“The cause of the fire is being investigated. The museum, which is located in a century-old building, houses historic texts about the evolution of the Portuguese language. Officials said that the loss of ancient documents may be minimised as there are backups of many texts.”
Here’s Who’s Replacing Zaha Hadid To Design Tokyo’s New Olympic Stadium
“After scrapping the first design in July, the government Tuesday picked a less-costly and greenery-rich plan by architect Kengo Kuma for the new National Stadium that will serve as the centerpiece of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.”
$40M Gift Buys Naming Rights To MoMA’s Philip Johnson Wing
“The Museum of Modern Art has announced one of the largest monetary gifts in its history, a $40 million unrestricted donation from the Chicago hedge-fund billionaire Kenneth C. Griffin, whose name will now adorn one of the museum’s best-known buildings, the 1964 black steel-and-glass East Wing, designed by Philip Johnson.”
Pre-Sale Concert Ticket Service Sues TicketMaster
“Songkick says Ticketmaster has used its clout in the ticketing industry to try to force the company to pay service fees for presales, and intimidated concert venues to not work with Songkick and other rival ticketing services.”
Advanced Physics Has Become So Theoretical It’s Time To Call In The Philosophers
“The objects of theoretical speculation are now too far away, too small, too energetic or too far in the past to reach or rule out with our earthly instruments. So, what is to be done?”
Amazon’s New Physical Bookstore Tries To Bridge Gap Between Front-Of-House And Back-Of-House
“Suspended somewhere between a tangible (albeit exquisitely staged) reality of paper and wood, and a perceptible (albeit artfully obscured) reality of pipes and machinery, the bookstore customer is able to experience a curated version of the ethical and visceral tension between front-of-house and back-of-house—between the sleek one-click seamlessness of the screen and the unceasing labor of the fulfillment center—as a kind of pleasure.”
A ComicCon For Broadway?
“The three-day BroadwayCon — sort of like a Comic Con for thespians — promises to connect theater fans with stage stars, but also wants them to leave with more than an autograph.”
Watching The Original Sugarplum Fairy Choreography
“As a Christmas gift to its patrons, the archive at Jacob’s Pillow has sent out this wonderfully vivid clip of Alexandra Danilova in the [Lev] Ivanov Sugarplum solo. … It’s worth comparing Danilova’s performances with that of her great friend Alicia Markova … who danced the Sugarplum in the first complete Western production of The Nutcracker (1934) and continued in the role well into the 1950s.”
Report: 19 Percent Of Young Adults Have Cut The TV Cable Cord
Pew Research Center’s Home Broadband 2015 study found that 24% of all American adults do not subscribe to cable or satellite TV service. Of those, 15% have become cord cutters in recent years while 9% qualify as “cord nevers.”
Norman Foster’s Big Cairo Redevelopment Has Residents Debating Local Values
“The Foster masterplan has come under criticism for failing to preserve any of the area’s unique 19th-century architecture, and for attempting to impose a “Haussmann-style” order on the neighbourhood.”
New York’s Best New Piece Of Architecture Comes From – The Sanitation Dept.
Michael Kimmelman: “After years of noisy protests, the New York City Department of Sanitation’s new garage-and-salt-shed … … I can’t think of a better public sculpture to land in New York than the shed.”
No Room At The Cinema For Baby Jesus: UK Chain Bans Keep-Christ-In-Christmas Video Ad
But the advertising contractor Digital Cinema Media (DCM), which handles commercials for the Odeon, Vue and Cineworld chains, has now ruled out showing the film.”
Dallas Symphony Calls Off European Tour Over Fear Of Terrorists
The orchestra’s board and management said, “After careful deliberation, we believe that there is an elevated risk to the safety of our musicians and their families, guest artists, D.S.O. personnel and traveling patrons, and therefore will not be proceeding with the tour at this time.” A spokesperson added that the tour was not being cancelled for economic reasons.
Top Posts From AJBlogs 12.22.15
David Amram at 85: Distilling his multiple personalities
He doesn’t look much older than when he was 60. But he’s showing his age in a way that true artists do. His 2014 piece, Greenwich Village Portraits, is one of his very best. … read more
AJBlog: Condemned to Music Published 2015-12-22
The creative class won’t save your arts organizations
Let’s talk about Hartford. I’ve never been to Connecticut, but in the past week I have read two stories about Hartford, and it is interesting to think about the links, if any. … read more
AJBlog: For What It’s Worth Published 2015-12-22
Museum World: Five To Applaud
It’s tough being a critic, especially a blogging one. No matter one’s natural tendencies to want to like something, you also tend to see the flaws and the disappointments, then end up coming off as a scold. … read more
AJBlog: Real Clear Arts Published 2015-12-22
Solstice beyond jazz, unruly mashup to meditative rhythm
Saxophonist Mars Williams and band ecstatically wed holiday songs and Albert Ayler anthems at the Hungry Brain in Chicago past 12 pm December 20 — the deepest, darkest, longest night of the year … read more
AJBlog: Jazz Beyond Jazz Published 2015-12-22
In Praise of Nuci’s Space
Much of the time, it’s hard to know who the good guys are. Other times, essential things become clear. A few weeks ago I attended an event for the Athens, GA, musicians resource called … read more
AJBlog: CultureCrash Published 2015-12-22
Other Places: Evans Not A Secret Anymore
On his Jazz Profiles blog, Steve Cerra is featuring pianist Bill Evans’s The Secret Sessions collection recorded at New York’s Village Vanguard. A fan named Mike Harris, taped Evans and his trio at the club … read more
AJBlog: RiffTides Published 2015-12-22
Dancing Down to the Bone
It’s November, 2006, and I’m sitting on one of the highest carpeted risers in St. Mark’s Church watching Luciana Achugar’s Exhausting Love. Suddenly one of the performers (Hilary Clark) works her way toward me and my companion and wedges herself between us. … read more
AJBlog: Dancebeat Published 2015-12-22
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“Star Wars” Makes Record $529 Million In Opening Weekend
The previous record, $525m (£352m), was set by Jurassic World in June.
Wildenstein Tax-Evasion Trial To Put Spotlight On Secretive Art Business
“The French government has calculated that [Daniel Wildenstein’s] estate could owe, with fines and interest, at least 550 million euros, or roughly $600 million, in France alone. Next month, several family members are scheduled to go on trial here on tax fraud and money-laundering charges.”