“It turns out you can’t put all the blame on those complimentary cocktails. Newly published research suggests at least part of the answer involves the slot machine’s music and sound effects.”
Author: Matthew Westphal
Sophia Loren Returning To Screen At Age 78
The legendary beauty’s first starring performance in nearly a decade will be in an adaptation of Jean Cocteau’s La voix humaine directed by Eduardo Ponti, Loren’s younger son.
The Case Of The Vanished Pigments
“The colors of art change not just with trends, but availability as well. For reasons of being incredibly poisonous, expensive, or just involving way too many snails, here are five pigments that have disappeared from art.”
The Case Of The Deadly Pigments
The first article about art colors no longer in use got such a good response that they did a second one. Most of these pigments fell out of use because they were made of substances like arsenic, lead and uranium.
Did Opera’s Superstar Love Couple Have A Domestic Violence Problem?
Soprano Angela Gheorghiu is alleging that tenor Roberto Alagna, whom she recenty divorced, hit her – sometimes in front of other family members – during their 17 years of marriage.
Joffrey Ballet’s New Boss Gets Started
“Greg Cameron arrived this week as executive director of the Joffrey Ballet armed with a wealth of contacts … and an irrepressible optimism. … Cameron, who resigned as chief operating officer of the parent company of television station WTTW and WFMT-FM to take his new job, isn’t fazed by the tough times still facing the arts.”
NPR Begins The Search For The Great American Symphony
“Throughout the summer, we plan to ask a variety of composers, conductors, critics – and especially you – to help us think about the state of American symphonic music. We’re not out to crown the best American symphony, to decide whether Aaron Copland’s Symphony No. 3 is more important than John Corigliano’s Symphony No. 1. Instead we’re wondering: Is the music still viable? Who writes symphonies in America these days? And who hears them? What relevance do they have in the American artistic landscape?”
Opera Australia’s Ring Finds Its New Conductor: A(nother) Gifted Young Finn
Pietari Inkinen, who was appointed music director of New Zealand’s national orchestra at age 27 (he’s now 33), is stepping in to replace Richard Mills, who resigned last month over problems of “personal chemistry” and “unity of vision” with the cast and director.
Jazz Pianist/Composer/Music Director Paul Smith Dead At 91
“At 6 feet 5, with hands that easily spanned the piano keyboard well beyond octaves, Smith was an impressive sight on stage. Playing with a versatility comparable to that of Oscar Peterson and a harmonic richness similar to the work of Bill Evans, he was both a brilliant soloist and an accompanist who was highly praised by the many singers with whom he performed.”
Cirque Du Soleil Performer’s Death Ruled Accidental
“Nevada’s Clark County coroner’s office issued a statement late Tuesday saying the death of Cirque du Soleil performer Sarah Guillot-Guyard was accidental.” She fell while being hoisted into the air during a performance of the show Ka at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.