Category: people

Serkin, who “was descended from storied musical lineages on both sides of his family,” seemed at an early age destined to follow their path. But he found the expectation a burden, and went on a new path. “Like many who came of age in the 1960s, he questioned the establishment, both in society at large and within classical music. He resisted a traditional career trajectory and at 21 stopped performing, going for months without even playing the piano.” When he returned, it was as a performer who could mix the old and the new. “He played almost all the piano works of Schoenberg, Stravinsky and Wolpe. He also introduced dozens of pieces, including major works and concertos, written for him by composers like Toru Takemitsu, Charles Wuorinen and, especially, his childhood friend Peter Lieberson.” – The New York Times

All 56 of her books were bestsellers, according to her publisher. “In her memoir, Kitchen Privileges (2002), Ms. Higgins Clark described herself in her younger years as ‘aching, yearning, burning’ to write, certain that she would succeed but needing guidance. She eventually found it in a writing class at New York University. The professor suggested that his students seize upon a situation that they had experienced or read about and begin by asking the questions ‘Suppose …?’ and ‘What if …?'” – The New York Times

He was the only executive to creatively run CBS, ABC and NBC. Silverman’s knack for identifying hit shows in the making and programming them into memorable primetime nights led Time magazine to crown him “The Man with the Golden Gut” in 1977. – Deadline

“Movies and TV can’t capture what’s special about Amy. She’s not an actress, exactly, or a comedian, but more like someone who speaks in tongues. As opposed to myself, and just about everyone I’ve ever known, she lives completely in the moment. ‘What was that funny thing you said yesterday when we saw that old blind woman get mowed down by a skateboarder?’ I’ll ask. And she’ll have no memory of it. When Amy gets going, it’s like she’s possessed.” – Elle

A specialist in operatic villains, he only began performing in his 30s and developed a major-house career in his 40s. Even so, he had a six-decade career, switching as he aged from major to character and comprimario roles, and he was on stage for his 95th birthday. – The New York Times

She and her late husband, Irving Ravetch, wrote 17 feature films together, among them The Long, Hot Summer, The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, The Sound and the Fury, Conrack, and two for which they earned Oscar nominations, Hud and Norma Rae. – The Hollywood Reporter

“[He was] an implacable enemy of anyone who wanted to study the legendary Irish writer for almost any reason. … Though his ability to thwart scholars and Bloomsday fans diminished after 2012, when the copyright on most of Joyce’s work lapsed, Stephen Joyce still had the dubious distinction of being the most well-known of a funny list of characters: extremely obstinate literary executors.” – The Outline

Never seen wearing any color but blue and never drinking water when champagne was available, the impresario born Michel Catty introduced the modern drag show to France in the 1950s with the tiny cabaret Chez Michou, where he and his “Michettes” became a Parisian institution. – Yahoo! (AFP)

He’s not a big fan of artistic cowardice. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s all about the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. End of. To get to that, you have to go in close, uncover what’s been hidden or covered over. Obviously, the easy thing is not to go there, but I have a need to go there.” – The Guardian (UK)

Lion was the main producer for Hairspray and Jelly’s Last Jam, and she also played a major role in bringing Angels in America to Broadway. The artists she worked with remember how warm and how invested she was in their shows, and how absolutely committed. “She stuck with shows she believed in despite the considerable risk of losing money, as most Broadway productions do. She often put up her West Side apartment as collateral in support of a project.” – The New York Times