“A former executive of the American Federation of Musicians has been charged with embezzling at least $400,000 from the union and spending some of it on clothes, jewelry, a trip to Cuba and a bottle of expensive champagne for Fidel Castro.”
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Liverpool’s Setback As Philharmonic Music Director Contract Not Renewed
Liverpool is scrambling to deal with two cultural setbacks as the city gears up for its gig as European Capital of Culture in 2008. The Liverpool Philhramonic recently decided against renewing music director Gerard Schwarz’s contract. It “follows hard on the heels of the city’s decision against going ahead with Will Alsop’s controversial ‘fourth grace’ on the Pier Head. The Philharmonic now faces a race against time to find a new music director who can be in place to take over the baton in the 2006-07 season.”
Washington Opera’s Tough Season
The Washington National Opera finished its season with a $2 million surplus. But it was a tough season for patrons. The company spent the first half of the season in temporaryt quarters at Constitution Hall While the Opera House at the Kennedy Center was undergoign renovation. “Opera patrons, who paid up to $285 a seat, said parking was murder, the bathrooms were remote, and some sections of the hall were a sweat box. The longer the opera stayed in Constitution Hall, the more operagoers stayed home.”
Dressing Up The Concert Companion
With several orchestras seemingly ready to sign on to use the Concert Companion handheld device, interest seems to be building. “The newer devices have more features: They show video from the stage with up-close images of the conductor’s and musicians’ faces, and they contain program notes like those traditionally included in the concert playbill.”
Tavener From Above
Composer John Tavener, turning 60, says his music is inspired by God. “Critics, who tend to like complexity, have accused him of attracting audiences by over-simplification. But this is, surely, to miss his point. Tavener strips away the complexity to get to what he calls the ‘essence’.”
Defining The Music Of Ideas
What are today’s Big Ideas in music? Well, before you can start identifying them, you have to first decide whether music needs any Big Ideas. Some of America’s classical music critics struggle over definitions…
Denver Airport Removes “Stressful” Art
Denver Airport has removed three pieces of art from its terminal after six employees complained. The art – called “The Luggage Project” consisted of suitcases made by artists around the world. One of the suitcases is “splattered with glossy red and black paint and contains bricks. A bumper sticker inside the suitcase reads, ‘Blood for oil. Billionaires for Bush’.” Airport officials deemed the art “too stressful for passengers and workers to view in light of the heightened security following 9/11
Two Arrested For Stealing From The Whitney
Two Whitney Museum employees have been arrested for stealing admission money. One, “Nafeem Wahlah, 29, the museum’s manager of visitor services, stole $850,000 by voiding ticket sales and keeping the money. Investigators found $800,000 in a safe in her Brooklyn home, and she was caught on camera putting cash into her purse.”
Tired Muscles Might Be Brain Function…
So maybe we don’t get tired after exercising because our muscles are tired. “Traditionally, fatigue was viewed as the result of over-worked muscles ceasing to function properly. But evidence is mounting that our brains make us feel weary after exercise. The idea is that the brain steps in to prevent muscle damage.”
Buy The Channels You Want?
Consumer advocacy groups have been asking Congress to look into why cable companies won’t let subscribers pick the channels they want in their subscription packages instead of being forced into accepting dozens of channels they may never watch while still paying for them.” Cable companies say such a system would wreck the econbomics of the current TV business. The FCC seems skeptical…