy[,] … a murder simulator that won't let you forget the nature of your actions."
There's a "reprehensible message" underlying most war-themed video games: "Killing foreigners on behalf of one's country is one hell of a good time." But Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is "a first-person shooter that plays as a tragedy, not a power fantasy[,] … a murder simulator that won't let you forget the nature of your actions."
Slate 11/17/09
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Posted 11/17/09@10:11PM
people Edward Woodward, 79, Star Of TV's The Equalizer
The British actor played Robert McCall, the title character of the CBS detective series, from 1985 to 1989. He also starred in the films The Wicker Man and Breaker Morant.
The British actor played Robert McCall, the title character of the CBS detective series, from 1985 to 1989. He also starred in the films The Wicker Man and Breaker Morant.
Los Angeles Times 11/17/09
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Posted 11/17/09@10:09PM
theatre Atlanta Troupe Synchronicity Cancels Remainder of Season
Synchronicity Performance Group planned an extremely tight budget for 2009-10, and the company couldn't sustain the loss it took on its children's play Bunnicula, about a vampire rabbit. "As a result, Synchronicity has cancelled the last two shows of its season: Sarah Ruhl's Dead Man's Cell Phone and The Brand New Kid, a family show."
Synchronicity Performance Group planned an extremely tight budget for 2009-10, and the company couldn't sustain the loss it took on its children's play Bunnicula, about a vampire rabbit. "As a result, Synchronicity has cancelled the last two shows of its season: Sarah Ruhl's Dead Man's Cell Phone and The Brand New Kid, a family show."
artscriticATL 11/15/09
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Posted 11/17/09@10:08PM
dance What Does 'Postmodern' Mean? Trisha Brown Reveals The Truth
"Nothing. (laughter) No, it was a joke in the dressing rooms at Judson. We were all naming categories of visual art practitioners and someone said, 'We were doing postmodern dance at Judson.' We all cracked up and no one countered us."
"Nothing. (laughter) No, it was a joke in the dressing rooms at Judson. We were all naming categories of visual art practitioners and someone said, 'We were doing postmodern dance at Judson.' We all cracked up and no one countered us."
Voice of Dance 11/17/09
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Posted 11/17/09@10:05PM
ideas Who Are Nature's Best Chameleons? (Hint: Not Chameleons)
"We might call a fickle, changeable acquaintance a chameleon, but the true champions of camouflage turn out to be cephalopods - octopuses, cuttlefish and squid. Unlike a chameleon, an octopus can duplicate the colour and texture of almost anything."
"We might call a fickle, changeable acquaintance a chameleon, but the true champions of camouflage turn out to be cephalopods - octopuses, cuttlefish and squid. Unlike a chameleon, an octopus can duplicate the colour and texture of almost anything."
New Scientist 11/12/09
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Posted 11/17/09@10:04PM
issues Get Ready For Graphics Transmitted Right Onto Your Contact Lenses
"A contact lens that harvests radio waves to power an LED is paving the way for a new kind of display" - graphics transmitted right onto the lens and into its wearer's field of vision. Uses might "include subtitles when conversing with a foreign-language speaker, directions in unfamiliar territory and captioned photographs."
"A contact lens that harvests radio waves to power an LED is paving the way for a new kind of display" - graphics transmitted right onto the lens and into its wearer's field of vision. Uses might "include subtitles when conversing with a foreign-language speaker, directions in unfamiliar territory and captioned photographs."
New Scientist 11/12/09
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Posted 11/17/09@10:02PM
music The History Of Opera, 140 Characters At A Time
"How many tweets does it take to cover the entire span of opera history? The San Diego Opera wants to find out and has launched a Twitter project in which it will tweet about everything from Monteverdi to Mozart to Philip Glass on a daily basis. With more than 400 years to cover - and at a rate of two tweets per day - the project could take years to finish."
"How many tweets does it take to cover the entire span of opera history? The San Diego Opera wants to find out and has launched a Twitter project in which it will tweet about everything from Monteverdi to Mozart to Philip Glass on a daily basis. With more than 400 years to cover - and at a rate of two tweets per day - the project could take years to finish."
Los Angeles Times 11/17/09
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Posted 11/17/09@10:01PM
people Irving Kriesberg, 90, Not-Quite-Abstract Expressionist Painter
"Where hard-line Abstract Expressionists shunned figural elements in their work, Mr. Kriesberg used them lavishly. As a result, he was often called a Figurative Expressionist; the term applied to midcentury Expressionists whose work was not strictly abstract."
"Where hard-line Abstract Expressionists shunned figural elements in their work, Mr. Kriesberg used them lavishly. As a result, he was often called a Figurative Expressionist; the term applied to midcentury Expressionists whose work was not strictly abstract."
New York Times 11/18/09
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Posted 11/17/09@09:59PM
issues Tampa Bay PAC Gets A New Name (And Several Million Dollars)
"Thanks to what was billed as the largest individual philanthropic gift made to a cultural institution in the bay area, the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center will be renamed the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts." The donation is thought to be upwards of $20 million.
"Thanks to what was billed as the largest individual philanthropic gift made to a cultural institution in the bay area, the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center will be renamed the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts." The donation is thought to be upwards of $20 million.
St. Petersburg Times (Fla.) 11/17/09
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Posted 11/17/09@09:56PM
people Allen Hughes, 87, NY Times Music And Dance Critic
He covered music and dance for the paper as a staff critic from 1960 to 1986 and later as a freelancer. "From 1963 to 1965, when he was the chief dance critic of The Times, he championed avant-garde groups, often to the consternation of mainstream ensembles, and advocated for multimedia presentations and other innovations."
He covered music and dance for the paper as a staff critic from 1960 to 1986 and later as a freelancer. "From 1963 to 1965, when he was the chief dance critic of The Times, he championed avant-garde groups, often to the consternation of mainstream ensembles, and advocated for multimedia presentations and other innovations."
New York Times 11/18/09
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Posted 11/17/09@09:52PM
theatre Owner Of Charred Pocono Playhouse Has History Of Claims
"With a $1.25 million policy in force and just an $85,000 mortgage on the building," the owner of the Pocono Playhouse, which burned down last month, "could be in line for a million-dollar payout." It wouldn't be the first time Ralph Miller cashed a big check after a fire at one of his theaters.
"With a $1.25 million policy in force and just an $85,000 mortgage on the building," the owner of the Pocono Playhouse, which burned down last month, "could be in line for a million-dollar payout." It wouldn't be the first time Ralph Miller cashed a big check after a fire at one of his theaters.
Pocono Record (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 11/17/09
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Posted 11/17/09@07:34AM
visual Bankrupt Ritchies Auctioneers Has $8.5 Million In Debt
"It seems likely most creditors, especially consignors whose possessions were sold but who have yet to receive payment from Ritchies, are going to come out of the proceedings empty-handed." It appears that "the money Ritchies collected from auction sales was not put in a separate trust account for consignors."
"It seems likely most creditors, especially consignors whose possessions were sold but who have yet to receive payment from Ritchies, are going to come out of the proceedings empty-handed." It appears that "the money Ritchies collected from auction sales was not put in a separate trust account for consignors."
The Globe and Mail (Canada) 11/17/09
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Posted 11/17/09@07:23AM
visual Police: Ex-Winterthur Staffer Stole Lavishly Via Credit Card
"A former Winterthur Museum employee voluntarily turned himself into Delaware State Police today after a theft investigation revealed he had spent more than $100,000 of the museum's money."
"A former Winterthur Museum employee voluntarily turned himself into Delaware State Police today after a theft investigation revealed he had spent more than $100,000 of the museum's money."
The News Journal (Wilmington, Del.) 11/16/09
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Posted 11/17/09@07:06AM
music Philly Chamber Orchestra Names Solzhenitsyn's Successor
The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia has tapped Belgian Dirk Brossé, 49, to succeed pianist/conductor Ignat Solzhenitsyn, its music director for the past 16 years. Solzhenitsyn is departing "a year before the end of his current contract," becoming conductor laureate next season, when Brossé begins his four-year contract.
