“Andre Silva, widely acknowledged as one of the star dancers for the Texas Ballet Theater, will be leaving the company after the ballet’s last performances this season to join” Montreal’s Grands Ballets Canadiens.
Author: Matthew Westphal
Discovery Sues Amazon Over Kindle
“Discovery Communications sued Amazon.com yesterday, accusing the e-commerce giant of infringing its patent for electronic book technology with the Kindle reader.”
London’s Cultural Olympiad Announces A Dozen Commissions
“The first of the major projects for the Cultural Olympiad, the slew of arts projects linked to the London Olympic Games in 2012, was launched yesterday. Artists Taking the Lead is a series of 12 commissions planned to come to fruition in 2012.” Artists in any genre may compete for one of the commissions, and the works will be spread throughout the UK.
Las Vegas Approves Bonds To Build Arts Center
“Amid an economic downturn, the Las Vegas city council has approved financing on a $475 million performing arts center in a bid to add some elegance to the city’s notorious glitz. Construction could begin this spring on The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in downtown.”
The Backlash Against Experimental Philosophy
As the hip new school of philosophy (often called “x-phi”) tests ideas with actual experiments, there has been some pushback. “A philosophical problem is not an empirical problem, a fact is not an interpretation, an ‘is’ is not an ‘ought,’ a description of how we actually behave and think is not a rationale for how we should behave and think.”
George W. Bush Lands $7 Million Book Deal
Crown Publishing Group will release the volume, tentatively titled Decision Points, in 2010. “Instead of recounting his life story, [Bush will] write about a dozen personal and professional choices, including giving up drinking and picking Dick Cheney as his vice president.”
The Beautiful Ruin Is Empty
To many, Detroit has come to seem like the very model of urban decline. But the city still has some magnificent buildings that went up during the economic glory days. Witold Rybczynski takes us on a tour.
Atlanta Symphony Announces Cuts But Avoids Layoffs
The measures announced today, which will save more than $750,000, include 5% pay reductions for administrative staff (more for top officers) for the remainder of the season, unpaid furloughs beginning this summer, unspecified givebacks from music director Robert Spano and the conducting staff, and the continuation of a hiring freeze.
Globe & Mail, Toronto Star, La Presse Lead National Newspaper Award Noms
“The Globe and Mail leads the pack of finalists with 13 nominations in the running for the 2008 National Newspaper Awards, to be announced May 22 in Montreal. The Toronto Star has 10 nominations, followed by Montreal’s La Presse [the only francophone nominee] with eight. The Ottawa Citizen, Calgary Herald and Hamilton Spectator each collected four.”
One Down, Two To Go At Philadelphia Orchestra
“After a queasy freefall, the leadership of the Philadelphia Orchestra is regaining its footing. Richard B. Worley, a wealthy and, by many accounts, knowledgeable orchestra lover who has served in several board capacities, was elected chairman of the Orchestra Association Thursday.” Ongoing are searches for a president and a permanent music director.