Today's Stories

A New Arts-And-Culture Magazine Focused On “The Creative Process”

“Former Pitchfork and Spin editor-in-chief Puja Patel is launching Totei, a publication dedicated to ‘craft and craftsmanship.’ The online magazine will publish content weekly, including profiles of artists and musicians, photo essays, reported features, and interviews. Crucially, Totei aims to spotlight rarely seen materials showing how art is created.” - Semafor

Sham AI Local News Sites Are Proliferating

A digital mirage masquerading as local news, the South Florida Standard underscores just how easy it has become to corrupt one of the country’s core institutions: independent journalism. - Florida Tribune

Author Of A Book About AI And Truth Admits Some Of His Book Was Written By AI With Fake Quotes

The author of a nonfiction book about the effects of artificial intelligence on truth acknowledged on Monday that he had included numerous made-up or misattributed quotes concocted by A.I. - The New York Times

French Actor/Singer Patrick Bruel Faces Rape Allegations In Two Countries

Bruel, 67, has had a string of top-selling albums and appeared in more than 40 films, is under investigation by the Paris prosecutor’s office for at least four complaints of sexual assault in France and by Belgian authorities for an additional alleged attack in Brussels. - The Guardian

The Tony Effect: Broadway Shows That Are Thriving After The Noms

Death of a Salesman, which received nine Tony nominations, hit $1.7 million, its highest gross yet, last week playing to 100 percent capacity at the Winter Garden Theatre. Ragtime has similarly been drawing increased interest since the Tony nominations, bringing in $1.2 million last week. - The Hollywood Reporter

Much-Anticipated “Beaches” To Close On Broadway After Tony Shutout

The show began previews at the Majestic Theatre March 27, ahead of an April 22 opening date, but has failed to catch on with audiences and with critics, who delivered mixed to negative reviews.  - The Hollywood Reporter

This Philadelphia Orchestra Is Growing Like Crazy

To co-music director and conductor Gary Clark, GPGSO’s rapid growth makes sense in a city known for niche, DIY music scenes. It hasn’t exactly been a shock to the orchestra’s other organizers either. - Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)

New Artistic Director For Dayton Contemporary Dance Company

“After 18 years as artistic director and two years in dual roles as chief executive and artistic director, Debbie Blunden-Diggs, daughter of DCDC founder Jeraldyne Blunden, has passed the artistic director baton to Qarrianne Blayr, … has served as associate artistic director for five years.” - Dayton Daily News

Why Peter Gelb Needed Saudi Money For The Met Opera

His supporters blame the Met’s issues on opera’s declining cultural currency and an operating structure that puts it at a unique disadvantage among arts organizations. “He has tried absolutely everything to keep his art going,” says Barbara Tober, a decadeslong patron. “He is held prisoner by the situation that confronts him every day.” - Vulture (MSN)

Israeli Organization Threatens Suit Over Canadian Museum for Human Rights Exhibit

A prominent Israeli legal organization is threatening legal action against the Canadian Museum for Human Rights over an upcoming exhibit on the Palestinian Nakba, alleging the Winnipeg museum is promoting a politically one-sided narrative that could fuel antisemitism and violate federal law. - Winnipeg Sun

Always On: Pretty Much Everything We Do Now Is Being Recorded

The next time you conduct a delicate bit of office diplomacy or share a romantic or financial secret with a friend over drinks, a sensor built into someone’s glasses, necklace, or lapel pin might be watching you and listening. - The Atlantic

Dubai Says It’s Building A Big New Museum For Digital Art

“The planned Museum of Digital Art (MODA) … is part of Dubai’s monumental $27 billion transformation of its financial center into a tech hub, announced earlier this year, and will platform various art forms that rely on emerging technologies, including immersive and interactive experiences. No budget or completion date has yet been announced.” - Artnet

Boston’s Investment In The Arts Is Deflating

The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture more than doubled its operating budget and staff, and the city earmarked $26.2 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to bolster Boston’s creative sector. All that is set to change, as federal pandemic funds run out and the city cuts grant programs to balance the budget. - WBUR

Can Any Real Reform Come Out Of The Ticketmaster/Live Nation Case?

