He argues that LLMs demonstrate a wide range of powerful language abilities and disprove foundational assumptions underpinning Noam Chomsky’s theories and, as a consequence, negate parts of modern Linguistics. - Slator
At 75, César Aira has written more than 100 books, has been translated into 37 languages, and has lately been tipped for a Nobel Prize. He accepts no money for his books within Argentina, won't talk to local media, and rarely leaves his Buenos Aires neighborhood, let alone the country. - The Guardian
"Museums have historically maintained strict, narrow ranges of temperatures and relative humidity since the British Museum created the standards around 100 years ago. New research and international art conservation guidelines suggest that a wider range of climate controls can be safe for artwork (while cutting) energy use." - Los Angeles Times (Yahoo!)
Carol Mullins, now 85, has been designing and operating the lighting for Danspace Project since 1978. "When people ask her why she has stayed there so long, she replies that she’s still learning, 'and there’s a new set of problems every couple weeks.'" - The New York Times
A composer cycle is no mean feat – for both musicians and audiences. But there is something remarkable about hearing works from the same series performed by the same musicians, which is why composer cycles regularly appear in concert and recording programmes. - Classical Music UK
Co-curated by actor Adrian Dunbar, Beckett: Unbound 2024 is "a multiarts festival that juxtaposes familiar pieces by the Dublin-born author with new responses to his work. After Liverpool, the productions will transfer to Paris." - The Guardian
"This is a cautionary tale of performing-arts nonprofits, of board burnout, of soaring costs in a post-COVID world, of the precarious state of philanthropy. The primary cause of death was that people — donors, audiences, players and board members — appeared to have taken for granted an institution they loved." - Los Angeles Times (Yahoo!)
"Conductor Anthony Parnther and the Musicians at Play Foundation speedily formed a new training orchestra, Civic Orchestra of Los Angeles, and scheduled an inaugural concert for April 28, on the same weekend that AYS was supposed to play the final concert of its season." - Los Angeles Times (Yahoo!)
"NPR CEO Katherine Maher was a no-show today (at the hearing) but she will 'testify on a date in the near future that works for the Committee and Maher.' … House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), unleashed an array of criticisms in her opening remarks." - Inside Radio
"San Francisco philanthropist Maria Manetti Shrem has promised UC Davis the largest gift ever to arts at the school — $20 million to create the multifaceted 'Maria Manetti Shrem Arts Renaissance' program at the College of Letters and Science." - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)
Puccini died before composing the final scene, and many find the standard ending by Franco Alfano unsatisfying. This alternative by composer Christopher Tin and librettist Susan Soon He Stanton has a better reason for Princess Turandot executing her suitors than the centuries-old rape and murder of an ancestor. - AP
"Dr. Carina Popovici, a specialist in authenticating artwork, said she applied cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology to pictures advertised on the online platform and was shocked to discover that many had a 'high probability' of being 'not authentic'." One fake Monet was being offered for $599,000. - The Guardian
The 78-year-old filmmaker/artist/author's car was struck near Baltimore by a driver running a red light. "Since it hurts when I laugh," he said in a statement, "I will have no witty answer about being in a car accident that no one has said was my fault." - The Baltimore Banner
