“The race card doesn’t exist in the ballet world. Those words to me are so ignorant, especially coming from people inside this world. People aren’t trying to put diversity on the stage to better their companies or brands. The ballet world could care less.”
Here Are America’s Least Discerning Movie Critics
“Because professional critics get paid to judge everyone else’s work, we thought it was high time someone flipped the script on them. Going purely by the numbers, who are the most shameless cheerleaders—and plain old hacks—who consistently give movies better reviews than the rest of the pack?”
What Eddie Izzard Puts Himself Through, And Why
Not long ago he ran 43 marathons in 51 days; he’s learning Spanish, Russian and Arabic so he can do stand-up comedy in those languages on international tours, and he’s already performing in German and French. (audio)
San Diego Opera Association Votes To Block Sale Of Assets
The organization, made up of donors who have given $100 or more, voted to rescind the board of directors’ vote to close the company, a move which isn’t legally binding, and to veto any liquidation of the company’s assets – a decision which may well be binding under both the organization’s own by-laws and California law.
Rational Debate: We Can’t Live (Together) Without It
“How do you change people’s minds when arguing the facts only seems to lead to polarization? Commentator Tania Lombrozo wonders how we can overcome our disagreements about teaching evolution.”
Netflix Signs Deal With Verizon To Pay For Higher Connection Speeds
“Netflix CEO Reed Hastings may really hate the peering deal he signed with Comcast, but that didn’t stop him from entering a similar partnership with another ISP: Verizon and Netflix have also agreed on a paid peering relationship.”
Lydia Davis Can’t Write Casually, Even In Email
Says the short-story wizard and MacArthur fellow, “I can’t write incorrectly. I find it very difficult to just relax and have spelling mistakes and grammar mistakes and punctuation -– I cannot do that. But I can’t do that even if I write a shopping list.”
How The Science Of How/What We See Could Change The Movies
Sergei Gepshtein believes the cinema of the future might even be a shared, immersive experience, one in which the events seem to unfold all around the viewer. “You could enter it like architecture, and there could be other people in the same space,” he says.
What Celebrity Concerts Get Wrong About Famine Relief
“Insulting stereotypes of Africans are at the heart of why celebrity famine relief gets the whole problem so badly wrong, not only in 1984 but still today.”
Broadway Producer Sues Valerie Harper Over Cancer
“Actress Valerie Harper has been hit with a $2 million lawsuit by Broadway bigshot Matthew Lombardo, who charges she didn’t tell him she had cancer until after she signed on to star in his play.”
The Classics In Bite-Size Pieces
“The emancipation of digital reading habits, like those of the printed book before them, allows us to choose the way we read. Just as some prefer edited collections and anthologies, some will enjoy having their fictions selected for them each month, apportioned in daily servings that arrive at appointed times that make them easier to consume.”
CultureTrack: Here’s How Arts Audiences Are Changing
“Since 2011, there has been an increase in the percentage of people who visit museums and attend performances of classical music, jazz and musical theater—but there were decreases for plays, classical dance and opera. The individual rate of attendance has dropped since 2011, with about half of respondents continuing to attend cultural activities once or twice a month, but only 15% attending three times or more—down from a previous 22%.”
For First Time, Tony For Regional Theater Goes To NYC Company
“Before this year theaters in the five boroughs were ineligible for the annual award, which was created to honor theaters that did outstanding work outside of the unofficial industry capital of New York City.”
Adjunct Professors, Unite! You Have Nothing To Lose But Your Chains! (And They Are)
“[There’s] a national labor movement in which thousands of adjuncts are fighting for change within the higher-education system. In the short-term, adjuncts are demanding a living wage, but they are also proposing long-term solutions to structural problems ailing universities.”
Philadelphia Orchestra Names New Principal Guest And Resident Conductors
“Stéphane Denève, the ebullient French conductor of the corkscrew locks who has been a frequent visitor to the orchestra’s podium, will become principal guest conductor in the fall. Romanian-born Cristian Macelaru, the orchestra’s associate conductor, will take the upgraded title of conductor in residence.”
Top Posts From AJBlogs 04.28.14
Way Beyond Museum Walls: A Driving Tour
AJBlog: Real Clear Arts | Published 2014-04-29
Silence or Violence
AJBlog: We The Audience | Published 2014-04-29
Public support for the arts and the letter of the law
AJBlog: For What it’s Worth | Published 2014-04-28
Which circle do you serve?
AJBlog: The Artful Manager | Published 2014-04-28
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Peter Gelb Talks About The Met Opera’s Predicament
“When I first came to the Metropolitan Opera in 2006, I was aware of the problems and the financial challenges. But I hoped that it would be possible to earn our way out of these financial challenges by increasing ticket sales and by launching our very successful movie theater showings. But in the last few years, it’s become obvious that in spite of our successes, the audience for opera is not increasing.”
This Year’s Bad Grammar Awards
The Idler Academy, an offshoot of the magazine which offers courses in everything from philosophy to ukulele playing, has announced the shortlist for its 2014 Bad Grammar award, set up to highlight “the incorrect use of English by people and institutions who should know better”.
Cellist Julian Lloyd Webber Forced To Retire
He “announced today that he has been forced to stop playing due to a herniated disc in his neck which has reduced the power in his right arm.”
The Art Market Is Dividing
“The market has shifted,” said Anders Petterson, managing director of the London-based art analysis firm ArtTactic. “People who in the 1990s would buy paintings are now having to look at prints and works on paper.”
Should Tate Britain’s Director Be Fired?
Penelope Curtis “has already done more to change Tate Britain for the better than any director since the great Sir Nicholas Serota himself.”
Roles For Black Actors Have Increased On Broadway
The increase in black roles and shows that attract a black audience builds on recent successes, such as last year’s hits “Motown the Musical,” ”The Trip to Bountiful” and “Kinky Boots,” which boasts newly crowned Tony Award-winner Billy Porter.
Online Sales Of Art Surged In 2013
“The online art market accounted for an estimated $1.6bn of transactions in 2013 (up from $870m in 2012), and is forecast to grow to $3.8bn by 2018.”
Louvre Says It Will Fix Pyramid Entry Bottleneck
“Part of the Grande Louvre renovation project, the great glass pyramid was designed for a museum that attracted 4.5 million visitors a year. Its attendance has since doubled and the museum expects that figure will continue to rise.”
Colorado Symphony In Showdown With City Of Denver Over Concert Hall
“For certain, the Colorado Symphony Orchestra will have to temporarily vacate Boettcher Concert Hall in June 2015 to make way for a season-long, $17 million renovation. The question is: Will it return? Not unless it can get a better deal from its landlord of 36 years, orchestra officials insist.”