The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia has tapped Belgian Dirk Brossé, 49, to succeed pianist/conductor Ignat Solzhenitsyn, its music director for the past 16 years. Solzhenitsyn is departing "a year before the end of his current contract," becoming conductor laureate next season, when Brossé begins his four-year contract.
Philadelphia Inquirer 11/17/09
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Posted 11/17/09@06:49AM
theatre Blaming State Cuts, Philly's Devon Theater Cancels Season
"The theater's creators and overseers, the Mayfair Community Development Corporation, announced over the weekend in letters to about 700 subscribers that a state budget cut left the agency with no money to create productions from scratch." It will go dark after its current production closes next month.
"The theater's creators and overseers, the Mayfair Community Development Corporation, announced over the weekend in letters to about 700 subscribers that a state budget cut left the agency with no money to create productions from scratch." It will go dark after its current production closes next month.
Philadelphia Inquirer 11/17/09
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Posted 11/17/09@06:26AM
visual Faithful To Utzon's Vision, Sydney Opera House Is Updated
"Great views of Sydney Harbour from inside a stylish new foyer, better disabled access and more toilets are just some of the improvements transforming Australia's busiest building. The western side of the Opera House now has a colonnade and windows."
"Great views of Sydney Harbour from inside a stylish new foyer, better disabled access and more toilets are just some of the improvements transforming Australia's busiest building. The western side of the Opera House now has a colonnade and windows."
Australian Broadcasting Corporation 11/17/09
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Posted 11/17/09@06:03AM
media If We Get First-Run Films At Home, Is Hollywood Doomed?
"As DVD sales decline, Hollywood studios are looking for ways to get movies straight to consumers' living rooms. This has some industry insiders worried that Hollywood is jeopardizing its most valuable asset: the theatrical release date. The movie industry is looking to change the way it distributes content."
"As DVD sales decline, Hollywood studios are looking for ways to get movies straight to consumers' living rooms. This has some industry insiders worried that Hollywood is jeopardizing its most valuable asset: the theatrical release date. The movie industry is looking to change the way it distributes content."
NPR 11/17/09
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Posted 11/17/09@05:33AM
ideas For Alzheimer's, Stroke, Autism, Music Can Help
"[B]eyond the entertainment value, there's growing evidence that listening to music can also help stimulate seemingly lost memories and even help restore some cognitive function." As neuroscientists begin to understand how that happens, "they are starting to work hand in hand with music therapists to develop new therapeutic programs."
"[B]eyond the entertainment value, there's growing evidence that listening to music can also help stimulate seemingly lost memories and even help restore some cognitive function." As neuroscientists begin to understand how that happens, "they are starting to work hand in hand with music therapists to develop new therapeutic programs."
Wall Street Journal 11/16/09
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Posted 11/17/09@05:10AM
visual Do Antiquities Really Belong To Their Country Of Origin?
"Scientists and curators have generally supported the laws passed in recent decades giving countries ownership of ancient 'cultural property' discovered within their borders. But these laws rest on a couple of highly debatable assumptions...."
"Scientists and curators have generally supported the laws passed in recent decades giving countries ownership of ancient 'cultural property' discovered within their borders. But these laws rest on a couple of highly debatable assumptions...."
The New York Times 11/17/09
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Posted 11/17/09@04:58AM
Monday, November 16, 2009theatre
Let's Hear It For Wildly Uncomfortable West End Theatres!
"The only thing that could keep me alert through three hours of Brecht - however good the production - on a Monday evening is the fact that I could topple 20 feet if I nodded off. Theatre demands effort from the audience, and by God, the West End makes us work." But will audiences keep putting up with the toil the venues exact?
"The only thing that could keep me alert through three hours of Brecht - however good the production - on a Monday evening is the fact that I could topple 20 feet if I nodded off. Theatre demands effort from the audience, and by God, the West End makes us work." But will audiences keep putting up with the toil the venues exact?
The Guardian (UK) 11/16/09
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Posted 11/16/09@08:19PM
music Michael Feinstein To Direct A Jazz At Lincoln Center Series
The appointment "is the culmination of a three-year artistic courtship between Mr. Feinstein and Wynton Marsalis, the artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center." The singer and pianist will direct a new popular music series as "part of a larger plan to broaden programming."
The appointment "is the culmination of a three-year artistic courtship between Mr. Feinstein and Wynton Marsalis, the artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center." The singer and pianist will direct a new popular music series as "part of a larger plan to broaden programming."
The New York Times 11/16/09
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Posted 11/16/09@07:21PM
music For US, NEA Opera Honors Were A Chance To Give Thanks
"The event was called to order by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, banging a gavel to quell the applause that greeted her appearance, and then provoking laughter with her witty (and knowledgeable) observations about the links between opera and the legal profession, citing all the operas that have courtroom or jail scenes."
"The event was called to order by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, banging a gavel to quell the applause that greeted her appearance, and then provoking laughter with her witty (and knowledgeable) observations about the links between opera and the legal profession, citing all the operas that have courtroom or jail scenes."
Washington Post 11/16/09
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Posted 11/16/09@07:14PM
theatre Glee's Musical Geekdom Is Catnip To Drama Nerds
"'Glee,' which chronicles the lives of members of a high school glee club, is attracting between 7 and 8 million viewers every week, and doing well among the valued 18- to 49-year-old market segment. But it is something of an obsession among theater denizens, teenage and otherwise."
"'Glee,' which chronicles the lives of members of a high school glee club, is attracting between 7 and 8 million viewers every week, and doing well among the valued 18- to 49-year-old market segment. But it is something of an obsession among theater denizens, teenage and otherwise."
The New York Times 11/17/09
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Posted 11/16/09@06:55PM
theatre For Commercial Theatre In Britain, These Are Good Times
"Britain may remain in a recession that could still deepen, yet the mood in and out of the commercial theatre sector seems refreshingly upbeat." Of course, "there are also problems and worries, especially in a subsidised sector that accounts for almost all our new and cutting-edge drama."
"Britain may remain in a recession that could still deepen, yet the mood in and out of the commercial theatre sector seems refreshingly upbeat." Of course, "there are also problems and worries, especially in a subsidised sector that accounts for almost all our new and cutting-edge drama."
The Times (UK) 11/11/09
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Posted 11/16/09@06:37PM
visual In Rome, Hadid's Maxxi Is Exhilarating (And Nearly Done)
"There have been at least six changes of national government in Italy since the [museum] was first announced in 1998, from left to centre to right, and the future of many such public projects has often seemed doubtful. But now here it stands ... almost exactly as [Zaha] Hadid and her team first imagined it."
"There have been at least six changes of national government in Italy since the [museum] was first announced in 1998, from left to centre to right, and the future of many such public projects has often seemed doubtful. But now here it stands ... almost exactly as [Zaha] Hadid and her team first imagined it."
The Guardian (UK) 11/16/09
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Posted 11/16/09@06:36PM
media Beneath Buzz Over Huge New Film Studio, A Financial Mess
A "former head of Paramount Motion Pictures certainly sounded like the right man to build a huge movie and TV studio in Massachusetts," but his $650 million plan for "14 sound stages and a virtual entertainment city in the woods of Plymouth" has been "marred by over-the-top claims, broken promises, legal infighting, and the chronic lack of one crucial ingredient: money."
A "former head of Paramount Motion Pictures certainly sounded like the right man to build a huge movie and TV studio in Massachusetts," but his $650 million plan for "14 sound stages and a virtual entertainment city in the woods of Plymouth" has been "marred by over-the-top claims, broken promises, legal infighting, and the chronic lack of one crucial ingredient: money."
Boston Globe 11/15/09
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Posted 11/16/09@06:10PM
music Now European, Now American: Tracking LA Phil's Violins
"Sometime after moving to Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2003, Esa-Pekka Salonen decided to shake things up by placing the second violin section on the opposite side of the stage from the first violins, in what is known as European seating -- and it has stayed that way for the most part ever since." Then came Verdi's Requiem this month....
"Sometime after moving to Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2003, Esa-Pekka Salonen decided to shake things up by placing the second violin section on the opposite side of the stage from the first violins, in what is known as European seating -- and it has stayed that way for the most part ever since." Then came Verdi's Requiem this month....