With Ticketmaster signaling its intent to contest the outcome aggressively and drag out the litigation, any meaningful accountability may arrive only in the distant future, rather than offering anything close to timely relief. - The Hill

Democrats Slam Live Nation/Ticketmaster “Sweetheart Deal”

Many of the lawmakers advocated on Monday for a Ticketmaster breakup. Raskin, for example, stated that Live Nation’s monopoly is so strong that artists are “seriously afraid” of the company. - Billboard

Pittsburgh’s Theater Scene Faces Loss Of Its Resident Talent

With the merger of the city’s two largest stage companies and the programming of inexpensive-to-produce small-cast shows, Pittsburgh's gig market for theater artists is shrinking. There may not be fewer shows, but the bigger ones are tours or imports. So there’s a real fear that talented theatermakers will move away. - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“Death Becomes Her” Sets Broadway Closing Date, North American Tour

The musical, which garnered good reviews and 10 Tony nominations but only one actual Tony, will close June 28 after a 20-month run which didn’t recoup its initial investment. A multi-year tour will begin in September in Cleveland. - Variety

World Premiere Of Wynton Marsalis’s Symphony No. 5 Postponed

Subtitled “Liberty,” the work was due to premiere the last weekend of May, performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and conductor Marin Alsop. A joint statement said, “All parties agreed that additional time would best support the long-term life of the new symphony.” - The Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)

The Antonio Stradivari of Brooklyn?

The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center actually programmed a gala in honor of luthier Sam Zygmuntowicz — because so many of its members, and other leading string players (including Joshua Bell and Maxim Vengerov), have instruments of his. - The New York Times

The Guy Who’s Taking Over Stephen Colbert’s Time Slot Just Bought BuzzFeed

Byron Allen, a former stand-up comedian whose Allen Media Group owns 13 local TV stations, The Weather Channel and other outlets, announced a $120 million deal to acquire a 52% controlling stake in BuzzFeed. And he’s leasing from CBS Colbert’s former Late Show time slot for his comedy show Comics Unleashed. - Variety

By Topic

Always On: Pretty Much Everything We Do Now Is Being Recorded

The next time you conduct a delicate bit of office diplomacy or share a romantic or financial secret with a friend over drinks, a sensor built into someone’s glasses, necklace, or lapel pin might be watching you and listening. - The Atlantic

The Slop Before The AI Slop

In 1962, a programmer at Librascope, a California-based defense contractor, announced that “a computer can be programmed to write meaningful and relevant sentences in proper English.” - The New Yorker

How AI Has Taken Over College Education

During the exam, students were pulling out phones and taking photographs of the test to submit to LLMs before copying down machine-written responses into their blue books. - The New Critic

The Gamification Of Homework

Prodigy is among a bevy of gamified tools that have gained a foothold in classrooms across the country by promising to make learning fun. (As Prodigy’s website puts it: “Kids no longer have to choose between homework and playtime.”) - The Atlantic

What Both Old And New Amadeus Teach Us

Every great artist needs a nemesis - fictional or not! - in order to stand out. - Salon

Artists, Writers, And Musicians Experiencing Despair As Generative AI Collides With Art

“Musicians, artists and writers generally possess something AI does not, which is the lived human experience out of which they create. That experience includes the accidents, serendipities and epiphanies that shape our arts.” - KC Studio

A New Arts-And-Culture Magazine Focused On “The Creative Process”

“Former Pitchfork and Spin editor-in-chief Puja Patel is launching Totei, a publication dedicated to ‘craft and craftsmanship.’ The online magazine will publish content weekly, including profiles of artists and musicians, photo essays, reported features, and interviews. Crucially, Totei aims to spotlight rarely seen materials showing how art is created.” - Semafor

Israeli Organization Threatens Suit Over Canadian Museum for Human Rights Exhibit

A prominent Israeli legal organization is threatening legal action against the Canadian Museum for Human Rights over an upcoming exhibit on the Palestinian Nakba, alleging the Winnipeg museum is promoting a politically one-sided narrative that could fuel antisemitism and violate federal law. - Winnipeg Sun

Boston’s Investment In The Arts Is Deflating

The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture more than doubled its operating budget and staff, and the city earmarked $26.2 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to bolster Boston’s creative sector. All that is set to change, as federal pandemic funds run out and the city cuts grant programs to balance the budget....

