Ever since the U.S. presidential election, commentators and politicians everywhere have been calling for a return to national unity. Hogwash, says Julia Keller. Conformity and unity of thought have never helped the world advance, either culturally, politically, or artistically. “Only through avoiding consensus, only through steadfastly refusing to be unified, have artists progressed and evolved,” and the same holds true for politicians, activists, and American society as a whole.
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Maybe A Moat And Some Crocodiles Might Help, Too
Oslo’s Munch Museum is seeking permission from the City Council to make all the blueprints of its buildings inaccessible to the public, as part of a new round of security upgrades in the wake of the much-publicized theft of two masterpieces from its collection. There are legal questions involved in classifying what are usually public documents, but the council believes that it can keep at least some of the blueprints secret.
Axelrod (Finally) Has His Day In Court
“Herbert Axelrod, the Monmouth County philanthropist turned globetrotting fugitive, pleaded not guilty to a federal tax charge in Trenton yesterday, ending a seven-month odyssey that brought him from Cuba to Switzerland to a jail cell in Germany. In his first U.S. court appearance since fleeing the country in April, the 77-year-old millionaire appeared upbeat and relaxed. He smiled and waved to friends in the courtroom gallery, at one point offering a reassuring wink.”
Ozawa To Open Music Academy
“Conductor Seiji Ozawa, artistic director of the Vienna State Opera, will open a music academy overlooking Lake Geneva. The daily Tribune de Geneve said Friday the academy will offer students the opportunity to perform chamber music with world-class professors. Ozawa, who spent 29 years with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, hopes to attract the best young talent in Europe to the school in the village of Blonay, above Montreux… Tuition will be free, [and] Ozawa hopes to admit 20 to the inaugural class next summer.”
Backing Away From Black
The Houston Symphony is trying out a new dress code for its female musicians, allowing the players to back away from the traditional all-black garb which was conceived as a way to be sure that no one player stood out from the pack. After complaints from musicians about the code, and some backstage discussions about potential changes, “management OK’d the idea and helped write guidelines so that no one showed up in ‘an Elizabeth Hurley outfit.'”
Philly Orchestra Asks Mayor For Help, Again
A week ago, Philadelphia Mayor John Street triumphantly announced that he had brokered the “framework” of a new agreement between the musicians and management of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and expected that the two sides would fill in the details quickly and easily. Instead, the negotiations have stalled yet again, with “many key aspects of the deal in dispute,” and Mayor Street is being asked to resume his role as mediator.
Urban Planning With An Artistic Edge
Newcastle and Gateshead were two of the UK’s most blighted cities. But a new wave of culture-based rejuvenation is sweeping the area, with impressive results. “Today the derelict wharves and warehouses have been transformed into restaurants, art galleries and loft apartments… The district, known as the Quayside, thrums with activity day and night. The Quayside’s most impressive projects are the Baltic Center for Contemporary Art, the Sage Music Center and a pedestrian bridge over the Tyne that tilts upward to let ships pass.”
The Adelaide Ring Will Not Be Broadcast
Australia’s first Ring Cycle, premiering this month in Adelaide, has been turned down for broadcast by the country’s largest TV and radio network. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation says that the fees which would be commanded by the performers involved simply make a broadcast unthinkable. The production costs for the cycle are already at AUS$15.3 million, and a CD project is planned for a 2005 release.
The Music May Be The Easy Part
What does it take to put on a Ring Cycle? Well, you’ll need five years to plan the logistics, enough orchestra musicians to cover 16 hours of music, 35 scenery trucks, a tech crew of 80 professionals, a conductor healthy enough to get through the damn thing without collapsing, and oh yes, “a 10×16-metre curtain of water that doesn’t splash the orchestra, make too much noise or drown the audience.”
Of Course, Retro Tends To Look Nicer Than Glass And Steel
There is a major downtown building boom going on in Minneapolis, with riverfront lofts, high-rise condos, and mixed-use developments adding to an already thriving urban core. But architects are beginning to wonder what it will take to get Minneapolitans to embrace new design ideas – every time an architect proposes a modernist design for one of the new residences, neighborhood groups scream objections and demand a building that will “fit in” better. The result is a brand spanking new collection of faux-classic buildings that are giving a relatively young city a decidedly retro look.