Author: Matthew Westphal

L.A. Phil Has Enormous Plans For Its Centennial: 50 Commissions And A New Gehry Building

“For the year leading up to the 100th anniversary of its first concert on Oct. 24, 1919, the [Los Angeles Philharmonic] has hired Frank Gehry to design a permanent home for music director Gustavo Dudamel’s YOLA youth education project. The L.A. Phil also will premiere an unheard-of 50 new works that it has commissioned. It will reach out to community groups to distribute 10,000 free tickets to concerts and events, and it will partner with dozens of local and international arts organizations, from the organizers of Hollywood’s Academy Awards to London’s Royal Ballet.

Museum Director Doubles Attendance, Events, And Donations Within A Year – And Board Fires Her

Tiffany Wai-Ying Beres took over the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum from its founder last year and racked up success after success. Then she was sacked by the board, whose attorney says, “She was fired because she was a destructive, uncaring insensitive employee who has retaliated with false allegations against the longtime management of the museum.” Beres maintains that she was fired for blowing the whistle on several unethical practices by the board, and she’s suing.

The Book That May Bring Down South Africa’s President And Bring Up Its Book Market

What’s Zulu for the Streisand Effect? “South Africa’s small literary market has been lifted by one of the country’s largest political scandals. A new book detailing the “cancerous cabal” that has bankrolled Jacob Zuma’s presidency was bound to cause a sensation, but attempts to have the book banned have made it a rapid best-seller and possibly the country’s most bootlegged book.”

‘Call Me By Your Name’ Is A Love Story Between A 17- And A 24-Year-Old. Should We Be Skeeved Out?

“For fans of the book and the film, it may feel self-evident that Call Me by Your Name is not a story of predation: It’s a story of first love and lust told from the perspective of a particularly mature teenager on the cusp of adulthood; the relationship is consensual; even Elio’s parents seem to approve; and, in any case, this is a fictional depiction, not an ethical endorsement. But the age gap will give pause to more people than right-wing trolls – it did to my progressive companion at an early screening – and it does the film no favors to pretend it’s not a question worth exploring.” So Slate‘s Jeffrey Bloomer explores it.

‘Call Me By Your Name’ And The ‘Straightwashing’ Of Gay Movies

Just after the new movie’s British release, Sony UK tweeted a promo making the film look like a heterosexual teen romance. (After a proper roasting on social media, it was deleted.) “The tweet served as a reminder of an awkwardness that lingers in mainstream spaces. In trying to position the film as a romance intended for a wide audience, Sony believed that fooling straight viewers was the way to go.” And this was hardly the first time.

How Philly Became A Hotbed Of Experimental Music

Yes, staid old Philadelphia – where just 12 years ago poor Michael Hersch had a major premiere booed; where, as recently as 1986, fully half the audience walked out of Pelléas et Mélisande, for Pete’s sake – has started embracing contemporary classical. There’s Opera Philly’s O17 festival, the new October Revolution fest, a daring series at the Barnes Foundation, plus now-established outfits like The Crossing and FringeArts; next spring there’s even going to be Stockhausen’s 14-hour chamber-music cycle Klang. There are four serious new-music events in just the next week. David Patrick Stearns explains how the change happened and talks to some of the key players involved.

World’s Greatest Collection Of Soviet Dissident Art Gets New Home In New Jersey

Well over 17,000 works from the USSR’s artistic underground, collected by the late economist Norton Dodge and his wife, Nancy, are going to the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University. The trove, worth an estimated $34 million and accompanied by $10 million to support maintenance, is the largest gift of any kind in the university’s history.

Court Orders Release Of Art Collection ‘Held Hostage’ By Storage Company

“Mana Fine Arts, an art storage complex in New Jersey, has been ordered by a New York judge to turn over the Mugrabi family’s entire 1,400-piece art collection, including works by Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Tom Wesselmann and Damien Hirst.” The Mugrabis say Mana “is holding the collection hostage over disputed back storage fees, bringing their business to a standstill and preventing them from either selling or showing the art.”

Louis C.K. Accused By Five Women Of Sexual Misbehavior Unfit For Headlines (Ick)

“Now, after years of unsubstantiated rumors about [the star comedian]masturbating in front of associates, women are coming forward to describe what they experienced. Even amid the current burst of sexual misconduct accusations against powerful men, the stories about Louis C.K. stand out because he has so few equals in comedy. … And [he] built a reputation as the unlikely conscience of the comedy scene, by making audiences laugh about hypocrisy – especially male hypocrisy.”