“Mentioning a singer’s looks may be relevant in some cases, but dismissing a strong vocal performance as a ‘problem’ because of those looks seems to me singularly clueless. Opera’s history has been full of the physiques that gave birth to the fat-lady cliché. To suddenly act as though credible looks represented the ultimate criterion of a successful performance is at the very least confusing.”
Author: Matthew Westphal
On Opera And The Critic’s Responsibility
Anne Midgette: “As the discussion [about critics’ unkind comments about a mezzo’s appearance onstage] continues to rage online, and the glee of the critic-bashers mounts, I feel the need to make three more points” about larger issues involved.
No, Students Have Not Become Too Critical
Noah Berlatsky criticizes the very suggestion. “Critical thinking is inseparable from just plain thinking. You don’t turn off your brain when you watch a film. How can my enjoyment of Roth’s essay be separated from my evaluation of what Roth is saying?”
Not Your Grandfather’s Children’s Theatre
“Theatre for children and young people has changed a great deal in recent years. It tackles many subjects traditionally considered too weighty for a young audience. These range from death … to the environment … We even tackled the banking crisis in 2013’s Bank On It, a show about economics for five to 10-year-olds.”
Saudi Arabia To Spend $1.7 Billion To Build 230 Museums
While Saudi art up to the present day will be included in the scheme, the emphasis is on archaeology. “‘Islam is a great religion and through its openness and sustainability it has enlightened the rest of the world,’ said Prince Sultan. ‘But if we only research the history of Saudi Arabia post 610AD and say nothing about our history before then, we are belittling Islam.'”
Saudi Aramco To Build Major Cultural Center in Dhahran
The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, set top open in 2015, “has been designed by the Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta and will have a library, archive, multimedia theatre, children’s discovery zone, a great hall for international exhibitions and an ambitious museum.”
We Now Have A Frontrunner For The Cannes Palme d’Or
Actually, we have any one of three, depending on whom you ask …
Attackers Of Birmingham Royal Ballet Star Plead Guilty
“Dominic Antonucci was attacked as he strolled in a park just before going on stage for a performance. The 40-year-old dad needed surgery to repair a damaged retina and spent two months off work recovering from his injuries, which also included a broken nose.”
Maybe Laughter Really Is The Best Medicine
“Several new studies exploring the effects of laughter are contributing to a fast-growing body of research that finds just how important it is to keeping us happy, healthy, and sane.”
Conductor Franz-Paul Decker, 90
“Possibly the last living musician to have met Richard Strauss” and particularly respected as an orchestra builder, Decker served at various times as the chief conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic, Montreal Symphony, Barcelona Symphony, and New Zealand Symphony Orchestras.