Los Angeles Times 11/16/09
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Posted 11/16/09@05:55PM
visual LA-Area Cities Vie To Be Home Of Eli Broad's Museum
Broad will "create a $200-million endowment that would generate $12 million a year to operate the privately run, nonprofit institution. The only bigger single cash donation to the arts in Southern California history would be J. Paul Getty's initial $700-million 1976 bequest to establish the J. Paul Getty Trust -- $2.65 billion in today's dollars."
Broad will "create a $200-million endowment that would generate $12 million a year to operate the privately run, nonprofit institution. The only bigger single cash donation to the arts in Southern California history would be J. Paul Getty's initial $700-million 1976 bequest to establish the J. Paul Getty Trust -- $2.65 billion in today's dollars."
Los Angeles Times 11/16/09
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Posted 11/16/09@05:34PM
visual New Museum's Joannou Show Will Be A Win For Audiences
The sermonizing over the New Museum's upcoming show of a trustee's collection is a bit much, Jerry Saltz writes. "I like that the art world isn't regulated. I have seen [Dakis] Joannou's collection, and it is incredible. And despite the way it looks, I think in the end the whole deal is for the best--given the state of the art world."
The sermonizing over the New Museum's upcoming show of a trustee's collection is a bit much, Jerry Saltz writes. "I like that the art world isn't regulated. I have seen [Dakis] Joannou's collection, and it is incredible. And despite the way it looks, I think in the end the whole deal is for the best--given the state of the art world."
New York Magazine 11/15/09
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Posted 11/16/09@05:18PM
dance Splitting Duties, NYC Ballet Names An Executive Director
Katherine E. Brown, currently WNYC's chief operating officer, will "oversee all nonartistic matters" at the ballet, including "fund-raising, finances, marketing, media and education, responsibilities previously held by Peter Martins, the company's ballet master in chief."
Katherine E. Brown, currently WNYC's chief operating officer, will "oversee all nonartistic matters" at the ballet, including "fund-raising, finances, marketing, media and education, responsibilities previously held by Peter Martins, the company's ballet master in chief."
The New York Times 11/17/09
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Posted 11/16/09@05:10PM
visual A Wacky Public Access TV Art Show Revived On The Web
"Because the Beatsters, as Paul H-O calls them, usually arrived unannounced, dealers sometimes kicked them out -- which made for great footage -- and those who didn't spent the evening on tenterhooks."
"Because the Beatsters, as Paul H-O calls them, usually arrived unannounced, dealers sometimes kicked them out -- which made for great footage -- and those who didn't spent the evening on tenterhooks."
The New York Times 11/15/09
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Posted 11/16/09@08:58AM
people Longtime NYT TV Critic John J O'Connor, 76
"O'Connor joined The Times as a television critic in 1971 and retired in 1997. His tenure coincided with sweeping industry changes, beginning with the advent of the mini-series."
"O'Connor joined The Times as a television critic in 1971 and retired in 1997. His tenure coincided with sweeping industry changes, beginning with the advent of the mini-series."
The New York Times 11/16/09
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Posted 11/16/09@08:54AM
visual Taking The Temp Of The Art Auction Market
"While prices for the best works seemed high and bidding was often deep, the volume of sales -- nearly $600 million between the two companies -- was vastly diminished from a year ago, when Sotheby's and Christie's sold a combined $729 million or two years ago when the market peaked at $1.6 billion. But the relief that prices are crawling back up was palpable."
"While prices for the best works seemed high and bidding was often deep, the volume of sales -- nearly $600 million between the two companies -- was vastly diminished from a year ago, when Sotheby's and Christie's sold a combined $729 million or two years ago when the market peaked at $1.6 billion. But the relief that prices are crawling back up was palpable."
The New York Times 11/16/09
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Posted 11/16/09@08:52AM
issues Studying Aboriginal Art To Death
"Modernity both exalts and threatens remote Aboriginal societies, yet there is no path of retreat back to some gilded pre-contact time. In fact, the academic penetration of the north is now at its height, our knowledge of the Yolngu, the clan groups round Oenpelli and the people of Groote Eylandt is incomparably greater."
"Modernity both exalts and threatens remote Aboriginal societies, yet there is no path of retreat back to some gilded pre-contact time. In fact, the academic penetration of the north is now at its height, our knowledge of the Yolngu, the clan groups round Oenpelli and the people of Groote Eylandt is incomparably greater."
The Australian 11/16/09
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Posted 11/16/09@08:51AM
music Songwriter Offers To Personalize His Music For Each Fan
Ezra Furman is "writing a song for every fan who buys his latest album, Moon Face: Bootlegs and Road Recordings 2006-2009. More than 100 albums have been ordered since it became available a few weeks ago. Each consists of 10 tunes culled from Furman's voluminous archive plus a customized song written directly to and for each paying customer."
Ezra Furman is "writing a song for every fan who buys his latest album, Moon Face: Bootlegs and Road Recordings 2006-2009. More than 100 albums have been ordered since it became available a few weeks ago. Each consists of 10 tunes culled from Furman's voluminous archive plus a customized song written directly to and for each paying customer."
Chicago Tribune 11/16/09
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Posted 11/16/09@08:37AM
music Growing Pains - Working To Keep Opera Relevant In UK
"ITV1 is currently working on a new show following celebrities as they train to become opera singers. We'll find out who will be hitting (or not as the case may be) the high notes next year."
"ITV1 is currently working on a new show following celebrities as they train to become opera singers. We'll find out who will be hitting (or not as the case may be) the high notes next year."
BBC 11/15/09
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Posted 11/16/09@08:33AM
visual Oxford's Ashmolean Museum Reopens With New Purpose
"The latest and already much-feted makeover, which has cost £61m, was not prompted by any major crisis, but is as radical as any of its precursors. A sleek five-storey structure with 39 new galleries designed by the architect Rick Mather has been slotted with surgical precision behind Charles Cockerell's neoclassical temple of the arts, built in 1845 as a showcase for European sculpture and painting. It gives the museum a new heart and lungs."
"The latest and already much-feted makeover, which has cost £61m, was not prompted by any major crisis, but is as radical as any of its precursors. A sleek five-storey structure with 39 new galleries designed by the architect Rick Mather has been slotted with surgical precision behind Charles Cockerell's neoclassical temple of the arts, built in 1845 as a showcase for European sculpture and painting. It gives the museum a new heart and lungs."
The Guardian (UK) 11/14/09
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Posted 11/16/09@08:20AM
theatre Britain's Regional Theatres See New Creativity
The story of regional theatre in recent years has been bleak, with some of Britain's oldest venues facing closure. But a new crop of creative directors are making local heroes of themselves.
The story of regional theatre in recent years has been bleak, with some of Britain's oldest venues facing closure. But a new crop of creative directors are making local heroes of themselves.
The Observer (UK) 11/15/09
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Posted 11/16/09@12:49AM
dance A New Take On Diaghilev
Drawing on a great deal of new research, and relying wherever possible on contemporary journals and letters, Sjeng Scheijen puts Diaghilev into a different frame to any of his previous biographers. He shows us a man "driven by an overpowering need to explore the mystery of human creativity in its highest form" who "resolved to transform his age and consecrate his life to the cult of beauty."
Drawing on a great deal of new research, and relying wherever possible on contemporary journals and letters, Sjeng Scheijen puts Diaghilev into a different frame to any of his previous biographers. He shows us a man "driven by an overpowering need to explore the mystery of human creativity in its highest form" who "resolved to transform his age and consecrate his life to the cult of beauty."
The Guardian (UK) 11/14/09
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Posted 11/16/09@12:43AM
visual Damien Hirst Talks About Art
Has he ever sold out? "I think I've got very close. There was a point I could have just churned out the spot and spin paintings for ever and laughed all the way to the bank." Was he taking the mick out of the art market? "No. You can take the piss out of art, but I don't think you can take the piss out of the art market. All markets are serious."
Has he ever sold out? "I think I've got very close. There was a point I could have just churned out the spot and spin paintings for ever and laughed all the way to the bank." Was he taking the mick out of the art market? "No. You can take the piss out of art, but I don't think you can take the piss out of the art market. All markets are serious."
