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The Hardest Working Man In Academia?

Henry Louis Gates may be the “Hardest Working Man in Academia.” His latest book “The just-released African American Lives (Oxford University Press, $55, co-edited with Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham) brings the number of books Gates has edited or co-edited to 51. He has written or co-written another 12.” And he’s hard at work on another half dozen projects…

Fire At Saatchi Warehouse Destroys Valuable Art

A fire at the warehouse housing millions of pounds worth of Charles Saatchi’s art has destroyed much of it. “Modern art classics including Tracey Emin’s tent and Hell, by Jake and Dinos Chapman, may have perished in the blaze. Monday’s fire swept a London warehouse of leading art storers Momart. ‘Charles is absolutely devastated. We are waiting for Momart to give us final confirmation’.”

Radio Talkers Debate FCC Crackdown

More than 300 talk radio hosts gathered in New York over the weekend “for the annual New Media Seminar, sponsored by Talkers magazine, to debate how much the FCC’s new vigilance threatens their First Amendment rights. Michael Harrison, the conference organizer, argued that there is no clear line between the sexual innuendo of a Howard Stern and the political speech of a Rush Limbaugh. The legally reckless FCC crackdown poses a deadly threat to the entire radio broadcasting industry.”

A Bad Night For Levine And The Met

James Levine and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra finish up their Carnegie season on a down note. Why? “It’s futile to speculate on whether any of this reflects the effects of recent public discussion of long-standing concerns about unexplained tremors in Mr. Levine’s left arm and leg and whether tension was created in the orchestra by its members’ willingness to voice their doubts in The New York Times in an article on May 1. The only effect one can state with certainty is the huge outpouring of love and support from the audience every time Mr. Levine conducts. The only reason to raise the issue is that one wants to find a reason for the poor quality beyond simple fatigue at the end of a long season.”

Veggie Orchestra Cuts A Novel Sound

“The sound of 90 pounds of finely tuned cucumbers, leeks, potatoes, radishes, peppers and other vegetables entertained a German audience at a weekend concert by the Viennese Vegetable Orchestra. The nine-piece orchestra plays a range of original compositions on instruments constructed from vegetables — including a flute made from a carrot, a saxophone carved out of a cucumber and a pumpkin converted into a double bass.”

Leak On Scottish Opera Puts Minister On Defensive

Last week a Scottish government official leaked word to the press about a funding deal for Scottish Opera. “The deal would see the cash-strapped company given a final £5m bailout on condition that it overhauls its working practices, making chorus members part-time and relinquishing the running of its base in Glasgow, the Theatre Royal. The leak angered Scottish Opera officials and the proposal dismayed the arts community. The first minister was accused of having a hand in the story.” And now the leak itself has turned into a story…