"While American colleagues were often skeptical of the ensemble’s fondness for the Medieval, their colleagues in Europe, where the Camerata had begun touring in the 1970s, were skeptical of its exploration into Americana," an early repertoire which the Boston Camerata was among the first professional groups to explore. - Early Music America
Noseda's very active tenure (2007-2018) at the Teatro Regio cemented his international reputation, and he's currently music director at the National Symphony in Washington, DC and the Zurich Opera House. His successor in Turin is 37-year-old Andrea Battistoni, currently chief conductor of the Tokyo Philharmonic. - OperaWire
"Nowadays, we often imagine ancient Mesoamerican art and architecture as colorless ... But just as with Greek and Roman statues, these artifacts were once aglow with bright colors. And not just any bright colors, but carefully chosen palettes and combinations that reflected the social, cultural, and spiritual beliefs of their creators." - Artnet
"In 2024 the average most expensive ticket outside of London was £56.46, compared to £49.19 last year. This is 63% cheaper than the average top-price ticket across West End theatres, which was £154.56. The average cheapest ticket in theatres across the UK was £20.96, a 1.5% decrease on 2023." - The Stage
"Theatrical fight directors have a cut-throat job. At extreme pace, in line with other people’s creative vision, they must devise high-intensity fights that can be repeated without injury night after night while retaining the aggressive bite required to convince an audience. … The room for error is devastatingly small." - The Guardian
But that’s over, and Hollywood hasn’t figured out how to win those “casual moviegoers” back since the early days of the pandemic. - Los Angeles Times (MSN)
"After five months of tense negotiations, the American Guild of Musical Artists says it has made limited progress in securing a new collective bargaining agreement for its members that addresses important issues like wages, safety and working conditions." The contract ends on Dec. 6, Nutcracker's opening night. - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)
It’s not as if the money is going to the artists, either. "The music industry may be the worst example of rampant commercialism,” one consultant says - before accusing cinemas, theatre, sports, and tourism as well. - The Observer (UK)
Explaining the culture war being fought by right-wing nationalist prime minister Robert Fico's government — particularly his culture minister, former television host Martina Šimkovičová — against both national institutions and smaller independent groups, and how those groups are trying to resist. - Eurozine
As anger grows over interference by the right-wing government's minister of culture, former TV host Martina Šimkovičová, five top curators have resigned following an "intimidating" meeting with the museum's newly-appointed acting director. Another 177 employees have threatened to resign in January. - Euronews
That’s not just hurting theatres and symphonies - it’s also hurting bars and nightclubs. Hence: “Welcome to the daytime rave, where you can dance, meet people and still be curled up on the sofa afterwards.” (Maybe orchestras need to take that hint?) - The Guardian (UK)
Lisa Ko “was subjected to weeks of harassment as well as a broader smear campaign in the media which resulted in a loss of professional opportunities,” and many of her fellow authors will not have it. - LitHub
What would Jane Austen - who adored Lizzy - “have made of her modern readers’ more recent obsession with the middle Bennet sister, the plain and unremarkable Mary?” - The New York Times
But now, “there are multiple somber YouTube video essays about the lack of conviviality in multiplayer lobbies, and most of them bear titles that gesture toward an elemental wound in the culture.” - Slate
