“In an era when many of his peers have been buffeted by economic challenges, Mr. Volpe, 62, has kept the orchestra on firm footing by capitalizing on what he has referred to as its ‘multiple brand strategy.’ … During his tenure, the Boston Symphony may not have been as flashy as, say, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, which has changed how orchestras think about programming and community engagement. But Boston has steadily expanded in ambition and reputation, and avoided the labor unrest that has hit some of its peers.” – The New York Times
Author: Matthew Westphal
New Crop Of Plays Treats History Of Blacks In Britain
“From an African girl who was ‘gifted’ to Queen Victoria to a slave who took on his master in a British court, several little-known but remarkable chapters of black British history are being put in the spotlight on stage this year.” – BBC
Recent Listening In Brief: Yelena Eckemoff
Yelena Eckemoff, Nocturnal Animals (L&H Productions)
Russian-born pianist and composer Eckemoff, long a New York resident, collaborates with a superb rhythm section of Scandinavian musicians. They are inspired by creatures that populate the world’s forests of the night. – Doug Ramsey
The Man Who Invented The Laser Printer, Gary Starkweather, Dead At 81
“While officially working on a fax machine project, Mr. Starkweather began to experiment in his spare time with copy machines and digital technology, in effect trying to merge the two. … [His] supervisor at Xerox discouraged his experiments, calling lasers ‘toys’ … [and later] and threatened to lay off Mr. Starkweather’s entire staff.” Now, says the company’s chief technology officer, “The laser printer is arguably the greatest invention made in a Xerox research center.” – The Washington Post
Nancy Pelosi Said That ‘America Will Heal Through The Arts.’ Don’t We Wish …
The Speaker of the House told a town meeting last month, “I truly believe that [the arts are] something where we find our common ground.” Would that it were so, writes Lucas Justinien Perez: “The ‘arts’ are more divided than ever. Schismatic tribal ‘factions’ generate and consume art and media that’s increasingly characterized by blatant political partisanship, and overt contempt for ideological dissidents. … This impasse of perceptions precludes the possibility of Pelosi’s prognostication ever coming true.” – Hyperallergic
The State Of Gay Art In Beijing: Delicate And Discreet
On the third floor of Destination, a nightclub-turned-cultural center that’s one of the few such places in the country to expressly welcome queer people, is ART.Des, a (very rare) gallery that features Chinese art that addresses homosexuality. While there is censorship, says one artist, “perhaps it’s not as free as the West; but it’s not as closed as people think, either. We’re not North Korea.” – The New York Times
Terry Jones Of ‘Monty Python’ Dead At 77
“After huge success with Python in the 1970s and early ’80s, including [directing and acting in] the feature films Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life, Jones went on to work on a huge variety of projects. With [Michael] Palin, he created the successful TV series Ripping Yarns and forged a post-Python directorial career with Personal Services, Erik the Viking and The Wind in the Willows. He made a series of TV documentaries (specialising in medieval history), wrote nearly 20 children’s books, and contributed a string of comment pieces for the Guardian and Observer denouncing the ‘war on terror’.” – The Guardian
Restaurant Noise Is Good! Says The New York Times’ Restaurant Critic
Pete Wells: “Restaurants are loud because we’re loud. With a few exceptions, when we complain about the noise, we’re complaining about ourselves. … Far from being an accidental side effect, a noisy restaurant is the end product of a business that helps us have a good time, just as purring is the end product of scratching a cat’s chin the right way.” – The New York Times
Why, Exactly, Is The Paris Opera Ballet On Strike? Here’s An Explainer
The company’s labor action is yet another part of the series of national protests against President Macron’s planned pension reforms. The twist is that, as we know, ballet is not like other professions (dancers’ bodies won’t hold out until age 65), and the Paris Opera Ballet’s pension system dates back to the 17th century. – Dance Magazine
Bullying, Extortion, Rape: Case Of Ousted Recording Academy CEO Gets Uglier As Both Sides’ Explosive Allegations Mount
Last week, Deborah Dugan was placed on “administrative leave” following what the Academy’s board called “serious concerns” about her mistreatment of staff. Dugan responded by filing an EEOC complaint saying she was being retaliated against after reporting numerous dishonest practices at the Academy. Now Dugan’s interim replacement alleges that she only reported the allegedly improper practices after a staffer formally complained about her behavior, and another source claims she demanded $22 million to drop her allegations of impropriety (her side denies this). Meanwhile, Dugan now charges that her predecessor was accused of rape by a recording artist and that the Academy’s attorney sexually harassed her. – Slate