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Pianist Nelson Freire Dead At 77

"One of the most celebrated pianists of the second half of the 20th century, … The Guardian once wrote of him, 'few pianists alive convey the sheer joy and exhilaration of being masters of their craft more vividly and uncomplicatedly than Nelson Freire.'" - Limelight

Why Did The Old Vic Cancel “Into The Woods” So Suddenly Last Week? A Staff Rebellion

The high-profile revival of the Sondheim musical was to be directed by Terry Gilliam (yes, from Monty Python), who has made some, er, controversial remarks (such as declaring himself "a black lesbian in transition"). Sondheim himself is said to be furious. - inews.co.uk

Why Hong Kong’s M+ Museum Is Important, Despite All The Censorship Controversy

"With 700,000 square feet of space, it is expected to be a major entry into the region's art scene. … Below, a look at the institution's history, its inaugural presentations, and its difficult road to opening." - ARTnews

Before Time Began And We Were Free

The whole symbolic apparatus of cultural evolution aimed to make freedom—which they define as the freedom to move, the freedom to disobey orders, and the freedom to imagine less hierarchical ways of organizing ourselves—seem archaic and perilous. - The New Yorker

The Essential Philosophical Question: Have Philosophers Lost Their Way?

Today, few philosophers believe philosophy is a way of life, let alone the fullest and most complete way of life. Or if they do believe it, they won’t admit it in public. - 3 Quarks Daily

What Architects Want Out Of The Climate Change Conference

Leading architecture and design figures attending the summit expressed concerns that the built environment is not being talked about enough, as well as calling for clear, achievable targets to bring down greenhouse gas emissions. - Dezeen

A Hard Truth? Democracies Aren’t Up To Big Challenges Like Climate Change

 The common theme in all these accounts is that the public are not to be trusted – they do not understand, or care; they are too selfish, or too shortsighted. Better to let the experts decide. - The Guardian

What To Make Of The Montreal Symphony’s New Music Director?

As a successor to Dutoit and Nagano, Payare seems a bit slight. He’s a largely unknown quantity in the music world. The orchestras he’s led—Belfast, San Diego—are fine bands, but you don’t build a global reputation in such outposts. To the OSM, this was actually part of the appeal. - MacLean's

Study: More Diversity on Screen Boosts Viewership

The study found that ratings and social media engagement for most groups, including white audiences, peaked for shows that featured casts that were at least 31% minority, while viewership among adults between the ages of 18 and 49 often peaked when a show had a majority minority cast.  - Time

The Artistic Influences That Made Paul McCartney

The context in which McCartney was exposed to both King Lear and Edward Lear is vital to an understanding of his achievement. - The Guardian

A Book That Promises To Challenge Everything We Think We Know About Human History

“There’s a whole new picture of the human past and human possibility that seems to be coming into view. And it really doesn’t resemble in the slightest these very entrenched stories going around and around.” - The New York Times

Art (And Artists) Are Fleeing The Taliban

There has been a concerted campaign to remove artworks from all aspects of life, in an attempt to make society more Islamic, the Taliban have said. In doing so, the group is erasing two decades of craftsmanship that blossomed after the collapse of its first government in 2001. - The New York Times

Why The Aspen Ideas Festival Is A Bad One (Idea, That Is)

If we’re to have ideas, let’s have fewer ideas, better ideas, and ideas more likely to annoy the sort of people who bankroll Ideas conferences. - The New Republic

Who Said Tech Had To Look So Bland?

"I’m tired of tech that caters to the heterosexual, cisgender, male, white, wealthy masses. I’m tired of AirSpace, of minimalism, of bland beige tones. ... Where is the bold, bright tech that allows me to be unapologetically myself?" - Wired

The Artist Who Brought Day Of The Dead Into Focus For The United States

No, today isn't "Mexican Halloween." Just ask artist Ofelia Esparza. "At its core, the tradition is a pitched battle. Forgetting, Esparza said, is what Day of the Dead is fighting." - Los Angeles Times

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