Author: Matthew Westphal

A TV Critic On The Virtual Democratic Convention’s Opening Night

James Poniewozik: “At its shakiest, it was, like much pandemic-era TV, uncanny, disjointed and unsettlingly weird. (To its credit, though, there were few of the glitches that have riddled so much bandwidth-dependent live television.) At its most engaging, it dispensed with some relics of televised conventions and found faster-paced and more intimate alternatives.” – The New York Times

Why Did I Arrange Bach’s ‘Goldberg’ Variations For Harp? Because It Works!

“I’m the first to admit that my project can sound outré or precious. … When it came to Bach, I was unhappy about the piano’s awkwardness with hand crossings, the harpsichord’s lack of dynamic vitality and the tootiness of organ pipes. … I kept struggling with what my ideal ‘Goldbergs’ might sound like. I wanted the raw pluckiness of the harpsichord, but with the expressive qualities of the piano.” Parker Ramsay, who plays harpsichord and organ as well as Baroque and modern harp, makes his case. – The New York Times

Stand-Up Comedy Outdoors Just Doesn’t Work The Same Way

Several outfits in New York are trying it, and Jesse David Fox checked one out. “Comedy clubs are agreed-upon spaces where we allow comedians to say whatever they want. But now we have, as [Sean] Patton called it, ‘filthy hoo-ha talk’ floating into the air for anyone to hear. … Also, you don’t think about how important ceilings are until there aren’t any. Comedy benefits from trapping the laughs in, allowing one joke to ride off the momentum of the previous one. When that’s not possible, laughs float away into the air.” – New York Magazine

No Flipping: Christie’s Add Clause To Contract Of Sale For Works By Black Artists

The market for Black artists’ work is hot right now, and some re-sellers are pocketing enormous profits — none of which are going to the actual creators of the now-high-value asset. So the curator of the Christie’s exhibition “Say It Loud (I’m Black and Proud)” and the house’s management, after consulting the artists, came up with a remedy. – Artnet

Can The Arts Help Revive Rural America?

“According to the Rural Establishment Innovation Survey, residents in rural counties that are home to performing arts organizations earn up to $6,000 more than people who live in rural counties without such platforms. All of this is sparking hope for a revival of rural counties — half of which have seen their population decline since 2000 — and at a time when experts are predicting mass migration from urban centers to smaller towns because of the growing costs in cities and the increased possibilities for working from home.” – OZY

New York Museums Cleared To Reopen As Of Aug. 24

“The announcement came as the state has seen less than 1 percent of all coronavirus tests return positive for seven straight days, [Gov.] Cuomo said in a news conference. … Institutions will be required to keep the buildings at 25 percent occupancy and to use a timed ticketing system, … to control the flow of traffic through their buildings, and face coverings will be compulsory.” – The New York Times