Washington DC is in the midst of a theatre building boom. “All over town, all over the region, theaters are hiring architects and raising millions and embarking on ambitious plans to move to spanking new homes or enlarge and refurbish existing ones. It’s Act 1 in a period of monumental physical change for Washington theater, a building boom that is going to affect every major company – and even some less-than-major ones – in and around the city. By the time the boom is over, sometime around the end of the decade, the area’s premier theaters will all have roomier accommodations and new looks.”
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Satellite Radio Takes Hold
After a somewhat rocky start, satellite radio has taken off in the US. “Over the holidays, an unprecedented number of subscribers signed with XM and Sirius, the Coke and Pepsi of orbital radio, for programming that plays through special car or indoor receivers and can be heard coast-to-coast. The services have entered into partnerships with NASCAR, NPR, Fox, Playboy and others to create content that has regular broadcasters feeling earthbound. It is a moment like the arrival of cable television, a novelty 30 years ago, and now a drain on traditional broadcasters’ audience and ad revenue.”
Here’s $50 Million And $15 Million More
After recently giving the Philadelphia Orchestra $50 million for its endowment, Leonore Annenberg comes through with another $15 million for an endowment for the Academy of Music concert hall, owned by the orchestra. “The gift from the Annenberg Foundation is for the Academy’s endowment, to be placed there in perpetuity, generating income each year for capital improvements to the 147-year-old landmark.”
Balanchine’s Enduring Ubiquity
George Balanchine revolutionized the vocabulary of dance. “In short, he made ballet American, and then watched as American ballet became the official dance language of the Western world. The twist is, Balanchine and his work both became so famous they faded from view. By the time he died in 1983, his streamlined style had become so pervasive worldwide that we don’t even recognize it as his style anymore: It’s just “ballet.” On the 100th anniversary of his birth, the choreographer remains an enticing enigma.”
A Link Between Religion And Success
A new Harvard study suggests that economic success around the world is linked to whether or not you believe in a religion. “Our central perspective is that religion affects economic outcomes mainly by fostering religious beliefs that influence individual traits such as honesty, work ethic, thrift and openness to strangers. For example, beliefs in heaven and hell might affect those traits by creating perceived rewards and punishments that relate to `good’ and `bad’ lifetime behavior.”
On Conductors – In Praise Of Age
Conventional wisdom says that orchestras must find energetic young conductors to revitalize the art form. But as a series of recent performances in New York demonstrate, some of the best, most assured performances come from the most well-established conductors…
BBC Turmoil Over Report – Many BBCers May Quit
“Some of the BBC’s biggest names are considering quitting in protest at the attitude of its acting chairman and the greatest-ever threat to their journalistic independence. The corporation was on the brink of civil war last night as union leaders warned that Greg Dyke’s resignation as director-general had split the staff from the governors.”
Getting It Right At Ground Zero (One That Works)
There’s at least one Ground Zero project that appears as though it will be done right – the new PATH train terminal. “Here is how it happened: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, acting on its own, invited qualified professionals to apply for the job and selected Mr. Calatrava, the presiding master builder of bridges, airports and rail stations. No jury. No pandering to populism. No public performances. Alternate proposals were not displayed and debated. The result was presented, and the reaction has been appropriately ecstatic.”
Taking A Byte Out Of Live (Performance)
Debates have raged for years about whether it’s okay for performers to lip-synch while performing live. “But now, after decades of derision and outrage, audiences are warming up to the fakery.” Indeed, some fan “not only don’t mind a little gimmickry — they prefer it. They may have no choice: live pop performances rely on an ever-more-intricate mix of live music, prerecorded sound and high-tech tricks, including new programs that produce the same flawless sound as a lip-synched performance, even if the person singing is jumping around, hanging upside-down or just plain out of tune.”
Smithsonian Reorganizes Its Art Museums
For the first time, the Smithsonian has put control of its five art museums under the control of one person. The new director is Ned Rifkin, director of the Hirshhorn Museum. “The Smithsonian’s art museums have previously been overseen by two under-secretaries, and the science museums by a third. Now, for the first time in its 168-year history, the Smithsonian’s vast art collections, research, public and outreach programmes have been brought together under one manager, and art has gained a measure of parity with science and history, the Smithsonian’s traditional areas of focus.”