The Berlin State Opera, where the 76-year-old conductor is general music director, has extended his contract for five additional years to 2027. Some doubts about Barenboim’s future there arose in February when reports surfaced of his ill-treatment of some musicians, though musicians’ representatives now say they have always been in favor of Barenboim staying on. – Deutsche Welle
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Another London Newspaper Axes Its Theatre Critics
Henry Hitchings and Fiona Mountford had been contract freelancers at the London Evening Standard, he for 10 years and she for 17. Their redundancy is part of what Standard ownership calls “necessary cost-cutting.” – PressGazette (UK)
London Philharmonic Creates Frequent-Flyer-Style Loyalty Program For Single-Ticket Buyers
“With LPO Plus, points can be earned each time an order is placed for eligible items including tickets, … gift vouchers, CDs, merchandise and programme book vouchers. Points can then be redeemed against future purchases.” – Classical Music (UK)
One Of Jiří Kylián’s Greatest Works Was Inspired By Australian Aboriginal Dancers. After Nearly 40 Years, An Aboriginal Dance Company Is Performing It.
In 1980, Kylián traveled to the Northern Territory to see the largest-ever gathering of Australian Aboriginal tribes; they all spoke different languages, so they communicated with dance. The experience led Kylián to choreograph The Stamping Ground in 1983, and it’s been performed in many countries since. But never in Australia until now, as Bangarra Dance Theatre, the country’s leading Aboriginal company, takes the piece on. – The Sydney Morning Herald
Turkish Filmmaker Chains Himself To Culture Ministry After Authorities Confiscate His Entire Body Of Work
“Oktay İnce, a longtime video activist fighting to retrieve an archive worth 20 years of his work, was held in police custody and accused of terrorist propaganda after he chained himself to a pole outside the culture ministry in Ankara.” – Hyperallergic
Michael Tilson Thomas Cancels All Summer Concerts, Will Have Cardiac Surgery
The 74-year-old conductor, who withdrew from one weekend of concerts last month due to illness, said in a statement, “‘On the advice of my doctors, I need to undergo this procedure at this time in continuation of treatment for a heart condition I have managed for many years.” – San Francisco Classical Voice
Why Is It Considered Acceptable To Exploit Arts Workers?
Rates of pay haven’t increased, as the cost of living continues to climb and, anecdotally, some arts workers are being asked by funders to justify their salaries, in a way that wouldn’t be required, at that level of remuneration, in any other industry. So why is it considered not only acceptable, but entirely appropriate in the arts? – Irish Times
The World Has Become Too Popular – Crowds Are Ruining Everything From The Louvre To Everest
“This phenomenon is known as overtourism, and like breakfast margaritas on an all-inclusive cruise, it is suddenly everywhere. A confluence of macroeconomic factors and changing business trends have led more tourists crowding to popular destinations. That has led to environmental degradation, dangerous conditions, and the immiseration and pricing-out of locals in many places. And it has cities around the world asking one question: Is there anything to be done about being too popular?” – The Atlantic
Can Algorithms Show Us Who To Trust?
Companies like Trust Science have put algorithms on the market that can help compile trustworthiness profiles of individuals and organizations. But does AI really possess such a “social” skill? This is an important question to ask because trust requires socially sensitive skills that are perceived to be uniquely human. So can algorithms providing advice in this area of human interaction be accepted by human decision-makers? – Harvard Business Review
The Video Game That Became A Social Network That Makes Participants Feel Better (Says This Research)
A survey by National Research Group says weekly Fortnite players now spend 21% of their free time with the game, and spend 3% less time on social media, which now accounts for 16% of players’ free time. – Fast Company