“Tutus mixed with hard hats as the first sod was turned on the Australian Ballet’s $12 million production facility in Melbourne. The 12,000 square metre facility in Altona North, to be finished early next year, will be a work space and home for the ballet company’s props, scenery and costumes.”
Author: Matthew Westphal
What LA’s Cultural Institutions Are Doing For Carmageddon II
The second weekend closure of the 405 freeway (the first was last year) is leading the Getty Museum and the Skirball Cultural Center to shut down for the duration. Some organizations are braver: the Hammer Museum is offering free admission for the weekend, the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble is hosting an improv series, and a group of organizations are sponsoring “Artmageddon.”
Kent Nagano Named Hamburg’s Next Generalmusikdirector
The rumor was true: Beginning with the 2015-16 season, Nagano will be the music director of the Hamburg State Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra. “This job will keep the 60-year-old Californian in the opera business, and in Germany, after he leaves the Bavarian State Opera in Munich next July.” (He has also just extended his Montreal Symphony contract through 2015-16.)
An Answer To Michael Frayn’s Copenhagen? Reykjavik, About Reagan, Gorbachev And Nukes
“Richard Rhodes, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of 24 books, has written his first play, and it spins off of his research into the history of nuclear weapons. … Reykjavik is a dramatic reconstruction of the two-day summit during which the world leaders almost reached agreement on the total abolition of their countries’ nuclear weapons.”
Why Is Blasphemy Wrong? (A Philosophical Inquiry)
“Suppose there had not been a single riot in response to the now infamous video The Innocence of Muslims, Not a single car burned, not a single embassy breached, not a single human being physically hurt. Would the makers of this risible little clip have done anything wrong? If so, to whom, and why?”
Americans Once Considered Images Of Jesus Blasphemous
Many Americans simply don’t comprehend the rage some Muslims feel over visual images (even flattering ones) of Muhammad. “The confusion stems, in part, from the ubiquity of sacred images in American culture. God, Jesus, Moses, Buddha and other holy figures are displayed in movies, cartoons and churches and on living room walls.” But that wasn’t always the case.
Coen Brothers To Adapt Fargo For TV
The cable network FX has contracted to develop an hour-long series based on the Coens’ Oscar-winning dramedy. (The pair is involved but will not be writing the scripts.) The series is “part of MGM TV’s strategy to mine the company’s catalogs for properties suitable for series adaptations/remakes.”
More Film Depictions Of Muhammad Are On The Way
“Undaunted by the outcry over a YouTube trailer for Innocence of Muslims, two ex-Muslim filmmakers are trying to develop separate feature-length biopics that would offer critical takes on Muhammad’s life. Experts predict that those projects will trigger further anger and violence, as has accompanied nearly every attempt to portray the prophet in any media in recent decades. But some believe that the faith will inevitably embrace showing Muhammad on film as the best and most effective way to get his message to the masses.”
Minnesota Orchestra Management Makes ‘Final Offer’ To Musicians
“The Minnesota Orchestra offer clarifies and adjusts proposed changes in work rules, but maintains the original deal’s financial package: a cut in average annual salary from $135,000 to $89,000; guaranteed pension contribution of 7.63 percent of base salary, 10 weeks of paid vacation and up to 26 weeks of paid sick leave.”
Atlanta Symphony Negotiations Produce (Very) Tentative Contract Proposal
The musicians’ union spokesman “said a document was produced from Monday night’s round of negotiations. On Tuesday, it was forwarded to the full orchestra for a vote, and the results are expected Wednesday night. … [He added] that the document and the vote did not mean that an agreement had been reached.”