The Americanization Of Tourism

We’re selling vibes, textures. A sunset on the hills in Chianti, riding a bike on an island in Sicily. Imagine us discussing it in parliament with an Italian accent: l’importanza del made in Italy. We use the English expression unironically. It’s aimed at Americans. - The Dial

Chicago Arts Groups Are Asking Patrons To Turn Over Their Phones At The Door

“If you want a deep dive into Chicago arts and culture, check your phone at the door: The ‘unplugged’ trend is growing locally among arts groups responding to a collective desire for more phone-free experiences.” - WBEZ (Chicago)

France’s Top TV Production House Says It Will Blacklist Artists Who Protest Billionaire

The head of France’s biggest film producer, Canal+, has said the group will no longer work with hundreds of cinema figures who signed a petition voicing concern over the growing influence of the rightwing billionaire owner Vincent Bolloré. - The Guardian

This Philadelphia Orchestra Is Growing Like Crazy

To co-music director and conductor Gary Clark, GPGSO’s rapid growth makes sense in a city known for niche, DIY music scenes. It hasn’t exactly been a shock to the orchestra’s other organizers either. - Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)

Why Peter Gelb Needed Saudi Money For The Met Opera

His supporters blame the Met’s issues on opera’s declining cultural currency and an operating structure that puts it at a unique disadvantage among arts organizations. “He has tried absolutely everything to keep his art going,” says Barbara Tober, a decadeslong patron. “He is held prisoner by the situation that confronts him every day.” -...

Can Any Real Reform Come Out Of The Ticketmaster/Live Nation Case?

With Ticketmaster signaling its intent to contest the outcome aggressively and drag out the litigation, any meaningful accountability may arrive only in the distant future, rather than offering anything close to timely relief. - The Hill

Democrats Slam Live Nation/Ticketmaster “Sweetheart Deal”

Many of the lawmakers advocated on Monday for a Ticketmaster breakup. Raskin, for example, stated that Live Nation’s monopoly is so strong that artists are “seriously afraid” of the company. - Billboard

World Premiere Of Wynton Marsalis’s Symphony No. 5 Postponed

Subtitled “Liberty,” the work was due to premiere the last weekend of May, performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and conductor Marin Alsop. A joint statement said, “All parties agreed that additional time would best support the long-term life of the new symphony.” - The Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)

The Antonio Stradivari of Brooklyn?

The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center actually programmed a gala in honor of luthier Sam Zygmuntowicz — because so many of its members, and other leading string players (including Joshua Bell and Maxim Vengerov), have instruments of his. - The New York Times

Dubai Says It’s Building A Big New Museum For Digital Art

“The planned Museum of Digital Art (MODA) … is part of Dubai’s monumental $27 billion transformation of its financial center into a tech hub, announced earlier this year, and will platform various art forms that rely on emerging technologies, including immersive and interactive experiences. No budget or completion date has yet been announced.” - Artnet

Pompidou And Hong Kong’s M+ Strike A Five-Year Deal To Exchange Art

The major exhibition featuring collections from both institutions will be staged first in Paris at the Centre Pompidou, after its five-year renovation, around 2029 or 2030, before being hosted at the M+ with a focus on visual culture in France and China. - South China Morning Post

Will Paint For Food?

“If my art isn’t in your budget right now, I’ll accept the following as payment…” the viral posts on Instagram and TikTok read. The caption includes a list of items or services that the artist will trade the work for, ranging from handmade clothes, jewellery and tattoos to accommodation, meals and beauty services.  -...

The (Current, As Of Last Night) 16 Most Expensive Artworks Ever Sold At Auction

Yes, the maybe-it’s-really-a-Leonardo Salvator Mundi is still number one, more than $200 million ahead of the runner-up, which made the list just last year. Meanwhile, the fourth-ranking piece set its record on Monday night. Fully half the artworks on this list were auctioned since 2020. - ARTnews

Louvre Announces Architects For Its Coming Renovation

"The Paris office of STUDIOS Architecture will lead the project, which includes the creation of new galleries and a new lobby. … (The firm’s) recent portfolio includes the well-received renovations of the Frick Collection in New York and the Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery in London.” - ARTnews

The Artists Using San Francisco As A Canvas For Laser Shows

The San Francisco sky was lit Friday night with dozens of colored lasers beaming from the Transamerica Pyramid toward Coit Tower and One Sansome Street. - ABC7

Author Of A Book About AI And Truth Admits Some Of His Book Was Written By AI With Fake Quotes

