Author: Matthew Westphal

“Exciting Future”? Monitoring the Uncertain Condition of the Embattled National Academy of Design

“Get updates about our exciting new future,” proclaims the homepage of the long-dormant NAD, which closed its doors to the public on June 1, 2016, at the age of 190, with the stated intention of reopening in a “new home.” Two and a half years later, the nature of that “exciting future” has not yet been revealed and a “new home” has not yet materialized. — Lee Rosenbaum

Baltimore Symphony Musicians’ Contract Has Officially Expired

“A contract between management and musicians expired Tuesday night as they continue to debate whether shrinking the BSO’s season from 52 weeks to 40 weeks a year is the best path forward. The development is unlikely to have any immediate, public effects. … The dispute, however, is seen as a threat to the orchestra’s continued role as one of the nation’s preeminent orchestras.” — Baltimore Business Journal

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra’s Next Music Director Will Be Richard Egarr

The British harpsichordist and conductor, who currently leads the Academy of Ancient Music (from which he recently announced his departure) and begins a stint as artistic partner at the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra next season, succeeds Nicholas McGegan at the helm of the San Francisco period-instrument band at the start of the 2020-21 season. — San Francisco Chronicle

One Of New York City Ballet’s Most Atypical Dancers Takes On One Of Its Most Difficult Roles

“When he dances, he soars; in life, he swerves into self-doubt. Yet Mr. Stanley, a shy and self-effacing mixed-race 27-year-old gay man, has become one of the company’s most valued principals, both for his dancing and for what his presence means.” Gia Kourlas meets Stanley as he prepares to dance the title role in Balanchine’s Apollo. — The New York Times

Where Dance Meets Physics (Where? Yale, Of Course)

For eight years now, a pair of Yale professors, Sarah Demers (particle physics) and Emily Coates (ballet), has taught a course called “The Physics of Dance.” “Their partnership has involved everything from directing a short film to presenting a TedX Talk and performing a piece that Coates created, commissioned by Danspace Project. This month, they’re publishing a book.” — Dance Magazine

Will The Oscars Ceremony Really Be Better Off Without A Host?

Kyle Buchanan: “One of the academy’s oft-stated priorities is to trim the telecast to a slim three hours, and with no monologue nor a host to keep cutting back to, the proceedings should at least be shorter. But will they be better? … I think we’re still underestimating the power a host has to shape the telecast in ways both noticeable and not.” — The New York Times

What We Gain And What We Lose With Peter Jackson’s Colorized World War One Footage

“Jackson asserts, reasonably, that if the cameramen of the Great War could have shot in color with sound, they would have. But such choices are trickier historically than they may seem. Most people looking at black-and-white footage of the war while it was going on never thought, Oh, if only this were in color, with sound! Any more than looking at it with color and sound now, we say, ‘Oh, but if only you could smell it!'” — The New Yorker