“Barbara Ann Teer, who gave up a promising career in commercial entertainment to concentrate on developing African-American culture in Harlem and who founded the National Black Theater there, died on Monday in Harlem.”
Author: sbergman
Columbus Symphony Cancels Fall Season
“With contract talks with musicians going nowhere, Columbus Symphony management said yesterday that the 2008-09 classical concert season won’t begin as usual in October, and that at least 10 performances through early December have been canceled.”
Can The Arts Survive Without Public Dollars?
“PONCHO, long a pillar of arts funding in Seattle, has just announced another change in leadership and focus,” and is clearly struggling in a down economic climate to maintain its role. So is it time to reevaluate our privately funded model for arts and culture?
Leadership Change In San Antonio
The CEO of the San Antonio Symphony, David Green, is leaving his post after 2-1/2 years on the job. He will be replaced by Jack Fishman, executive director of California’s Long Beach Symphony.
The Loyal Conductor
Zubin Mehta has been associated with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra since 1961. “He was appointed its music adviser in 1969, music director in 1977, and in 1981 Mehta accepted the title of music director for life. It is a unique position in a business where contracts rarely run for more than five years.” But for Mehta, such longevity and loyalty to a single ensemble is an ongoing theme.
Mayne’s Challenge
“It’s hard to miss San Francisco’s new U.S. Federal Building, a narrow 18-story office slab with a skewed, not-quite-mansard roof. Completed in March of last year, the building is a study in contradictions: an ambitious energy-conserving agenda, a tight budget, and a highly restrictive set of security concerns. How did Pritzker Prize-winning architect Thom Mayne deal with this challenging mix?”
Clear Channel Preparing To Leave The Market
“The deal to take Clear Channel Communications Inc. private, disclosed 20 months ago, has been the subject of a lot of static from rankled shareholders, company officials, and lenders. Delayed and downsized, the $17.9 billion deal for the nation’s largest owner of radio stations and a global power in billboards will finally close a week from today if shareholders approve the $36-per-share offer tomorrow.”
Rockers Rallying Around Obama
Barack Obama may have trouble with white working-class voters, but he appears to have the rock star vote sewn up tight. A new star-studded rock video paying tribute to the senator is set to hit the internet next week, “an inspirational kind of musical expression that conveys an upbeat, positive tone reminiscent of earlier projects like the 1985 ”We Are the World” music video.”
New Broadway Awards To Honor High Schoolers
“Dozens of American high school musical performers will compete on Broadway next year for a new national award named after theater owner and producer James M. Nederlander.”
What’s Going On At NBC?
The network seems a mite discombobulated heading into the fall season. At a major press tour, “NBC played clips of series it says were not complete, and certainly not ready to ship to critics. One series… showed clips that the executive producer suggested might be reshot at a later date.”