The author of a nonfiction book about the effects of artificial intelligence on truth acknowledged on Monday that he had included numerous made-up or misattributed quotes concocted by A.I. - The New York Times

International Booker Prize, For First Time, Goes To Novel Written In Mandarin Chinese

Taiwan Travelogue, written by Yáng Shuāng-zi and translated by Lin King, takes the form of a travel memoir by a (fictional) Japanese novelist on a culinary tour of occupied Taiwan in the 1930s, charting her complex relationship with her local interpreter. The novel won a U.S. National Book Award in 2024. - AP

New York Magazine Investigates Contributor For Alleged Plagiarism

“Ross Barkan, who is a contract writer for the magazine, … has been accused of plagiarism after publishing at least three stories with striking similarities to other published work.” - NPR

Judge Delays Approval Of Anthropic Authors Settlement

Calling out lawyers for requesting more than $320 million in legal fees when each author only expects a $3,000 payout, some objectors asked the court to delay approving the settlement until a more reasonable plaintiff compensation plan is constructed. - Ars Technica

The Story Of The Community College Prof Who Suddenly Found Out Her Novel Was A Pulitzer Finalist

Stacey Levine’s Mice 1961, published by a very small press in Oregon, is "a deeply weird book, a kind-of coming-of-age comedy with no easy takeaway, full of twangy dialogue that reads like an alien in a human suit going ‘hello fellow Earthlings.’”  - LitHub

The Egyptian Mummy Buried With The Iliad

Was Greek literature a “cheat code” to the afterlife for Egyptian royals of Roman-era Egypt? - The New York Times

Sham AI Local News Sites Are Proliferating

A digital mirage masquerading as local news, the South Florida Standard underscores just how easy it has become to corrupt one of the country’s core institutions: independent journalism. - Florida Tribune

The Guy Who’s Taking Over Stephen Colbert’s Time Slot Just Bought BuzzFeed

Byron Allen, a former stand-up comedian whose Allen Media Group owns 13 local TV stations, The Weather Channel and other outlets, announced a $120 million deal to acquire a 52% controlling stake in BuzzFeed. And he’s leasing from CBS Colbert’s former Late Show time slot for his comedy show Comics Unleashed. - Variety

Texas Public Radio To Merge Operations With News Site San Antonio Report

“The move, unanimously approved by both organizations’ boards of directors, is expected to launch July 1. Leaders say the initiative will allow the two nonprofit newsrooms to share resources, streamline operations and direct more funding toward journalism and community reporting rather than overhead.” - Inside Radio

Cannes Wrestles With AI

The 79th Cannes may go down as the time the world’s grandest film festival for the first time wrestled with the onset of AI — its arrival has been felt like a tsunami on the French Riviera. - AP News

Is Your Name Emily? Free Drinks For You!

Showcase Cinemas has just announced that if anyone called Emily buys a ticket to see the film Finding Emily this weekend, they will receive a free medium-sized Coca-Cola in return. - The Guardian

NPR Newsroom Reorganizes, Offers Buyouts

NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher says the network has to fill a gap of $8 million in its $300-million annual budget because of the elimination of federal subsidies for its member stations, which pay NPR to air programs such as Morning Edition and All Things Considered. - NPR

New Artistic Director For Dayton Contemporary Dance Company

“After 18 years as artistic director and two years in dual roles as chief executive and artistic director, Debbie Blunden-Diggs, daughter of DCDC founder Jeraldyne Blunden, has passed the artistic director baton to Qarrianne Blayr, … has served as associate artistic director for five years.” - Dayton Daily News

Artistic Director Of Utah’s Ballet West To Step Down After 20-Year Tenure

Adam Sklute, who came to Salt Lake City in 2007, will depart at the end of next season. His tenure, the longest in Ballet West history, saw the company stabilize its finances, increase its subscriber base, triple its budget, and sextuple its school's enrollment. - KSL (Salt Lake City)

How Tamara Rojo Is Remaking The San Francisco Ballet

“Ballet can be a pretty conservative artform, with many companies trundling out Swan Lakes, Nutcrackers, and Cinderellas year after year. Every now and again, though, someone like Rojo comes along and truly shakes things up – even if that has meant ruffling tutus in the process.” - NPR

One Of Cuba’s Most Unusual Choreographers Tries To Stay Afloat Amid The Island’s Economic Collapse

“For nearly three decades Cuba’s Danza Voluminosa regularly filled prestigious venues like the 2,000-seat National Theater. Directed by Juan Miguel Mas, the troupe pioneered a new movement by working exclusively with larger-bodied dancers. ... (Now) Mas’s daily life has been upended by persistent blackouts, water outages, soaring costs and a lack of transportation.” -...

