Conductor David Lockington has withdrawn his name from consideration in the three-man race to become the new music director of the Kansas City Symphony, saying that he wishes to keep his focus on the Grand Rapids (Michigan) Symphony, which is preparing for its 75th anniversary next season. The Kansas City job would have been a considerable jump in prestige for Lockington, but no further reasons for his withdrawal have been given. The job will now likely go to either Stefan Sanderling or Michael Stern.
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Asian Musicians Abused, Assaulted in NZ
Several Asian members of New Zealand’s Wellington Sinfonia were taunted with racial slurs this week while on tour in the town of Masterton this week, and one Asian violinist was physically assaulted on the street in an apparently racially-motivated incident. The woman “was approached by a girl described by witnesses as wearing ‘Gothic-style clothing’ and who said ‘why don’t you just go back to where you came from’ and then hit her in the face.”
Collecting Big – The World’s Art Collectors
ARTnews has compiled its annual list of the world’s top art collectors. “When do you become a serious collector who might make the Top Ten, and how long do you remain one? It kicks in at about the age of 45. Of course, you’ve got to be extremely wealthy. Usually, you’re not willing to spend lots of money on art unless you reach that age and you have the confidence to do it. It lasts for about eight to ten years.”
By The Power Of Gracenote
A little-known company called Gracenote is quietly becoming a major player in the new world of digital music. The company was formed around an idea – that there should be a way for digital players to recognize and label songs and albums without users having to enter the information – and every major digital player now depends on its services. “Gracenote’s rise resembles a pattern seen in many industries, in which one company evolves into an information clearinghouse that holds extraordinary power over its rivals.”
UK Way Ahead Of US With Digital Radio
Digital radio is so hot in Great Britain that the government is preparing to announce a shutdown date for traditional analog broadcasting. 600,000 digital receivers have been sold in the UK since the format launched earlier this year, and nearly half of all British radio broadcasts are now available in digital form. Even the receivers themselves are becoming cheaper – a £50 model will be available in supermarkets shortly.
ENO Tries Another Unconventional Show
The English National Opera is attempting to mount a major outdoor production of La Boheme in London’s Trafalgar Square, covering the whole area with fake grass in an effort to recreate the look and feel of Glyndebourne’s opera on the lawn. But on the heels of ENO’s wild and unconventional success at the Glastonbury Festival, this event may be a bust: “heavy rain and winds are forecast and picnics, bottles and outdoor furniture banned.” Still, all 7,000 free tickets to the event are already spoken for.
The Biggest Blockbuster (Who Sez?)
What’s the most popular movie of all time? Looking at the box-office receipts gives only part of the answer…
Shanghai – Asia’s New Capital Of Culture?
“Determined to raise the city to the level of regional rivals like Tokyo and Hong Kong as well as Beijing, Shanghai officials have made culture a major priority. Beijing has its Forbidden City, its prestigious national schools and museums, its centuries-old neighborhoods that breathe Chinese culture, none of which Shanghai can realistically challenge. But like Tokyo, all but destroyed in World War II, this city is making a virtue of its newness.”
Sell-Out Dance
A new London play celebrates ballroom dancing. “Ballroom dancing is very much back in fashion, with the success of Strictly Come Dancing on TV giving it a new lease of life. It is estimated that more than one million people regularly go to ballroom-dancing classes, while the monthly gay tea dance in Brockley in south-east London is always a sell-out.”
The Movies’ Billion-Dollar Month
For the first time, American movie theatres sold more than a billion dollars worth of tickets. “The North American box office took $1.03 billion during June, Hollywood Reporter found – a 14% increase on June 2003’s previous monthly record. Takings were boosted by blockbusters including Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Shrek 2.”