Trevor Nunn says he won’t seek a new term as head of London’s National Theatre when his contract expires in 2002. Criticism of Nunn has flourished in recent months in the press. “Sources at the National said Nunn had been “intensely irritated” by the criticisms, given the number of awards and sell-outs during his regime.” – The Independent (UK)
Author: Douglas McLennan
PACINO TO THE OLD VIC?
Kevin Spacey’s campaign to help restore the status of the Old Vic Theatre in London continues with a pledge to try and lure Hollywood stars. Al Pacino might be the first. – The Independent (UK)
THE SOUND OF DISHARMONY
A national small-city tour of a revival of “The Sound of Music” couldn’t make an agreement with Equity, the actors’ union. So it went non-union and began the tour. The only star – Barry Williams (formerly of TV’s “The Brady Bunch”) resigned his union membership to take the part. – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
THE UNPREPOSSESSING NOBEL WRITER
Just who is Gao Xingjian, the Chinese writer who won the 2000 Nobel for literature? “Mr. Gao has 18 plays, 4 works of literary criticism and 5 books of fiction to his name, but his entire oeuvre has been banned on the Chinese mainland since 1985, while his best-known novel, ‘Soul Mountain,’ a lyrical account of a long journey through the Chinese backlands, has so far been published only in Taiwan, Sweden, France and Australia.” – New York Times
BEATLEMANIA
- “Nearly 40 years after the original John, Paul, George and Ringo began their popularity is such that there are now some 2,000 Beatle tribute bands – lookalikes, soundalikes or just plain wannabelikes – all touting for gigs.” – The Independent (UK)
SPANO’S ORCHESTRA LAB
Robert Spano recently took on directorship of the Atlanta Symphony – a full-time establishment orchestra. When he wants to experiment, be unconventional he goes back to his lab – the Brooklyn Philharmonic. – Atlanta Journal-Constitution
CONTRACTING TO DANCE
The Australian Ballet postpones a major work and schedules it for the opening of its 2001 season, then discovers its contract to perform the work has run out. “The contract, believed to date from 1986, stipulated that for 10 years the Australian Ballet had the rights to stage the work in-house, that is, without a repetiteur. After that, a new contract would need to be renegotiated and a repetiteur flown out to re-stage the work.” – Sydney Morning Herald
CHAGALL’S HOMETOWN CELEBRATES ITS SON
For decades the Soviet hometown of Marc Chagall acted as if the artist had never existed. Now, finally, the “Belarussian city has now embraced the artist, with two museums honoring his life and his work.” – Chicago Tribune
A NEW POMPEII
Last summer an international team of archaeologists raced to save Turkish treasures from rapidly rising flood waters. “Some experts are now calling Zeugma, a 2,000-year-old Roman garrison on the banks of the Euphrates, a “second Pompeii.” The floor mosaics that have been salvaged are among the most exquisite in existence, rivaling the collection at the Bardo in Tunis, considered the finest in the world.” – Chicago Tribune
WHEN DESIGN ENTERS THE MUSEUM
“Leading curators all over are bringing design into their art galleries, in an effort to expand the scope of their programming, and of their audience.” But, as in the Guggenheim’s Armani show, why do it if all you end up doing is making an expensive commercial for a designer? – The Globe and Mail (Canada)