“It is somehow appropriate that during an election year threatening to cause a collective national headache, at least among Democrats, the most migraine-inducing plays of the New York theater season should both concern themselves with politics. What is surprising is that these troublesome plays should come from two of the most renowned playwrights working today.”
Author: sbergman
What Is It About Messaien?
“No other music sounds quite like his, with its mystical allure, ecstatic energy and elusive harmonic language, grounded yet ethereal… Messiaen’s musical language blithely juxtaposes piercing astringencies with lushly sonorous diatonic harmonies, and with Impressionistic chords in homage to his beloved Debussy that can make a Messiaen orchestra sound like a cosmic big band.”
Ballet And Rap, Together At Last
Atlanta is one of the centers of American hip-hop, and Atlanta Ballet is taking advantage, mounting an unprecedented collaboration with one half of the Grammy-winning rap duo, OutKast. “They are seeking to expand the horizons of their respective forms, without compromising them. It’s a tall order, and it comes as ballet companies and the hip-hop industry are casting about (not always gracefully) for new directions and new audiences.”
The Toughest Role In Musical Theatre?
One of the reasons that South Pacific hasn’t been revived more often is the problem of casting Emile de Becque, the male lead. “Not even the biggest names in musical theater would have satisfied all the expectations that come with a difficult role in a beloved show seen in New York only a few times.”
Look, An Intra-Province Culture War!
The far northern city of Edmonton, Alberta has long been seen as the province’s cultural capital. True, its neighbo(u)r to the south, Calgary, has been looking to strip the title in recent years, but Edmonton’s arts leaders don’t really buy the effort. “In Edmonton, culture is very much a part of the fabric of life for everyone… and I think in Calgary, it’s being driven in fact by money rather than community.”
Fisk Appeals Judge’s Order Barring Stieglitz Sale
“Fisk University said Thursday it will appeal a judge’s order to display an art collection donated to it by painter Georgia O’Keeffe… In March, Nashville Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle permanently banned any sale of the 101-piece collection and set an October deadline for Fisk to retrieve the artwork from storage and put it on display.”
Charlton Heston, 84
The Oscar-winning actor and gun rights spokesman died this weekend after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Heston played epic roles throughout his film career, and later became the face of the National Rifle Association, “a powerful campaigner against what he saw as the government’s attempt to infringe on a Constitutional guarantee.”
Penny Strad Sells For A Pretty… Well, You Know
“A Stradivarius violin named after its pioneering female owner has been sold in New York for $1.2m. The instrument, made in the 18th century, belonged to Barbara Penny, the first woman to play in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra strings section.”
Lebrecht: Karajan Killed Classical Music
Norman Lebrecht has had enough of the Karajan worship that seems to be pervading Europe on the occasion of the maestro’s centenary. “Hitler’s poster boy offered nothing to art while ruthlessly crushing creativity… If classical music itself is widely (if unfairly) considered to be elitist, staid and retrospective, we have Herbert von Karajan to thank for making it a safe, corporate entertainment at prohibitively priced festivals.”
Time, Priority Shifts Combine To Fell Hartford Arts Center
Hartford’s performing arts center, constructed in the 1980s to bring several of the city’s top cultural groups together in a single home, now stands dilapidated and abandoned by nearly all of its onetime tenants. The building is up for sale, and for the most, part, Hartford’s arts scene has moved on without it. “Let us note for the record that it was fun while it lasted.”