Author: Matthew Westphal

Amid Protests Over George Floyd’s Death, Smithsonian’s African-American Museum Launches Online Portal To Look At Race In The U.S.

“‘Talking About Race‘ is a Web-based initiative that uses videos, role-playing exercises and question-based activities to explore the origins and definitions of race and identity. Built on the museum’s long-standing educational work, the project was released Sunday to respond to the current crisis, according to [the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s] director of teaching and learning.” – The Washington Post

Louvre Expects Attendance Will Be Down By 70% After Reopening

The Paris landmark, which had been the world’s most visited museum, opens its doors on July 6 following the coronavirus lockdown. But safety limitations have been placed on crowd flow, and France will continue to have travel restrictions in place; three-quarters of the Louvre’s ticket-buyers come from abroad. The museum’s director does not expect attendance to return to normal until 2023. – ARTnews

Metropolitan Opera Cancels All Performances Until End Of 2020

“The company, which last performed live on March 11, now hopes to return with a gala on New Year’s Eve after its longest interruption in more than a century. It is a gap that is projected to cost the company close to $100 million in lost revenues, a figure that will be partly offset by lower costs and emergency fund-raising efforts.” – The New York Times

Great “Gates”: A Tribute to Christo, 84, Who Made Magic in NYC’s Central Park

Our loss yesterday of Christo, the canny conceptual artist with tangible appeal, is a poignant reminder of more innocent times — 16 days in early 2005 when New Yorkers from all walks of life converged on Central Park for one peaceful purpose — to walk together basking in the luminosity of flowing canopies of saffron rip-stop nylon that were hung in a procession of some 7,500 frames. – Lee Rosenbaum

The Gershwin Threat/The Gershwin Moment

The Gershwin threat was seemingly felt by all American-born classical musicians: they feared his genius. European-born classical musicians weren’t threatened, and the list of Gershwin admirers includes Otto Klemperer, Jascha Heifetz, Dmitri Shostakovich, etc. The Gershwin moment is right now. Music historians study and esteem him (they never did before). We no longer segregate Rhapsody in Blue on pops concerts (as the Boston Symphony did until 1997). – Joseph Horowitz

Well, Nobody’s Using The Airport These Days, So Let’s Use It As A Drive-In

That’s what Uruguayans are doing with Carrasco International Airport near Montevideo. The movies, screened every evening, range from The Lion King and Sonic the Hedgehog to Bohemian Rhapsody and Joker. Viewers, in their cars, can order snacks and drinks via WhatsApp, and they can put on masks and go inside to use the airport’s (constantly cleaned) restrooms. – The Guardian

Europe’s Dance Companies Begin, Very Carefully, To Go Back To Work

Here, for instance, are the rules for dance class at the Ballet du Rhin in France: “Dancers are not allowed to use changing rooms. Instead, they must go directly to the studio and stand at a marked spot at the barre, about 11 feet away from others. Their outside clothes must go into a bag to ensure they do not touch anything … [and] that bag must then be put into another one provided by the company that is thrown into the trash once the class has finished. They are also each given a spray to disinfect the barre. And, of course, they have to dance wearing masks.” – The New York Times

Missy Mazzoli’s ‘Breaking The Waves’ Premiered In 2016. The World’s Pretty Different Now. Does The Piece Hold Up?

Before the coronavirus hit, the Met was going to perform a new co-production of the opera this spring at BAM. David Patrick Stearns went online to revisit the original Opera Philadelphia production, and here’s why he believes that, despite the terrific craft in the score and libretto (and in Kiera Duffy’s performance as Bess), with the cancellation “the Met and Mazzoli dodged a bullet.” – WQXR (New York City)

Here’s One Theater That’s Putting On A New Show Every Weekend Despite The Lockdown

“As most American theaters have pared down their offerings to a mix of Zoom readings, artist conversations, and archival streams, Seacoast Rep, in Portsmouth, N.H., has been web-casting new productions since mid-May and has them planned for every weekend until at least July 5.” Says one of the Rep’s artistic directors, “People in the industry thought ‘no live audience means no live theater.’ We thought we just had to change our delivery system.” – The New York Times