Aszure Barton’s Final Choreography Commission For Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

LubDub is the fourth and final piece of Barton’s three years as Hubbard Street’s resident choreographer. “Asked to discuss the movement vocabulary she employs here, Barton demurred. But when the descriptor 'unruly' was suggested, she was quick to embrace it. …  (And) there are plenty of quirky, unexpected sights in the piece.” - WBEZ...

Luxury Brands Are Becoming Dance’s Number-One Patrons

It’s not just a matter of advertising in the playbills; that’s been happening for decades. Van Cleef and Arpels has directly funded dance festivals in six cities on three continents, while Chanel sponsors a large biennial award to (among others) choreographers. But are there serious ethical issues tied to this money? - Dance Magazine

The Tony Effect: Broadway Shows That Are Thriving After The Noms

Death of a Salesman, which received nine Tony nominations, hit $1.7 million, its highest gross yet, last week playing to 100 percent capacity at the Winter Garden Theatre. Ragtime has similarly been drawing increased interest since the Tony nominations, bringing in $1.2 million last week. - The Hollywood Reporter

Much-Anticipated “Beaches” To Close On Broadway After Tony Shutout

The show began previews at the Majestic Theatre March 27, ahead of an April 22 opening date, but has failed to catch on with audiences and with critics, who delivered mixed to negative reviews.  - The Hollywood Reporter

Pittsburgh’s Theater Scene Faces Loss Of Its Resident Talent

With the merger of the city’s two largest stage companies and the programming of inexpensive-to-produce small-cast shows, Pittsburgh's gig market for theater artists is shrinking. There may not be fewer shows, but the bigger ones are tours or imports. So there’s a real fear that talented theatermakers will move away. - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“Death Becomes Her” Sets Broadway Closing Date, North American Tour

The musical, which garnered good reviews and 10 Tony nominations but only one actual Tony, will close June 28 after a 20-month run which didn’t recoup its initial investment. A multi-year tour will begin in September in Cleveland. - Variety

Twin Cities’ Midsize Theater Companies Are Genuinely Worried About Surviving

“Here, midsize theater companies help anchor the scene and bridge the gap between big playhouses such as the Guthrie and Children’s theaters and smaller companies. But as corporate, civic and private funding has dried up or shifted to other areas, they are feeling the heat.” - The Minnesota Star Tribune (MSN)

Why Schmigadoon’s Music Sounds At Once Fresh And So Very Familiar

“Every number is a homage to at least one classic musical, and often two or three. Here, the hills are alive with the sound of pastiche; the plains and the valleys too.” - The New York Times

French Actor/Singer Patrick Bruel Faces Rape Allegations In Two Countries

Bruel, 67, has had a string of top-selling albums and appeared in more than 40 films, is under investigation by the Paris prosecutor’s office for at least four complaints of sexual assault in France and by Belgian authorities for an additional alleged attack in Brussels. - The Guardian

For The Second Time, A Mistrial In Harvey Weinstein’s New York Rape Case

This was the third time the disgraced producer was prosecuted in Manhattan for his alleged assault of Jessica Mann in 2013. (The initial verdict, a conviction, was overturned on appeal.) This time, the jury deadlocked, with 9 of the 12 jurors reportedly leaning toward acquittal. - AP

Soprano Felicity Lott Dead At 79

The much-loved singer, admired equally for opera and concerts, passed away two days after she publicly revealed her terminal cancer diagnosis. - The Guardian

Documentary Filmmaker Brian Lindstrom Has Died At 65

“Lindstrom, until the end of his life, was committed to portraying stories of trauma overcome. Though he possessed an exceptional grasp of cinema’s tools from cinematography to editing, Lindstrom’s greatest artistic gift was his blend of empathy and curiosity.” - Oregon ArtsWatch

Newly Discovered Portraits of Cy Twombly Add Texture To The Life Of The Artist And The Photographer, His Wife

