A controversial proposal to merge four orchestras in Osaka, Japan, has the country’s musicians buzzing. The merger idea was suggested by the head of the region’s economic authority as a way to overcome dwindling government subsidies and rising musician costs. But some say that the proposal is misguided, and even suggest that Osaka could actually support more orchestras than it already has, given proper management and artistic leadership.
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England’s ‘Other’ Arts Channel Looks To Become Its Flagship
For decades, the BBC has ruled the roost when it comes to arts programming in Great Britain. But competition looms in the form of a Rupert Murdoch-owned satellite channel called ArtsWorld, and this month, the channel will begin broadcasting in Hi-Definition, a change which has some predicting a new (and popular) wave of arts programs with unrivaled sound quality.
Berlin Phil’s Youth Movement
The Berlin Philharmonic under Sir Simon Rattle is still frequently referred to as the world’s greatest orchestra, and few other ensembles could even think of challenging the assertion. But what is often underplayed is not how good the Berlin is, but how young its musicians have become. “Nearly half the 122 members are under 40, including 13 20-somethings. Seventy-seven were born after Jan. 1, 1960, and the average age is 45. That is about five years younger than during the Karajan period.”
Art School Not-So-Confidential
So what’s it really like in art school, and who, aside from art school students, cares? Trendy new films aside, are art school teachers really as flaky and married to ideology as they’re always portrayed? Are students really so vicious and unfeeling as to barbecue their colleagues in open session? Not often, says Christopher Hutsel, though he has some stories of his own. But the main distinguishing features of an art school may be the segregation of the design students from the budding artists. And then, of course, there are the comic strippers. No one gets them.
Hollywood On The Verge Of Another Big Transition
Everyone agrees that people are going to movies in the theatre less and less, and that this represents a challenge for Hollywood studios. But since much of the drop in ticket sales can be explained by the upward swing in DVD ownership and the wild success of services like NetFlix, does the ovie industry really have anything to worry about? More importantly, is the current uncertainty any different from the various other eras in which Hollywood has been forced by technology to change its business practices?
Keeping The Money Flowing (And The Donors Happy)
“Keeping a nonprofit theater — or any other artistic operation — going is a constant struggle in an age of vacillating government support and sometimes fickle corporate and personal giving… Just as a performer will call on a range of techniques to master a difficult part, nonprofits employ all sorts of techniques, from the traditional (ask the board, write the grant) to the unorthodox (go-go dancers and poker games), to lure contributors.”
And Starring, The Louvre
The film version of The DaVinci Code hits theatres this month, and the Louvre is bracing for a tidal wave of vistors as a result. After all, the legendary museum plays a crucial role in the story, and officials allowed director Ron Howard to film several key scenes in its galleries. Despite the logistical difficulties involved (the book calls for a character to tear down a priceless Caravaggio painting, for instance,) the Louvre and the Hollywooders reported no conflicts.
Art That Needs A Construction Permit
As installation art continues to get bigger and bigger, the tactical expertise required to erect it becomes ever more involved. “As art with high production values has become increasingly common, the role of the artist has evolved into something closer to that of a film director who supervises a large crew of specialists to realize his or her vision.”
Apple vs. Apple: The Rematch
A court has ruled that Apple Computer did not violate a 1991 trademark agreement with The Beatles’ old Apple Corps recording label when it established the popular iTunes music download service. Apple Corps, which has clashed frequently with the computer company over copyright, claimed that a violation had occurred when Apple Computer moved into the music business. Lawyers for the computer giant insisted that iTunes is “primarily a data transmission service and permitted by the agreement,” and London’s High Court agreed.
Creative Solutions To Architectural Problems
Philadelphia is a city filled with historic architecture constantly on the verge of obsolecence, and preserving it without stunting the city’s growth has become quite a challenge. Case in point: the city’s array of old, outdated neighborhood hospitals: too small to be functional in a modern “health system,” yet of undeniable architectural import and aesthetic value. So what to do with the buildings? How about converting them to senior housing with federal money, thereby creating “the least antiseptic low-income housing project ever financed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.”