The Guardian (UK) 11/14/09
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Posted 11/16/09@12:40AM
music In Concert, Bands Recreate Their CDs (Why?)
"This trend isn't just exhausted, it feels like a cruel perversion of a concert's real-time magic. Live music might be the last bastion of unpredictability in today's hypercurated mediascape: a fleeting opportunity to experience something unfiltered, spontaneous and really real. Instead, we're paying to see our greatest living, breathing, sweating, bleeding rock stars behave like iPods. And with no "shuffle" function!"
"This trend isn't just exhausted, it feels like a cruel perversion of a concert's real-time magic. Live music might be the last bastion of unpredictability in today's hypercurated mediascape: a fleeting opportunity to experience something unfiltered, spontaneous and really real. Instead, we're paying to see our greatest living, breathing, sweating, bleeding rock stars behave like iPods. And with no "shuffle" function!"
Washington Post 11/15/09
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Posted 11/16/09@12:01AM
Sunday, November 15, 2009issues
Copyright Bomb Set To Disrupt Music, Publishing Industries
"At a time when record labels and, to a lesser extent, music publishers, find themselves in the midst of an unprecedented contraction, the last thing they need is to start losing valuable copyrights to '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s music, much of which still sells as well or better than more recently released fare. Nonetheless, the wheels are already in motion."
"At a time when record labels and, to a lesser extent, music publishers, find themselves in the midst of an unprecedented contraction, the last thing they need is to start losing valuable copyrights to '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s music, much of which still sells as well or better than more recently released fare. Nonetheless, the wheels are already in motion."
Wired 11/14/09
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Posted 11/15/09@11:57PM
media Switcheroo - Cable Co. Ready To Buy NBC
"Cable TV operator Comcast Corp. is expected to buy a controlling stake in NBC Universal, perhaps as early as next week, bringing the network of Johnny Carson, Jerry Seinfeld, Bob Hope, Milton Berle and Tom Brokaw under the corporate control of the company that owns the Golf Channel and E! Entertainment Television."
"Cable TV operator Comcast Corp. is expected to buy a controlling stake in NBC Universal, perhaps as early as next week, bringing the network of Johnny Carson, Jerry Seinfeld, Bob Hope, Milton Berle and Tom Brokaw under the corporate control of the company that owns the Golf Channel and E! Entertainment Television."
Yahoo! (AP) 11/15/09
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Posted 11/15/09@11:49PM
media Cop Show Wins Top Honors At Canadian Geminis
"The slick cop drama Flashpoint was the big winner at Saturday's Gemini Awards as it snagged three of the night's top honours in Canadian television, including best drama."
"The slick cop drama Flashpoint was the big winner at Saturday's Gemini Awards as it snagged three of the night's top honours in Canadian television, including best drama."
The Globe & Mail (Canada) 11/14/09
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Posted 11/15/09@11:43PM
visual Groundbreaking For The New Barnes Collection
"Not everyone at the fenced-in future site of the Barnes, which has been in Lower Merion for more than 80 years, was pleased with the event. About 20 protesters stood on the Parkway and at the site entrance hoisting signs in opposition."
"Not everyone at the fenced-in future site of the Barnes, which has been in Lower Merion for more than 80 years, was pleased with the event. About 20 protesters stood on the Parkway and at the site entrance hoisting signs in opposition."
Philadelphia Inquirer 11/15/09
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Posted 11/15/09@11:39PM
media Universal Pays Out To Newspapers Over Fake Ads
"The studio just paid $20,000 to the Alaska Press Club as part of a settlement with several Alaska newspapers after the studio, in the course of promoting its current release, The Fourth Kind, created an elaborate series of online news stories that professed to be from real Alaska news publications."
"The studio just paid $20,000 to the Alaska Press Club as part of a settlement with several Alaska newspapers after the studio, in the course of promoting its current release, The Fourth Kind, created an elaborate series of online news stories that professed to be from real Alaska news publications."
Los Angeles Times 11/15/09
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Posted 11/15/09@10:44PM
media Video Game Sales Crash
"Console sales crashed 23% to $380.7 million last month, from $497 million in October 2008. Game software sales fell 18% to $572.7 million, down from $698.4 million a year earlier. The grim numbers represent the seventh monthly decline in U.S. video game sales."
"Console sales crashed 23% to $380.7 million last month, from $497 million in October 2008. Game software sales fell 18% to $572.7 million, down from $698.4 million a year earlier. The grim numbers represent the seventh monthly decline in U.S. video game sales."
Los Angeles Times 11/15/09
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Posted 11/15/09@10:00PM
ideas The Power Of Reputation (Can It Be Used For Good?)
"Public goods situations crop up all over the place, including decisions on maintaining roads, funding the police and whether or not to shirk at work. This leads us to an important question: is it possible to make people care enough about such problems to do their bit?"
"Public goods situations crop up all over the place, including decisions on maintaining roads, funding the police and whether or not to shirk at work. This leads us to an important question: is it possible to make people care enough about such problems to do their bit?"
New Scientist 11/13/09
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Posted 11/15/09@09:31AM
visual Why Hasn't Tracey Emin Translated To America?
"In London I'm in the papers every time I blow my nose, essentially. I'll be followed by paparazzi. I'm taught in the school curriculum in Britain. It's actually kind of nice when I come to New York and I don't have that recognized thing."
"In London I'm in the papers every time I blow my nose, essentially. I'll be followed by paparazzi. I'm taught in the school curriculum in Britain. It's actually kind of nice when I come to New York and I don't have that recognized thing."
The New York Times 11/15/09
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Posted 11/15/09@09:29AM
issues A New Approach To Selling Tickets Online
"Teams are focused on season tickets, big theater groups are focused on subscriptions, that kind of stuff. We are really focused on viral social-marketing technology that will allow music venues and promoters to sell tickets."
"Teams are focused on season tickets, big theater groups are focused on subscriptions, that kind of stuff. We are really focused on viral social-marketing technology that will allow music venues and promoters to sell tickets."
The New York Times 11/14/09
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Posted 11/15/09@09:27AM
people Why Art Tatum Was Never A Superstar
"What was it about Tatum that kept him in relative obscurity? Part of the problem, I suspect, is that his personality was almost entirely opaque. We're told that he liked baseball and drank Pabst Blue Ribbon beer by the quart, but little else is known for sure about his private life."
"What was it about Tatum that kept him in relative obscurity? Part of the problem, I suspect, is that his personality was almost entirely opaque. We're told that he liked baseball and drank Pabst Blue Ribbon beer by the quart, but little else is known for sure about his private life."
The Wall Street Journal 11/14/09
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Posted 11/15/09@09:19AM
media What Movies Define The 2000's?
"More than 5,000 movies have come and gone and been reviewed in The Times, most of them still living somewhere in the lucrative zombie limbo of DVD or cable programming. Some landed noisily on thousands of screens at once, gobbling up as much attention and money as the marketing machinery of the studios could buy, at least for a weekend or two. Others bloomed quietly in big-city art houses and were smiled on (if they were lucky) by ardent critics and die-hard cinephiles."
"More than 5,000 movies have come and gone and been reviewed in The Times, most of them still living somewhere in the lucrative zombie limbo of DVD or cable programming. Some landed noisily on thousands of screens at once, gobbling up as much attention and money as the marketing machinery of the studios could buy, at least for a weekend or two. Others bloomed quietly in big-city art houses and were smiled on (if they were lucky) by ardent critics and die-hard cinephiles."
New York Times Magazine 11/15/09
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Posted 11/15/09@09:13AM
people Edward Albee: Theatre Disappoints Me
"According to Albee, the problem is that the world of theatre has changed in ways he disapproves of. He is especially irked by the increasing importance of a director's vision, which is now understood to be just as valuable as what is being directed. In interviews and public speeches, Albee has been vocal about his distaste for those who neglect his strict stage directions."
"According to Albee, the problem is that the world of theatre has changed in ways he disapproves of. He is especially irked by the increasing importance of a director's vision, which is now understood to be just as valuable as what is being directed. In interviews and public speeches, Albee has been vocal about his distaste for those who neglect his strict stage directions."
