“Austrian authorities recovered a Stradivari violin belonging to a top violinist and worth at least $3.4 million after police raided a Vienna house used by six Georgian suspects to stash stolen loot… The Stradivari, along with a Vuillaume violin, were stolen from [Christian] Altenburger’s apartment in May. “
Author: sbergman
It All Depends On How You Define “Definitive”
The British public has declared (through an online survey) that George Orwell’s 1984 is the definitive book of the 20th century. Also making the list were The Great Gatsby, The Grapes of Wrath, and, um… Bridget Jones’s Diary.
Are Museums Being Priced Out Of The Art Market?
Lost in the excitement surrounding this season’s record-shattering art auctions is the inevitable downside to such price inflation: museums are becoming ever less able to afford the acquisition of major works. “What also tends to happen in a rising market is that people who own artworks are more reluctant to give them away when they can sell them for exorbitant amounts of money.”
Let The Tony Backlash Begin!
As the New York theatre world prepares to congratulate itself at the Tony Awards, the critics are having their usual round of ‘what’s wrong with Broadway these days.’ “We decry the pandering. We rage against the casting of movie stars onstage… Yet among the many musty postures we might adopt toward the current season, carping that the theater ignored issues of consequence to the grim national mood simply should not be one of them.”
Just Because It’s British Doesn’t Mean It’s Good
“The mania for all things British continued unabated this season on Broadway, and there’s no reason to believe it will subside anytime soon… But much of the London-originated product seen in New York this season left me disappointed in one way or another. The cumulative effect has left me wondering whether this was simply an off season, or whether all the money being lavished on plays and productions from across the ocean is bringing much in the way of lasting rewards to the Broadway environment.”
Dragging Public Radio To A New Generation
An irreverent and urbane new radio show hosted by a 36-year-old Hollywood actress is getting the attention of public radio execs nationwide with its decidedly different approach to the medium. And by “different,” we mean “holding some appeal for listeners under 50 years of age.”
If You Build It…
Vienna’s Musikverein and Boston’s Symphony Hall may still be the gold standard, but Nicolai Ourossoff says that we are in a dizzying age of concert hall construction and design. “The new halls seek to root classical music firmly in the present and forge an intimate bond among orchestra, audience and music.”
A Building To Match The Music
Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music may not have the instant international name recognition of Juilliard, but the school is one of Canada’s beloved cultural institutions. “No other musical institution connects so many people – professionals and amateurs alike – from so many communities.” Now, after decades of making do with substandard facilities, the Royal Conservatory is on the verge of moving into a dazzling new home.
Canadian Vocalists Score On The International Stage
The Montreal International Musical Competition has brought much attention to its host city since launching in 2002, but this year, attention is also being paid to the stunning success of homegrown talent. Despite a blind judging process, more than half of the finalists at this year’s vocal competition are Canadian, and many are seeing it as a sign that Canada has become a leader in the training of top-flight singers.
What Will We Put In All The Pretty Buildings?
Toronto has been undergoing a healthy cultural building boom recently, but some observers have begun wondering whether the city has “the kind of exhibits, holdings and performances that will really live up to our world-class aspirations.”