The Twomblys’ granddaughter, Maia, discovered the negatives - and she has a new appreciation of the photographer: “I remember her now not as an 80-year-old woman, but as a 30-year-old. It’s like she is no longer my grandmother but my friend.” - The New York Times

Trial Begins For Murder Of Art Dealer Brent Sikkema, Allegedly By Order Of His Husband

“The estranged husband of a prominent New York City art dealer said he wished his spouse was dead before the co-owner of a contemporary art gallery was found stabbed to death in his Brazilian townhouse, a witness testified Tuesday as a murder-for-hire trial got underway in Manhattan.” - AP

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Ex-San Antonio Phil Conductor Launches New Orchestra For City

As the troubled San Antonio Philharmonic, which has canceled more concerts than it has played this year, appears to edge toward collapse, Jeffrey Kahane, who resigned as the Philharmonic’s music director in February, has announced the founding of a new orchestra and education initiative called Harmonium of Texas. - San Antonio Express-News

Turns Out Mark Rothko’s Paintings Are Perfect For The Age Of Social Media

“Across TikTok and Instagram, videos centred on Rothko’s work are accumulating hundreds of thousands of views. One creator has begun styling outfits inspired by individual Rothko canvases; another assigns Rothko works to personality archetypes.” - The Guardian (UK)

So, Does Peter Gelb Have ‘The Most Difficult Job’ In The World?

“Gelb, who is paid $1.2 million annually, oversees a $326 million budget. … Beyond the often caustic scrutiny of opera critics and patrons, Gelb must reckon with the demands of 3,000 full- and part-time employees, 15 labor unions and a 144-member board of directors.” - The New York Times

The Head Of France’s Biggest Film Producer Is Prepared To Bow To A Right-Wing Billionaire

“The open letter, published earlier this week to coincide with the opening of the Cannes film festival, was signed by more than 600 figures, including ... Juliette Binoche.” Now the head of Canal+ says the organization will no longer work with any of the signers. - The Guardian (UK)

Artists, Writers, And Musicians Experiencing Despair As Generative AI Collides With Art

“Musicians, artists and writers generally possess something AI does not, which is the lived human experience out of which they create. That experience includes the accidents, serendipities and epiphanies that shape our arts.” - KC Studio

What Will Win At The Tonys, And What Should Win

At least, according to The New York Times’s Helen Shaw. For instance: “When I think about the sheer old-fashioned ebullience of Cinco Paul’s Schmigadoon! — its compositional invention and depth of talent — I find myself hoping the voters will give it the laurel.” - The New York Times

For No Reason The Artist Or Anyone Else Knows, FIFA Destroys A Huge, Beloved Mural In Dallas

The massive whale mural is “'gone forever,’ Wyland told me, ... sounding at turns shattered and furious.” But why? Could be for some sports marketing, of course, since the men’s World Cup is coming soon. - Dallas Morning News

Our Feeds Are Products Of Stealth Marketing — And Thus, Mostly Fake

The head of one viral marketing firm says 90 percent of what we see online is advertising. And of course, “the point of this kind of marketing is that nobody is supposed to notice it. But lately, the machinery has started to show.” - Vulture

A Forgotten Medieval Book In Rome Was Hiding A Copy Of The World’s First Poem In English

“Prior to the discovery of the Rome manuscript, the earliest one was from the early 12th century. So this is three centuries earlier than that. And so it attests to the importance that was already being attached to the English in the early 9th century.” - Seattle Times (AP)

How Tamara Rojo Is Remaking The San Francisco Ballet

“Ballet can be a pretty conservative artform, with many companies trundling out Swan Lakes, Nutcrackers, and Cinderellas year after year. Every now and again, though, someone like Rojo comes along and truly shakes things up – even if that has meant ruffling tutus in the process.” - NPR

What Happens To A Singer When She Loses Her Voice

Julie Andrews has reinvented herself almost completely, but after she lost her voice, she "fell into a deep depression. She said that she felt like she had lost her identity. Other vocalists have compared this feeling to the experience of an athlete who loses a limb.” - El Pais English

At The Venice Biennale, Wondering If Everything Will Collapse In On Itself

“Perhaps the crucial thing to recall is that the basic structure of the biennale that we recognise today was conceived in the 1930s, under Mussolini, becoming, said Ricci, ‘a focus for propaganda and positioned as the peak of Italian culture.’” - The Guardian (UK)

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