Classical institutions like to talk a big game about making social justice a part of their mission, but the South Dakota Symphony and the Lakota Music Project — which commissions works for combinations of Native and non-Native musicians and tours the state — have committed more deeply than most. - The New York Times
“The Nazca Archaeological Reserve has been reduced from approximately 2,162 square miles to 1,235 square miles. … The area now excluded from the environmental protections (overlaps) with roughly 300 concessions … owned by informal miners in the process of legitimizing their operations” as gold prices soar. - ARTnews
Joanna Miller expresses great admiration for the skills of the Disney Company’s animatronics team. But she argues that "two minutes with the robot will do much more harm than good to Grampa's legacy. They will remember the robot, and not the man.” - Los Angeles Times (MSN)
Since the firing last Friday, leaders at the Institution have been considering whether, in a lawsuit or even in public statements, to challenge a U.S. president on his authority to fire a Smithsonian museum director. So far, the decision has been not to comment publicly in any way. - The New York Times
“GBH on Monday announced it laid off 45 employees, roughly 6% of its workforce. … Home to national programs like Frontline and Antiques Roadshow, GBH is one of the country's largest producers of content for public media.” Last month, the station eliminated nine jobs, after laid off 4% of its workforce last year. - WBUR (Boston)
The novelist, five-time memoirist, and co-author of the pioneering 1977 book The Joy of Gay Sex “was a major influence on modern gay literature, with LGBTQ+ writing prizes named after him and authors including Garth Greenwell, Édouard Louis, Ocean Vuong, Brandon Taylor and Alexander Chee all noting his importance.” - The Guardian
“Sales of subscriptions for the coming season … are down by about $1.6 million, or roughly 36%, compared with last year.” A current staff member told the Post, “We feel (it) necessary to show that mismanagement by the new leadership is becoming a real problem for the health of the organization.” - The Washington Post (MSN)
Donald Palumbo, 76, is credited with revitalizing the Met chorus during his 17-year term (2007-2024) and, before that, the chorus of Lyric Opera of Chicago (1991-2007). He will be only the third director in the CSO Chorus’s history, following the tenures of Margaret Hillis (37 years) and Duain Wolfe (28 years). - Chicago Sun-Times
“The problem AI (has is) that it (can’t) make up its own jokes, the writer said. ‘It has no sense of humour – you don’t want to hear a joke told by ChatGPT. If there’s a moment when there’s a funny book written by ChatGPT I think we’re screwed.’” - The Guardian
Inspired by the mid-20th-century discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, an ancient collection of biblical and historical writings, “Scroll” stood 27 feet high and 22 feet wide. Its frame was covered with 54 copper sheets. - The Star Tribune
“The new 10-day event, the Philadelphia Contemporary Circus Festival, features more than 24 exhibitions, workshops, and artist showcases throughout Old City and Camden, … (offering) offers audiences a look into circus operatic singers, acrobat-led theater dramas, and comedic oral histories led by, of course, a ‘professor clown.’” - The Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)
There was a time not so long ago when the future of the Broadway play was in serious doubt. The threat hasn’t gone away, and Tony voters shouldn’t pass up an opportunity to honor true playwriting excellence. - Los Angeles Times (Yahoo!)
She was a member of the innovative Merce Cunningham Dance Company, and was among the last group of dancers to be trained by the legendary choreographer. Toogood also began teaching at his invitation. - Sydney Morning Herald
“Before the proliferation of A.I. music generators, before the emergence of Spotify and the iPod, before Brian Eno had coined the term ‘generative music,’ Mr. Cope had already figured out how to program a computer to write classical music” in the styles of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and other composers. - The New York Times
