“It is the oldest working theatre in [the UK], but yesterday, the Bristol Old Vic admitted it was under threat of closing for good as it launched a last-ditch appeal to secure £2m for its survival… The now-dilapidated venue is depending on the goodwill of individual benefactors – and has even launched a telephone hotline for public donations – to save it from permanent closure by Christmas.”
Author: sbergman
High Wires And Lowered Expectations
“Over the last decade, scores of circus artists have wound up their ropes, circus bands packed away their trombones, and big tops folded. The decline of popular live entertainment and the growing voice of the animal-rights lobby has meant there are few thriving travelling circuses.” But small, old-school circuses are making something of a comeback, even as their big-money counterparts are hemorrhaging cash.
And No, It Can’t Be Harry Potter
Studies have shown that children in the UK start to lose interest in reading for pleasure somewhere around age 11. What to do about it? Give every 11-year-old in the country a free book, perhaps.
Bloggers Start A New Literary Fringe Fest
“While Nobel laureates and children’s laureates gather at the South Bank Centre next week for the official London literary festival, an underground literary adventure is under way, courtesy of an enterprising collective of London bloggers.” Yes, London’s book fest has acquired a fringe.
Couldn’t Rushdie Have Just Said No?
The uproar over Salman Rushdie’s pending knighthood begs one obvious question, says Michael White. “Why would a leftie who had abandoned Britain for New York in a huff want a [knighthood] from the British establishment?”
Napoleon’s Toothbrush? Ew.
The UK’s newest national museum has opened in London, and the collection is anything but predictable. “It combines galleries with the world-famous Wellcome Library and a public events forum, with the aim of exploring the relationship between people and biomedicine… Charles Darwin’s walking stick, Nelson’s razor and Napoleon Bonaparte’s toothbrush are among the thousands of objects that went on display.”
Saatchi’s Double-Edged Sword
“The news that Charles Saatchi has just snapped up a Royal Academy student’s entire graduation show doesn’t come as much of a surprise in the art world. Saatchi is famous for this kind of thing.” But what probably feels like nothing but good fortune for the student could quickly turn sour. “More than a few artists have suffered at the hands of Saatchi’s generosity in the past.”
It’s All A Matter Of Your Perspective
In case anyone needed more evidence of the tension between high culture and pop entertainment, consider the Sydney Symphony, which this week offered up an entire concert of video game music ranging from the classic (Super Mario Bros.) to the cutting edge (World of Warcraft). The local paper wisely sent both its classical music and video game critics to review the show: the former found the music predictably stereotypical and noted that the orchestra appeared “suitably embarrassed,” while the latter described “an epic experience that will stay with any mildly fanatical gamer for a long time.”
Salzburg Hath No Fury Like A Tenor Scorned
“American tenor Neil Shicoff, who was overlooked for the position of director of Vienna’s State Opera, has pulled out of Austria’s renowned Salzburg Festival.” Shicoff had been tirelessly promoted for the Vienna job by Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer, but the heavy-handedness worked against Shicoff, and Dominique Meyer got the gig instead. In a letter to Salzburg’s festival director, Shicoff expressed a desire to distance himself from “intrigues and disappointments.”
Turmoil Inside The AFM Leads To More Of The Same
Tom Lee has apparently been reelected president of the American Federation of Musicians (the primary musicians’ union in North America,) a post he has held since 2001. Lee’s reelection had been somewhat in question, as there has been much dissension among union members concerning his leadership in recent years. Particularly aggrieved have been West Coast-based recording musicians, who made a direct attempt to run Lee out of office at this week’s AFM conference in Las Vegas.