The Economist 11/13/09
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Posted 11/15/09@09:10AM
visual Poland Becomes A Center For Contemporary Art
"Poland's contemporary artists have put their country on the international art map. Once a must-see for tourists interested in the tragic aspects of Europe's past, Poland has now become an important destination for contemporary-art fans."
"Poland's contemporary artists have put their country on the international art map. Once a must-see for tourists interested in the tragic aspects of Europe's past, Poland has now become an important destination for contemporary-art fans."
The Wall Street Journal 11/14/09
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Posted 11/15/09@09:07AM
dance Ballet BC Launches Its First Series Of New Work
Following its near-collapse last year, the Vancouver company is binding itself to its community with "its first choreographic series, Surfacing, which will feature commissioned work by four local choreographers performed by company members and 15 dancers from the Arts Umbrella Graduate Program."
Following its near-collapse last year, the Vancouver company is binding itself to its community with "its first choreographic series, Surfacing, which will feature commissioned work by four local choreographers performed by company members and 15 dancers from the Arts Umbrella Graduate Program."
Vancouver Sun 11/12/09
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Posted 11/15/09@09:06AM
music Opera Australia's New Chief Wants To Make It Up To Melbourne
Ever since 1996, when Sydney and Melbourne companies were merged to form the Sydney-based Opera Australia, Melburnian opera fans have complained that the national company gives their city too few performances of too few works with too few top-tier singers. New OA artistic director Lyndon Terracini plans to address their complaints, with more new productions, including a Ring cycle to start in 2012.
Ever since 1996, when Sydney and Melbourne companies were merged to form the Sydney-based Opera Australia, Melburnian opera fans have complained that the national company gives their city too few performances of too few works with too few top-tier singers. New OA artistic director Lyndon Terracini plans to address their complaints, with more new productions, including a Ring cycle to start in 2012.
The Age (Melbourne) 11/10/09
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Posted 11/15/09@09:01AM
theatre Director Pulls Out Of First Wives Club Musical
Helmer Francesca Zambello has withdrawn from the tuner version of The First Wives Club … Zambello (The Little Mermaid), who directed the world preem of First Wives at San Diego's Old Globe over the summer, is attached to an upcoming production of musical Rebecca, and also regularly directs opera."
Helmer Francesca Zambello has withdrawn from the tuner version of The First Wives Club … Zambello (The Little Mermaid), who directed the world preem of First Wives at San Diego's Old Globe over the summer, is attached to an upcoming production of musical Rebecca, and also regularly directs opera."
Variety 11/11/09
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Posted 11/15/09@09:00AM
music Melbourne Wonders If Its Orchestra Need A Chief Conductor
In the wake of the firing of Oleg Caetani from the Melbourne Symphony, apparently for unsatisfactory performance, and a very successful guest engagement by 18th-century specialist Reinhard Goebel (whom the musicians cheered), the MSO's chairman and other managers are considering doing without a chief conductor altogether.
In the wake of the firing of Oleg Caetani from the Melbourne Symphony, apparently for unsatisfactory performance, and a very successful guest engagement by 18th-century specialist Reinhard Goebel (whom the musicians cheered), the MSO's chairman and other managers are considering doing without a chief conductor altogether.
The Age (Melbourne) 11/11/09
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Posted 11/15/09@08:57AM
dance PHILADANCO At 40
"'Forty years,' reflects Joan Myers Brown on the dance company she founded and continues to run, 'means really another year that we've got to struggle. But, the fact that we are still here is amazing'."
"'Forty years,' reflects Joan Myers Brown on the dance company she founded and continues to run, 'means really another year that we've got to struggle. But, the fact that we are still here is amazing'."
Philadelphia Examiner 11/12/09
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Posted 11/15/09@08:55AM
ideas English: Is The Globe's Common Linguistic Currency Being Debased?
"We have seen much hand-wringing over the fact that dominant languages like English seem to invade smaller countries and displace their languages - and languages are indeed dying out faster under the pressures of globalism. But nobody seems to ask, What harm is this doing to English?"
"We have seen much hand-wringing over the fact that dominant languages like English seem to invade smaller countries and displace their languages - and languages are indeed dying out faster under the pressures of globalism. But nobody seems to ask, What harm is this doing to English?"
The Nation 11/03/09
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Posted 11/15/09@08:54AM
Friday, November 13, 2009issues
Where's The Arts Audience? Probably Playing Video Games
"How many video game addicts also do drama? Probably very few. Away from central London, professional theatre and music struggle to compete with multi-channel television, video games, pubs, clubbing and IT networking, a situation exacerbated by 25 years during which arts and culture have been downgraded in the curriculum, and the chance of being enthused decreased by the daunting documentation and fear of litigation that deters schools from organising trips."
"How many video game addicts also do drama? Probably very few. Away from central London, professional theatre and music struggle to compete with multi-channel television, video games, pubs, clubbing and IT networking, a situation exacerbated by 25 years during which arts and culture have been downgraded in the curriculum, and the chance of being enthused decreased by the daunting documentation and fear of litigation that deters schools from organising trips."
The Guardian (UK) 11/13/09
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Posted 11/13/09@06:02AM
theatre Credit Where Credit's Due - But Can You Tell?
"It might seem like a stupid question, but when you watch a piece of theatre, do you ever wonder who has done what? There's no real reason why you should. You liked so-and-so's performance, the set looked nice, theatre is a collaborative effort and you enjoyed the show. End of story."
"It might seem like a stupid question, but when you watch a piece of theatre, do you ever wonder who has done what? There's no real reason why you should. You liked so-and-so's performance, the set looked nice, theatre is a collaborative effort and you enjoyed the show. End of story."
The Guardian (UK) 11/13/09
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Posted 11/13/09@05:59AM
people Bluesman Robert Johnson's Birthplace Confirmed
"There's the myth he sold his soul to the devil to create his haunting guitar intonations. There's the dispute over where he died after his alleged poisoning by a jealous man in 1938. Three different markers claim to be the site of his demise. His birthplace, however, has been verified."
"There's the myth he sold his soul to the devil to create his haunting guitar intonations. There's the dispute over where he died after his alleged poisoning by a jealous man in 1938. Three different markers claim to be the site of his demise. His birthplace, however, has been verified."
Yahoo! (AP) 11/13/09
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Posted 11/13/09@05:45AM
visual LA's Museum Of Contemporary Art - Back From The Dead
"This is the biggest turnaround of any art institution, whether it is performing arts or the visual arts, if you think of all that has happened in the last year," Eli Broad said Thursday.
"This is the biggest turnaround of any art institution, whether it is performing arts or the visual arts, if you think of all that has happened in the last year," Eli Broad said Thursday.
Yahoo! (Reuters) 11/13/09
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Posted 11/13/09@05:42AM
ideas Study: New Brain Cells Dislodge Old Memories
"A new rodent study shows that newborn neurons destabilize established connections among existing brain cells in the hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in learning and memory. Clearing old memories from the hippocampus makes way for new learning, researchers from Japan suggest."
"A new rodent study shows that newborn neurons destabilize established connections among existing brain cells in the hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in learning and memory. Clearing old memories from the hippocampus makes way for new learning, researchers from Japan suggest."
Wired 11/13/09
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Posted 11/13/09@05:39AM
music Beijing's Rock Revolution
"The idea of underground rock in a communist capital might seem like a culture clash waiting to happen, but it hasn't played out that way. Even as new bands emerge and become more popular, it's still just a blip on the government's radar."
"The idea of underground rock in a communist capital might seem like a culture clash waiting to happen, but it hasn't played out that way. Even as new bands emerge and become more popular, it's still just a blip on the government's radar."
Washington Post 11/13/09
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Posted 11/13/09@05:34AM
dance Designer Withdraws Claims Against Riverdance
The withdrawal came on the third day of a hearing expected to last two weeks. Dublin-based designer Jen Kelly had claimed his original costumes for the show were used and altered without his consent, and that he had been "airbrushed out of the history of the show" and not given proper credit for his work.
The withdrawal came on the third day of a hearing expected to last two weeks. Dublin-based designer Jen Kelly had claimed his original costumes for the show were used and altered without his consent, and that he had been "airbrushed out of the history of the show" and not given proper credit for his work.
