“As the latest development of the anti-corruption drive that has swept the music scene in China since 2015, Prof Wang Cizhao, renowned composer and the rector of [the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing], was dismissed yesterday.”
Author: Matthew Westphal
Why Young Jean Lee Wrote A Play Called ‘Straight White Men’
“It’s the question of, ‘What do we want straight white men to do that they’re not doing? And what happens when they do that?’ It’s a very current question. Because being a straight white man is a relatively new thing, historically. For years, they got to be the default human. And now, suddenly, they’re being slapped with labels, and they hate it.”
The Opera Star Who’s Giving Up The Stage For Politics
“Paata Burchuladze, a world-renowned operatic bass and in Georgia also known for his charity foundation Iavnana (‘Lullaby’), on Friday announced that he has cancelled all opera performances for the next year to develop an organization he founded last year called Georgian Development Fund, which many believe may turn into a political party.”
What Drives People Nuts About Waiting In Line Isn’t Really How Long They’re Waiting
“Researchers began to realize that there were subtler factors influencing people’s experience of waiting in line, including ideas of fairness, mismanaged expectations, and the strange and inaccurate way that most people perceive both time and pain.”
Dear Old Saint Nick’s Evil Counterpart
“While Saint Nicholas may bring gifts to good boys and girls, ancient folklore in Europe’s Alpine region also tells of Krampus, a frightening beast-like creature who emerges during the Yule season, looking for naughty children to punish in horrible ways – or possibly to drag back to his lair in a sack. In keeping with pre-Germanic Pagan traditions, men dressed as these demons have been frightening children on Krampusnacht for centuries, chasing them and hitting them with sticks, on an (often alcohol-fueled) run through the dark streets.” (photo essay)
Top Posts From AJBlogs 11.30.15
The Mass Market Ain’t What It Used To Be (And What That Means For The Arts)
What does it mean to “engage with an audience”? It’s a fundamental question for anyone who makes anything. Whether it’s a political party trying to win votes, Coke trying to sell drinks, an entrepreneur trying to sell drinks, an entrepreneur trying to sell an idea, or a theatre trying to sell tickets. … read more
AJBlog: diacritical Published 2015-11-30
“Mission Accomplished”? Izabela Depczyk Out as Publisher of ARTnews
Arriving last week, my December issue of ARTnews magazine included an inserted letter, signed by Izabela Depczyk, publisher and CEO of Artnews S.A., informing subscribers that “ARTnews will be a quarterly publication, publishing four issues a year,” beginning this February. … read more
AJBlog: CultureGrrl Published 2015-11-30
On the First Day of Christmas, ABT Brought Costa Mesa a Lovely Nutcracker
Kevin McKenzie, Gillian Murphy and others discussed Alexei Ratmansky’s The Nutcracker with me for California’s Coast magazine this month. The heralded production left the Brooklyn Academy of Music to establish a new home in Costa Mesa beginning December 10th. … read more
AJBlog: Fresh Pencil Published 2015-11-30
Scrapping of Maurer Show Revealed As National Academy Finally Announces Director’s Resignation
The National Academy’s very belated official statement announcing the resignation of director Carmine Branagan and the appointment of Maura Reilly has just hit my inbox, in the same form that I reported to you last Tuesday. … read more
AJBlog: CultureGrrl Published 2015-11-30
Dan Brubeck Quartet At The Seasons
Dan Brubeck, the drummer among Dave Brubeck’s five musician sons, took his own quartet into The Seasons Performance Hall in Yakima, Washington, last night. As did his band’s recent album, the concert paid tribute to … read more
AJBlog: RiffTides Published 2015-11-29
December Spinout: Links, Letters, Libraries
Van Gogh’s Letters by Nicole Kraus “In Jewish mysticism, the empty space — the Chalal Panui, in Hebrew — has tremendous importance, because it was the necessary pre-condition for God’s creation of the world. … read more
AJBlog: blog riley Published 2015-11-30
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‘Carol’, ‘Beasts Of No Nation’, ‘Spotlight’ Lead Independent Spirit Award Nominations
“Todd Haynes’ period drama Carol led the nominations for the 31st Independent Spirit awards, which were prematurely announced before the news conference to unveil them – then taken down – on Tuesday.”
Drawn In Blood: The Syrian Cartoonists Who Live And Die By Their Pens
“It is in many ways the role of a cartoonist to bring emotive weight to events as enormous as the Syrian civil war. They publish their work for a global audience, but many cannot sign their art for safety reasons.”
‘He Lived In Daily Fear Of Humiliation’: Adam Gopnik On Frank Sinatra
“Sinatra’s character flaw isn’t hard to name. He lived in daily fear of humiliation, and in its (often imagined) presence his temper tipped over in an instant. This was followed, usually, by remorse, once he had sobered up and stopped seeing red. But, in the interim, real damage was done to real people.”
‘I Think It Is All Storytelling’: Taylor Mac On ‘Theatre’ Versus ‘Performance Art’
“In my experience, the art world has a disdain for theater. When I present my work to theater people, they call it performance art. When I present it to the art world, they call it theater.”