“With his charming, easeful baritone and a crisp, efficient touch at the piano, Cole carved out a professional career of more than 65 years. … Because of a familial resemblance in vocal timbre, and a fondness for some of the same material, Cole endured a lifetime of reflexive comparisons to his most famous sibling — Nat ‘King’ Cole, about a dozen years his senior.” – WBGO (Newark, NJ)
Blog
When Driving Becomes Just Data
Driverless cars are catnip for the Silicon Valley monopolists. The average commute is dead space because their target is too busy driving to take in advertising or interact with any information-gathering devices. But what if the car becomes one of those devices? – New Statesman
How Can A Full Orchestra Place Itself Onstage Safely While COVID’s Still Here? Tokyo Scientists And Musicians Have Been Figuring That Out
Conductor Kazushi Ono and the players of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra spent two days at the Bunka Kaikan concert hall in mid-June with researchers from a university and medical school in the Japanese capital. They experimented with various seating schemes, measuring aerosol spray from the musicians’ faces and working out how to balance hearing each other with keeping each other safe. Ono writes about the results. – Maestro Arts
Under New Director, Ballet San Antonio Will Go Ahead With New Season
“The coronavirus had barely arrived in Germany just before Sofiane Sylve was hired Feb. 1 as the new artistic advisor for Ballet San Antonio. Her experiences there in May with strict coronavirus protocols at the Dresden Semperoper Ballett, where she is principal dancer and ballet master, gave her insight into how BSA will adapt its teaching and performances to keep dancers and audiences safe.” – Rivard Report (San Antonio)
Kirill Serebrennikov Gets Three-Year Suspended Sentence In Controversial Embezzlement Case
“[The decision is] a surprise legal victory in a fraud case his supporters say was politically motivated and a test of artistic freedom in Russia. Suspended sentences are widely seen as the lightest punishment in Russia’s legal system, which rarely issues not-guilty verdicts. The sentencing was met with applause by the hundreds of supporters gathered outside.” – The Moscow Times
World’s Two Biggest Movie Theater Chains Say Never Mind, We’re Not Reopening Just Yet
Cirque Du Soleil Files For Bankruptcy Protection, Lays Off 3,500 Employees
The global circus giant was struggling with an estimated $900 million in debt (much of it incurred by acquiring other companies) even before the pandemic hit and ended all ticket income. In exchange for restructuring and reducing that debt, three of the existing owners have agreed to recapitalize Cirque with $300 million, and the government of Quebec will provide a backup guarantee in order to keep the company’s worldwide headquarters in Montreal. – CBC
Museums And Art Galleries In England Can Open On July 4, But Most Of Them Won’t
The National Gallery and Royal Academy will accept visitors the following week, but the Tate won’t open its four locations until July 27; others are waiting until August or September, and many won’t yet commit to a specific date at all. Most venues are limiting admissions numbers and require booking tickets in advance; masks are “recommended.” – BBC
Bolsonaro Names A Soap Opera Star (The Second In A Row) Brazil’s Culture Secretary
“Mário Frias … is the fifth person to hold the role in the 17 months since president Jair Bolsonaro was elected and, like most of his predecessors, Frias has no political experience. … Last month, [Frias] participated in an anti-fascist protest in São Paulo and said that demonstrators were taking part in ‘organised crimes’ and should be considered terrorists.” – The Art Newspaper
2021 Sundance Festival Will Take Place In 21 Cities
On Monday, Tabitha Jackson, the festival’s director, unveiled her preliminary plans for the 2021 edition, a gathering expected to take place under social distancing restrictions and with a Covid-19 vaccine still unavailable. It will simultaneously be held in Park City and at least 20 other locales: Exploratory talks are underway with independent cinemas in California, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, New York, Michigan, Minnesota, Tennessee and Texas. Mexico City is also on the list. – The New York Times