Author: Matthew Westphal

Should We Just Get Rid Of The Nobel Prize In Literature?

There are last year’s scandals, the excessive secrecy, the ridiculously overdue reforms. (Only after the 2018 debacle did the Swedish Academy decide that it would expel any members with conflicts of interest or criminal investigations.) “The Nobel Prize in literature must become more transparent, more inclusive, and more positive,” argues Carrie Mullins, “or it risks being nothing at all.” – Electric Literature

Conductor Michael Gielen Dead At 91

“As a symphonic conductor, he held posts with the Belgian National Orchestra (1969-73), Cincinnati SO (1980-86) and SWR Symphony Baden-Baden and Freiburg (1986-89). He also served as a Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra (1978-81). He retired from conducting 2014. His service to contemporary music was immense and he championed works by György Ligeti, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Bernd Alois Zimmermann, Hans Werner Henze, Betsy Jolas, Isang Yun and Henri Pousseur, as well as earlier 20th-century masters.” – Gramophone

Composer-Pianist Lives His (Other) Dream — And Has A Finger Snap Off ‘Like A Twig’

“Yotam Haber is an established composer and pianist, an assistant professor at the University of New Orleans, a former artistic director of New York’s MATA festival and winner of a Guggenheim fellowship and a Koussevitzky Foundation commission, among many other honors and awards. Since childhood, though, he has had another dream: to race sled dogs in Alaska. Last week, Haber’s dream came true” — but at quite a cost. – The Washington Post

Actors Theatre Of Louisville Appoints Artistic Director

“After a nationwide search that began in 2017, Actors Theatre of Louisville has found its new artistic director — Robert Barry Fleming, a Kentucky native who was previously working as associate artistic director of the Cleveland Play House. Fleming will replace Les Waters, who announced his departure from the organization after leading it for seven years.” – Inside Louisville

Cellist George Neikrug, 100

He served as principal cellist with the Baltimore Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, and Los Angeles Philharmonic, and was a widely admired teacher, and he’s best remembered for a still-legendary 1960 performance at Carnegie Hall of Ernest Bloch’s Schelomo with the NBC Symphony under Leopold Stokowski. – The Strad

UK’s National Lottery Heritage Fund Has New Loan Program For Buying And Restoring Historic Buildings

“The £7m Heritage Impact Fund will provide charities, social enterprises and community businesses – which could include venue operators – with loans to help them deliver ‘positive economic and social impact’ through the re-use of heritage buildings. But the Theatres Trust … has expressed concerns about the viability of the fund for the theatre industry in particular.” – Arts Professional

Michelangelo’s Terracotta Study For ‘Pietà’ Identified

“Presenting a new book on their research, art historians revealed extensive documentation from the Renaissance that appears to prove the [terracotta] statue” — which surfaced about two decades ago in northern Italy — “was made by Michelangelo, as well as striking similarities between the object and other, confirmed masterpieces by the artist.” – The Telegraph (UK)

Pamela Tatge on Curatorial Practice

I’ve found strikingly few resources available in any media about the craft, practice, and management of arts organizations in the live performing arts (beyond the usual-suspect books). So I’ve started a series of video interviews with performing arts professionals. First up is Pamela Tatge, who took the reins at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in 2016. – Andrew Taylor