The Stage 11/12/09
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Posted 11/13/09@05:24AM
music Dudamel Mania - Marketing Of A Maestro
"In a case of Hollywood-meets-Haydn, the star factory is busy at work on a rare subject: a 28-year-old Venezuelan conductor whose life revolves around scores, not scripts. With only a handful of concerts here behind him, Mr. Dudamel is more or less making this town swoon."
"In a case of Hollywood-meets-Haydn, the star factory is busy at work on a rare subject: a 28-year-old Venezuelan conductor whose life revolves around scores, not scripts. With only a handful of concerts here behind him, Mr. Dudamel is more or less making this town swoon."
The New York Times 11/13/09
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Posted 11/13/09@05:15AM
issues How The Arts Coped With Life Behind The Iron Curtain
"The cultural responses to totalitarianism and the censorship of the arts differed from country to country. But one common thread through the undergrounds of the Eastern Bloc was that artists wanted their ideas to spread and be considered by the general population. A freedom of speech, however constrained, was very much fueled through the arts."
"The cultural responses to totalitarianism and the censorship of the arts differed from country to country. But one common thread through the undergrounds of the Eastern Bloc was that artists wanted their ideas to spread and be considered by the general population. A freedom of speech, however constrained, was very much fueled through the arts."
The New York Times 11/13/09
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Posted 11/13/09@05:10AM
visual Recession? Naw! Auction Market Races Forward
"This week, those attending Christie's and Sotheby's evening sessions traditionally reserved for the most important works might have briefly thought that there never was a recession. No awareness of it appeared to linger in the bidders' minds as they ran up paintings, drawings and sundry three-dimensional works to three times the estimate, or more."
"This week, those attending Christie's and Sotheby's evening sessions traditionally reserved for the most important works might have briefly thought that there never was a recession. No awareness of it appeared to linger in the bidders' minds as they ran up paintings, drawings and sundry three-dimensional works to three times the estimate, or more."
The New York Times 11/13/09
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Posted 11/13/09@05:05AM
theatre A Portrait Of Joseph Papp (30 Years Later)
"Papp mostly appears as a kind of theatrical superhero, arriving to give a crucial green light, to fire a director, to change a second act, to shake a cast up or to raise impossibly large sums of money in a single bound."
"Papp mostly appears as a kind of theatrical superhero, arriving to give a crucial green light, to fire a director, to change a second act, to shake a cast up or to raise impossibly large sums of money in a single bound."
The New York Times 11/13/09
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Posted 11/13/09@05:02AM
media A Little Market Perspective - A New Video Game Sales Record
Activision Blizzard Inc. said it sold 4.7 million copies of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 , or $310 million (U.S.) of sales, on its first day, setting a new record for the video game industry.
Activision Blizzard Inc. said it sold 4.7 million copies of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 , or $310 million (U.S.) of sales, on its first day, setting a new record for the video game industry.
The Globe & Mail (Canada) 11/13/09
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Posted 11/13/09@04:52AM
ideas Study: Musicians Can Pick Out Background Talk Better
"Researchers asked 16 lifelong musicians and 15 non-musicians to listen to speech in a quiet or noisy environment while they were wearing scalp electrodes to monitor their brain activity. Background noise delayed the brain's response, but this delay was much shorter in the musicians. What's more, in the noisy environment, the musicians' brainwaves were more similar to the sound waves of the speech than in non-musicians."
"Researchers asked 16 lifelong musicians and 15 non-musicians to listen to speech in a quiet or noisy environment while they were wearing scalp electrodes to monitor their brain activity. Background noise delayed the brain's response, but this delay was much shorter in the musicians. What's more, in the noisy environment, the musicians' brainwaves were more similar to the sound waves of the speech than in non-musicians."
New Scientist 11/12/09
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Posted 11/13/09@04:33AM
theatre A Need To Reinvent Theatre
"Theaters need to understand that they are the pulse of society. But for theater to have the important place in society that it deserves, it needs to be almost a town hall -- a place where people come for ideas, to converse, to be angry and sometimes to be comforted."
"Theaters need to understand that they are the pulse of society. But for theater to have the important place in society that it deserves, it needs to be almost a town hall -- a place where people come for ideas, to converse, to be angry and sometimes to be comforted."
Detroit Free Press 11/13/09
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Posted 11/13/09@04:16AM
people Slatkin Cancels Concerts After Heart Attack
"Detroit Symphony Orchestra music director Leonard Slatkin has canceled his appearances with the orchestra during the next two weeks on the advice of doctors following a heart attack he suffered on Nov. 1 in Rotterdam in the Netherlands."
"Detroit Symphony Orchestra music director Leonard Slatkin has canceled his appearances with the orchestra during the next two weeks on the advice of doctors following a heart attack he suffered on Nov. 1 in Rotterdam in the Netherlands."
Detroit Free Press 11/12/09
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Posted 11/13/09@04:12AM
media Forget The Internet - Many UK TV Watchers Stiil Use B&W Sets
Almost 30,000 people across the UK still tune into their favourite programmes on black and white TV sets.
Almost 30,000 people across the UK still tune into their favourite programmes on black and white TV sets.
BBC 11/12/09
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Posted 11/13/09@04:03AM
people Teens Get Police Trouble For Rapping Their Order At McDonald's
"Late last month four teens were cited for disorderly conduct in American Fork, Utah, after repeatedly (and, some would argue, hilariously) rapping their order at a McDonald's drive-through."
"Late last month four teens were cited for disorderly conduct in American Fork, Utah, after repeatedly (and, some would argue, hilariously) rapping their order at a McDonald's drive-through."
Chicago Sun-Times 11/13/09
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Posted 11/13/09@03:52AM
music Aspen Music Festival Chief Offered Job Back
Alan Fletcher, who had been recently fired by the Festival's board, was offered reinstatement. Following a meeting of the festival's board of trustees last Wednesday, Fletcher "was offered a contract to continue as president and CEO through September 2010, which includes provisions governing any extension for future seasons."
Alan Fletcher, who had been recently fired by the Festival's board, was offered reinstatement. Following a meeting of the festival's board of trustees last Wednesday, Fletcher "was offered a contract to continue as president and CEO through September 2010, which includes provisions governing any extension for future seasons."
Aspen Times 11/12/09
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Posted 11/13/09@03:46AM
Thursday, November 12, 2009music
New GM Is Proving City Opera Doomsayers Wrong
"The rabbit-out-of-the-hat success" that was New York City Opera's season opener "was begun in late February, weeks after George Steel was appointed general manager and artistic director amid suspicions that he knew little about running an opera company." But "so far, his decisions aren't wrong."
"The rabbit-out-of-the-hat success" that was New York City Opera's season opener "was begun in late February, weeks after George Steel was appointed general manager and artistic director amid suspicions that he knew little about running an opera company." But "so far, his decisions aren't wrong."
Philadelphia Inquirer 11/12/09
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Posted 11/12/09@07:59AM
visual A First For Tate Britain: A Female Director
Penelope Curtis, 48, "the curator of the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds, takes the helm from Dr Stephen Deuchar who will leave the gallery in December after 11 years in the role. The Oxford modern history graduate is an established scholar and author with an interest in 20th-century British art."
Penelope Curtis, 48, "the curator of the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds, takes the helm from Dr Stephen Deuchar who will leave the gallery in December after 11 years in the role. The Oxford modern history graduate is an established scholar and author with an interest in 20th-century British art."
The Telegraph (UK) 11/12/09
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Posted 11/12/09@07:15AM
media Gore's Current TV Shifts From User-Generated Content
"Current TV's retrenchment shows the difficulty of grafting the freewheeling culture and sensibilities that have thrived over the Internet onto established mediums like television.... [J]ust as advertisers have shied from supporting websites that feature amateur video, so too they appear no more willing to support user-generated content on TV."
"Current TV's retrenchment shows the difficulty of grafting the freewheeling culture and sensibilities that have thrived over the Internet onto established mediums like television.... [J]ust as advertisers have shied from supporting websites that feature amateur video, so too they appear no more willing to support user-generated content on TV."
