“A stolen painting by the Dutch artist Jan Schoonhoven (1914-94) was jointly bought in London at Sotheby’s contemporary art day auction on 27 June by two galleries” – and an expert working for one gallery spotted telling details in photos sent by the other.
Author: Matthew Westphal
The Unrealistic Idealism Of Online Manifestos
“Certainly, there is always a possibility to turn creative thoughts into successful ventures, but more often than not it takes a hefty amount of struggle, talent, persistence, money, connections, some luck, and a good, original idea to realize that success. This Horatio Alger-esque belief that all it takes is personal willpower to overcome life’s obstacles is endearing, but it often has little to do with reality.”
Alina Cojocaru: Why I Left The Royal Ballet For ENB
“I’m not apologising – I’m trying to find a reasonable way of explaining unhappy times, of which there have been too many.”
SEC Declines To Prosecute Fraud In Broadway Rebecca Collapse
“The Securities and Exchange Commission has decided not to pursue any action against the Broadway producers of Rebecca, the Gothic musical that was derailed last fall before performances began because of a fraud scheme involving phantom investors.”
UK’s Ambassador Theatre Group May Start Selling Venues’ Naming Rights
ATG “has revealed that it is looking into selling the naming rights to some of its historic London and regional venues. The move comes as part of a push from the UK’s largest theatre operator to secure sponsorship deals with commercial brands.”
Margaret Atwood On Alice Munro’s Long Road To The Nobel
“Back in the 1950s and 60s, when Munro began, there was a feeling that not only female writers but Canadians were thought to be both trespassing and transgressing. Munro found herself referred to as ‘some housewife’, and was told that her subject matter, being too ‘domestic’, was boring. A male writer told her she wrote good stories, but he wouldn’t want to sleep with her. ‘Nobody invited him,’ said Munro tartly.”
How I Learned To Quit Struggling And Love Alice Munro (It Was Easy)
Laura Miller: “If you are, like me, a reader resistant to the type of fiction Munro writes, then the praise of Jonathan Franzen or James Wood or Francine Prose is probably not going to change your mind. On the other hand, you might just listen to me, someone who once shared your resistance, when I tell you that, this time around, the Swedish Academy has gotten it right.”
Imero Fiorentino, 85, Grand Old Master Of Lighting Design
“For more than half a century [he] orchestrated the play of luminescence and shadow on television shows, in commercials and at live performances, illuminating – or not – everything from jowls to Jell-O to ginger ale. … [He] was largely unknown outside the technical circles in which he was an acknowledged master. But there is scarcely anyone alive in America today who has not experienced his work.”
Photographing Nigeria’s Kings
A hundred or so traditional kingdoms once occupied the lands that are now Africa’s most populous nation. Those royal families still exist; their kings still retain some moral authority – and some truly fabulous textiles. Photographer George Osodi has been criss-crossing the country to capture their majesties on film.
Iván Fischer Revisits The Blood Libel For His First Opera
The founder and director of the Budapest Festival Orchestra and one of the most respected maestros now working, Fischer has lately been developing an impressive sideline in directing operas. Now he’s composed one, based on one of Europe’s last “blood libel” trials, in which a Jewish man was accused of using the blood of a murdered Christian to make matzo.