Next week La Scala reopens in its refurbished home. “At first glance, little has changed in 226 years — not the terraced neoclassical facade designed by architect Giuseppe Piermarini, nor the intimate, semicircular theater. Yet hovering discreetly behind the 18th-century exterior today are a tubular structure and a multistoried fly tower, both very 21st century. They were designed by Mario Botta, architect of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, to update and expand the opera’s backstage area in a 60.5 million euro ($80.6 million) revamp that opera professionals say was long overdue.”
Blog
Arts Funding Cuts For Northern Ireland
Artists are protesting the Northern Ireland government’s plan to slash arts spending next year. “The government has proposed funding will be cut by more than 10% over the next three years. That would mean spending being slashed from £14.5m per year to £13m per year by 2007. The Arts Council believes if the cuts go ahead many artists and organisations will not survive.”
Apple Charged With Overcharging iTunes In UK
A British consumer watchdog group has taken Apple before the European Union, complaining that Brits are being charged more for iTunes than elsewhere in Europe. “Whereas iTunes customers in the UK have to pay 79p to download a song, those in Germany and France are only charged 99 cents or 68p. Back in September Apple defended the price differential, saying that the underlying economic model in each country has an impact on how we price our track downloads.”
White Christmas? What A Cliche
Why is Hollywood so stuck on the idea of a white Christmas? What a cliche! Especially when a great many of us will never see snow for the season. “When was the last time you saw a holiday film set in the sunshine states for any reason other than a good laugh? How many times do we need to chuckle at those hopeless wannabes in Beverly Hills who spray fake snow on their Christmas trees?”
Off-Broadway – Let Us Pray
Off-Broadway has found religion, where several plays have taken up the topic. “Current events inform some of the productions, two of which deal with the abuse of children by clergy. But the plays range from a 15th-century piece featuring a grieving widower’s debate with Death to a modern comedy about tapping more deeply into the faith of one’s fathers. There’s also a musical version of the book “Children’s Letters to God,” and even comedian Dame Edna invokes Jesus in her new Broadway show. While the timing of these shows appears coincidental, they each touch on issues in public thought.”
Record Sales For Russian Art
New records for the sale of Russian art have been set in London this week at auctions, underscoring the rebound in Russia’s economic fortunes and its boost to the British capital’s position as destination of choice for affluent consumers from the east.
A Loss For Copyright Challenge
Internet archivists have lost a case in American courts challenging recent copyright laws. “”The plaintiffs claim that removing registration and renewal requirements and expanding the term of copyright have made it virtually impossible for works to enter the public domain. Now, out-of-print albums and books — many of which are not commercially viable — are simply rotting away unused, but are still protected by copyright.” The activists promise to appeal.
What Audiences Saw What In Australia Last Year
“A report released by the Australia Council shows the Melbourne Theatre Company topping the list of the 10 biggest ticket-sellers in 2003, with 322,000 tickets sold. Opera Australia came second, with 284,000 tickets, and the Sydney Theatre Company third, with 274,000. Last year’s report on 2002 ticket sales had Opera Australia at the top of the list, with 263,000, and the MTC second with 251,000.”
In Search Of Dystopia
“Literary dystopias have this in common: They are imagined societies in which the deepest demands of human nature are either subverted, perverted, or simply made unattainable. Not that it is necessarily bad to say “no!” to human nature. When it comes to certain inclinations, such as violence or extreme selfishness, there is much to be said for defying the promptings of biology. But when society presses too hard in ways that go counter to natural needs, the result can be painfully unnatural, which is to say, dystopian.”
Public Radio’s Record Year
Public radio in America had a record year last year, with more listeners and more money raised than ever before. “The cumulative audience, those that tune it at least once per week, grew by 1.4 million listeners, to a national total of 27.2 million.” This follows two years of growth.