Los Angeles Times 11/12/09
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Posted 11/12/09@07:03AM
issues Most Late-Night TV Watchers Are Women, The Writers Men
"In the 1980s, [David] Letterman pioneered the kind of college-age male humor that dominates late night. But now, his audience is almost 55 percent women; [Jay] Leno's is more than 53 percent, and [Conan] O'Brien's just over one half. Yet the writing room and sensibilities of the show itself remain largely male."
"In the 1980s, [David] Letterman pioneered the kind of college-age male humor that dominates late night. But now, his audience is almost 55 percent women; [Jay] Leno's is more than 53 percent, and [Conan] O'Brien's just over one half. Yet the writing room and sensibilities of the show itself remain largely male."
The New York Times 11/12/09
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Posted 11/12/09@06:47AM
media Indie-Film History Goes Back A Hundred Years
"Nickelodeons were once as common as coffee shops, and the nickel-a-pop silent films they showed were as disposable as YouTube videos. That made for a lot of competition in the early days of the movie business -- competition that fueled the rise of an indie-films culture as early as 1909."
"Nickelodeons were once as common as coffee shops, and the nickel-a-pop silent films they showed were as disposable as YouTube videos. That made for a lot of competition in the early days of the movie business -- competition that fueled the rise of an indie-films culture as early as 1909."
NPR 11/11/09
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Posted 11/12/09@06:28AM
music He Was Influential -- But His Students Were Stars
Henry Cowell "was a prolific composer whose own music was eclipsed by the works of his students." The director of a San Francisco organization that's celebrating him this week "discovered Cowell through the pioneering percussion music of the composer's famous pupils John Cage and Lou Harrison."
Henry Cowell "was a prolific composer whose own music was eclipsed by the works of his students." The director of a San Francisco organization that's celebrating him this week "discovered Cowell through the pioneering percussion music of the composer's famous pupils John Cage and Lou Harrison."
Wall Street Journal 11/11/09
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Posted 11/12/09@06:12AM
theatre Stratford, Shaw Festivals Saw Recession-Related Declines
"Both festivals had a slow start due to the recession, a major leap forward once their shows opened and the government came through with additional marketing funds, but an ultimate downward turn by the time the curtain fell." Stratford slipped 4.7 percent in attendance and 1.7 percent in revenue; Shaw was down 6.5 and 8 percent.
"Both festivals had a slow start due to the recession, a major leap forward once their shows opened and the government came through with additional marketing funds, but an ultimate downward turn by the time the curtain fell." Stratford slipped 4.7 percent in attendance and 1.7 percent in revenue; Shaw was down 6.5 and 8 percent.
Toronto Star 11/11/09
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Posted 11/12/09@05:59AM
media Lion For Sale? MGM Looks To Be Headed To Auction
"Several sources say they expect that MGM will essentially be auctioned off within the next few weeks. This would mean that a major, such as Time Warner, could buy the MGM-UA library while another entity might acquire the logo, and yet another deal could be made for United Artists."
"Several sources say they expect that MGM will essentially be auctioned off within the next few weeks. This would mean that a major, such as Time Warner, could buy the MGM-UA library while another entity might acquire the logo, and yet another deal could be made for United Artists."
Variety 11/11/09
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Posted 11/12/09@05:54AM
media Digital Media's New Health Hazard: Secondhand Smut
"[T]he increasing popularity of laptops and handheld devices, and the prevalence of wireless Internet access, means there's a greater chance of becoming a bystander to a complete stranger's viewing proclivities." Skeeved-out bystanders say they're not prudes. "The trouble was knowing that they couldn't escape [the porn], not until the plane landed or the Metro doors opened."
"[T]he increasing popularity of laptops and handheld devices, and the prevalence of wireless Internet access, means there's a greater chance of becoming a bystander to a complete stranger's viewing proclivities." Skeeved-out bystanders say they're not prudes. "The trouble was knowing that they couldn't escape [the porn], not until the plane landed or the Metro doors opened."
Washington Post 11/12/09
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Posted 11/12/09@05:40AM
visual At NY's Scruffy Downtown Galleries, Art Is Selling Again
"The global financial crisis punctured the art bubble last year, drying up cash and driving up caution. Now the tide seems to be turning for young galleries of the East Village and Lower East Side," which "can afford to charge less" than Chelsea galleries "because they have smaller staff and lower rent."
"The global financial crisis punctured the art bubble last year, drying up cash and driving up caution. Now the tide seems to be turning for young galleries of the East Village and Lower East Side," which "can afford to charge less" than Chelsea galleries "because they have smaller staff and lower rent."
Bloomberg 11/12/09
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Posted 11/12/09@05:16AM
visual A Warhol Goes For $43.8M, And Art Market Dares To Hope
"Five bidders vied for Warhol's 1962 '200 One Dollar Bills' at the Sotheby's sale last night," where competition for the painting "underscored returning buying confidence to the art market, pummeled a year ago by the world financial crisis."
"Five bidders vied for Warhol's 1962 '200 One Dollar Bills' at the Sotheby's sale last night," where competition for the painting "underscored returning buying confidence to the art market, pummeled a year ago by the world financial crisis."
Bloomberg 11/12/09
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Posted 11/12/09@05:05AM
Wednesday, November 11, 2009music
Opera Drought In The O.C. Following Opera Pacific's Collapse
There's been nary a note of professional opera in Orange County since Opera Pacific closed a year ago, and there's none on the horizon but a single performance of a single-soprano piece by the Long Beach Opera next May. But a group of boosters is working to end the drought, with imports first and maybe resident productions later.
There's been nary a note of professional opera in Orange County since Opera Pacific closed a year ago, and there's none on the horizon but a single performance of a single-soprano piece by the Long Beach Opera next May. But a group of boosters is working to end the drought, with imports first and maybe resident productions later.
Los Angeles Times 11/11/09
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Posted 11/11/09@09:52PM
dance UK Dance Cos. Pitch Program Proposals To A Panel, Live
"Dance companies and artists are to be given the chance to pitch projects to a team of 18 producers, including Sadler's Wells, The Lowry and The Place, in a Dragon's Den-style scheme." (Dragon's Den is a BBC program that "sees entrepreneurs pitching for investment from some of Britain's top business brains.")
"Dance companies and artists are to be given the chance to pitch projects to a team of 18 producers, including Sadler's Wells, The Lowry and The Place, in a Dragon's Den-style scheme." (Dragon's Den is a BBC program that "sees entrepreneurs pitching for investment from some of Britain's top business brains.")
The Stage (UK) 11/09/09
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Posted 11/11/09@09:50PM
music Marsalis Can't Seem To Finish His Blues Symphony
The world premiere of the piece, by the Atlanta Symphony, was first planned for summer 2008 and has just been postponed for the third time. Marsalis "keeps missing his deadline. Two of the planned seven movements are completed and playable. Two more are in rough draft form. The rest is still in Marsalis' head."
The world premiere of the piece, by the Atlanta Symphony, was first planned for summer 2008 and has just been postponed for the third time. Marsalis "keeps missing his deadline. Two of the planned seven movements are completed and playable. Two more are in rough draft form. The rest is still in Marsalis' head."
artscriticATL 11/10/09
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Posted 11/11/09@09:49PM
people 'The Amazing' Carl Ballantine, Slapstick Magician, Dead At 92
He was "an inveterate quipmeister whose stand-up comedy persona, an incompetent magician known as the Amazing Ballantine or Ballantine the Great, predated and influenced the antic characters of Steve Martin and others." He was also known as "the scheming, profiteering seaman Lester Gruber on the television series McHale's Navy."
He was "an inveterate quipmeister whose stand-up comedy persona, an incompetent magician known as the Amazing Ballantine or Ballantine the Great, predated and influenced the antic characters of Steve Martin and others." He was also known as "the scheming, profiteering seaman Lester Gruber on the television series McHale's Navy."
New York Times 11/11/09
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Posted 11/11/09@09:47PM
theatre Sophocles As PTSD Therapy For Soldiers
"The Pentagon has provided $3.7 million for an independent production company, Theater of War, to visit 50 military sites through at least next summer and stage readings from two plays by Sophocles, Ajax and Philoctetes, for service members."
