Musicians of the Baltimore Symphony have strongly objected to the orchestra’s search committee choice of Marin Alsop as the next music director. “The turmoil at the Baltimore Symphony is part of a long history of orchestra players’ seeking a greater say in the choice of the man or woman who stands before them day after day, leading rehearsals, conducting concerts and strongly affecting their musical and even personal lives.”
Blog
Judges: A Golden Year For Poetry
This year’s Forward Prize for poetry attracted more than 11,000 entries. It has been, say the judges, an excellent year for poetry. “The judges add that several long-established poets on the £5,000 best collection shortlist are “producing work that was not just the best in the year, but the best work of their poetic careers”. They single out the poet and librettist David Harsent, 63, and Alan Jenkins, 55, the deputy editor of the Times Literary Supplement.”
Harry At A Dozen Per Second
Seven million copies of the new Harry Potter were sold in the first 24 hours it was on sale. How many is that? A little perspective: “Retailers said that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince had sold more copies in a day than The Da Vinci Code sold in one year. WH Smith said it sold 13 copies a second on Saturday. This breaks the book chain’s previous record of eight copies a second, which was held by the last tale by JK Rowling: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.”
Beecroft Accuses Italy’s “Most Successful” Artist Of Stealing Ideas
“Maurizio Cattelan is Italy’s most successful contemporary artist. In 2004 after his sculpture of a hanging horse, The Ballad of Trotsky, was auctioned for $1.2m (now £686,000), ArtReview magazine put him at number four on a list of the art world’s VIPs. It was the highest ranking for any artist. But the Genoa-born artist Vanessa Beecroft – best known for her disturbing installations of living, almost nude, models – said she had had an affair with Cattelan before either became famous and that she was the source for many of his ideas.”
de Waart Fires Hong Kong Phil Concertmaster
Hong Kong Philharmonic music director Edo de Waart, in his first season in the post, has fired concertmaster Dennis Kim for “auditioning for a place in an American orchestra while purportedly on sick leave. Kim learned earlier this year that his contract would not be renewed for the 2006-07 season for reasons, according to a source, that include criticizing his colleagues and bargaining for extra performance fees.”
The Agony Of Writing A Book
“‘How’s your book going?’ has become my least favourite question. I used to think writers didn’t like talking about their works-in-progress because they were afraid people would steal their brilliant ideas. Now I know the truth. Writers hate talking about their books because they’re sick to death of them. That and the fact that, on any given day, they secretly suspect that their books might stink. And let’s face it, most books do stink…”
Italian Trial Of Getty Curator Is Suspended
Almost as soon as it got started, the trial in Italy of a Getty curator was postponed. “The prosecution of Marion True, the Getty’s curator for antiquities and director of the Getty Villa, will resume Nov. 16, a three judge panel decided. True, 56, is accused of criminal conspiracy to receive stolen goods and illicit receipt of archeological items purportedly dug up in Italy. The case involves 42 allegedly looted objects and is more than 10 years in the making. Through an attorney, True has asserted her innocence, and the museum has backed her up.”
Culture Of Dissent (But Not Kadare)
It’s fashionable for writers from former Soviet block countries to portray themselves as dissidents. But is Ismail Kadare, the Albanian who recently won the international Man Booker Prize such a dissident? “Kadare is no Solzhenitsyn and never has been. If the head of the Union of Writers and the delegate to the People’s Assembly who studied in Moscow was the dissident, who in God’s name supported communism? His secretary? The janitor? His dissident credentials are rubbish, as are those of many Eastern European writers and poets who published and thrived during communism, mixing their literary career with commanding political posts.”
Critical Conversation: The Modern Music Critic
Is there a fundamental difference in the ways music critics see their roles? Are European classical music critics different from American critics? Are there different expectations of London critics than New York critics? Between critics in the “second cities” of America and those of Europe? Consequently, is the level of public discussion about music different in North America than in Europe? This week, ArtsJournal hosts a discussion among 17 classical music critics from the UK, US, Canada and Australia. Who’s got the role of modern music critic figured out?
Are Our Best And Brightest Leaving?
“The Rise of the Creative Class gave hope to many in Massachusetts, which boasts the best-educated workforce in the nation and is on its way to becoming one of the most diverse and gay-friendly states in the country. But Florida’s new book, ‘The Flight of the Creative Class’ (HarperBusiness), is more likely to cause night sweats. It tells us that, in part because of new attitudes toward immigration since 9/11, we’re in danger of falling behind not only Austin but also Australia, and raises the possibility that, after a century or two of sending many of its hardest-working natives to Boston, Dublin may finally get its revenge.”