"The Pentagon has provided $3.7 million for an independent production company, Theater of War, to visit 50 military sites through at least next summer and stage readings from two plays by Sophocles, Ajax and Philoctetes, for service members."
New York Times 11/12/09
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Posted 11/11/09@09:46PM
ideas A Thoroughly Modern Tongue: Electronic Media Are Changing Japanese
"Now the Japanese language is being transformed by blogs, e-mail and keitai shosetsu, or cellphone novels. … So what do these changes mean for a language long defined by indirect locutions and long, leisurely sentences that drift from the top of the page? Is Japanese getting simpler, easier or just worse?"
"Now the Japanese language is being transformed by blogs, e-mail and keitai shosetsu, or cellphone novels. … So what do these changes mean for a language long defined by indirect locutions and long, leisurely sentences that drift from the top of the page? Is Japanese getting simpler, easier or just worse?"
New York Times Book Review 11/08/09
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Posted 11/11/09@09:43PM
issues Royal Opera/Ballet's Manchester Plans Uncertain Due To Ambassador-Live Nation Merger
The Royal Opera House plans a full-fledged northern branch at Manchester's Palace Theatre, which was owned by Live Nation; new owner Ambassador Theatre Group may or may not want to proceed with the deal. Says ATG's CEO, "At a time when everybody is tightening their belts, we need to all be sure we can find the money to do it."
The Royal Opera House plans a full-fledged northern branch at Manchester's Palace Theatre, which was owned by Live Nation; new owner Ambassador Theatre Group may or may not want to proceed with the deal. Says ATG's CEO, "At a time when everybody is tightening their belts, we need to all be sure we can find the money to do it."
The Stage (UK) 11/11/09
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Posted 11/11/09@09:41PM
music Leonard Slatkin Off The Podium Through November
"He's back in America with his doctors and they've said, 'Go rest and come back at the end of November and we'll do a check-up'," said the maestro's manager. Slatkin, music director of the Detroit Symphony, has been out of commission since suffering a heart attack on Nov. 1 after conducting the Rotterdam Philharmonic.
"He's back in America with his doctors and they've said, 'Go rest and come back at the end of November and we'll do a check-up'," said the maestro's manager. Slatkin, music director of the Detroit Symphony, has been out of commission since suffering a heart attack on Nov. 1 after conducting the Rotterdam Philharmonic.
Detroit Free Press 11/11/09
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Posted 11/11/09@09:39PM
people Douglas Campbell, 87, Shakespearean Veteran And AD Of Guthrie Theatre
A "rough-and-ready, red-haired Scot," Campbell was a mainstay of Tyrone Guthrie's companies: the Old Vic, the Stratford Festival in Ontario (where he acted and directed for 25 seasons), and the Guthrie in Minneapolis, where he served as artistic director during the 1960s.
A "rough-and-ready, red-haired Scot," Campbell was a mainstay of Tyrone Guthrie's companies: the Old Vic, the Stratford Festival in Ontario (where he acted and directed for 25 seasons), and the Guthrie in Minneapolis, where he served as artistic director during the 1960s.
The Guardian (UK) 11/11/09
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Posted 11/11/09@09:35PM
theatre Mark Ravenhill Gripes About Being Bypassed For Newbie Playwrights
"Shopping and F***ing playwright Mark Ravenhill has criticised the theatre industry for placing too much emphasis on producing the work of first-time writers, claiming more time should be spent developing 'long-term' relationships with talent."
"Shopping and F***ing playwright Mark Ravenhill has criticised the theatre industry for placing too much emphasis on producing the work of first-time writers, claiming more time should be spent developing 'long-term' relationships with talent."
The Stage (UK) 11/10/09
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Posted 11/11/09@09:34PM
music How Teetering Orchestras Are Like Teetering Newspapers
Anne Midgette: "The main problem is that both fields seem to be incapable of coming up with an actual new business model, in part because both fields are so deeply invested in their own traditions that they tend to confuse those traditions with their function."
Anne Midgette: "The main problem is that both fields seem to be incapable of coming up with an actual new business model, in part because both fields are so deeply invested in their own traditions that they tend to confuse those traditions with their function."
Washington Post 11/11/09
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Posted 11/11/09@09:32PM
ideas The First Bank Of Anti-Matter
Conceptual artist Jonathon Keats, the founder of the bank, is issuing anti-money backed by anti-matter, which he defines as "the physical opposite of anything made with atoms, from luxury condos to private jets." He adds, "Like all banks, The First Bank of Antimatter will issue more currency than we have assets."
Conceptual artist Jonathon Keats, the founder of the bank, is issuing anti-money backed by anti-matter, which he defines as "the physical opposite of anything made with atoms, from luxury condos to private jets." He adds, "Like all banks, The First Bank of Antimatter will issue more currency than we have assets."
New Scientist 11/11/09
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Posted 11/11/09@09:31PM
dance A Sort Of Dancing With The Stars On Ice
"It now seems like such a brilliant idea that it is a surprise no one had thought of it before: pairing figure skaters with hockey players for ice dancing routines in the ultimate ice rink reality show. That's what the [CBC] has done this fall with Battle of the Blades, a huge hit across Canada."
"It now seems like such a brilliant idea that it is a surprise no one had thought of it before: pairing figure skaters with hockey players for ice dancing routines in the ultimate ice rink reality show. That's what the [CBC] has done this fall with Battle of the Blades, a huge hit across Canada."
New York Times 11/11/09
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Posted 11/11/09@09:29PM
media The Problem With 3D TV: Those Ridiculous Glasses
"It's brilliant in theory - but the actual practice of sitting at home wearing cardboard glasses watching TV is rather less so. Channel 4's black-and-white cardboard specs might … come from Sainsbury's rather than the bottom of a Frosties packet, but … how [do] you safely manoeuvre a cup of tea to your mouth" while wearing them?
"It's brilliant in theory - but the actual practice of sitting at home wearing cardboard glasses watching TV is rather less so. Channel 4's black-and-white cardboard specs might … come from Sainsbury's rather than the bottom of a Frosties packet, but … how [do] you safely manoeuvre a cup of tea to your mouth" while wearing them?
The Guardian (UK) 11/11/09
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Posted 11/11/09@09:28PM
people Bruce Weber Photos Of Roberto Bolle - A Whole Book Of Them
The photographer whose very name symbolizes the fusion of beefcake and art spent three years working with ballet's current reigning heartthrob. Roberto Bolle: An Athlete In Tights "features writing from Bolle, as well as texts by Elsa Morante and illustrations by Paul Cadmus and Jeremiah Goodman."
The photographer whose very name symbolizes the fusion of beefcake and art spent three years working with ballet's current reigning heartthrob. Roberto Bolle: An Athlete In Tights "features writing from Bolle, as well as texts by Elsa Morante and illustrations by Paul Cadmus and Jeremiah Goodman."
Vanity Fair 11/09/09
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Posted 11/11/09@09:18PM
media In Gaza, A Women's Film Festival Challenges Hamas
"Through The Eyes of Women, the three-day program that started Tuesday, includes 27 films, all by female directors, five of whom are from Gaza. Most of the rest hail from other Arab states, with eight from the West Bank."
"Through The Eyes of Women, the three-day program that started Tuesday, includes 27 films, all by female directors, five of whom are from Gaza. Most of the rest hail from other Arab states, with eight from the West Bank."
The Globe and Mail (Canada) 11/10/09
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Posted 11/11/09@08:00AM
media Can Chicago Lure Big Indoor Shoots From Hollywood?
"If all goes according to plan, the city will be home to an enormous new soundstage complex sometime next year, located in almost 50 acres of buildings that formerly housed Ryerson Steel.... In theory, it could mean Chicago will be a draw for the kinds of movies that necessitate large-scale special effects."
"If all goes according to plan, the city will be home to an enormous new soundstage complex sometime next year, located in almost 50 acres of buildings that formerly housed Ryerson Steel.... In theory, it could mean Chicago will be a draw for the kinds of movies that necessitate large-scale special effects."
Chicago Tribune 11/11/09
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Posted 11/11/09@07:49AM