Tim Page: “To those who knew only Mr. Bernheimer’s prose, it came as a surprise to learn that he was a gentle, gracious and tender man to his colleagues. He supported the early careers of many young critics who disagreed entirely with him, simply because he believed in their talents.” – Washington Post
Category: people
A Longtime Political Artist Turns To Business To Drive Social Change
Tom Greyeyes’ art career started in a jail cell after an activist installation he created was considered vandalism by the Flagstaff police. Now the artist, who has had residencies and big gallery shows, and who has been featured on NPR, has pivoted a bit (though art and social justice are still involved): He is starting a graphic design business “that he hopes will help boost the economy on the reservation, provide jobs and give other Native American artists experience — and a steady income — creating logos and websites across the region.” – Arizona Daily Star
Music Critic, Pulitzer Prize-Winner Martin Bernheimer Has Died At 83
Bernheimer, who was the music critic for the LA Times for more than 30 years, “was renowned internationally for the strong opinions he voiced in his reviews combined with a singular wit and personality that often provoked strong responses from his readers, both positive and negative.” – Los Angeles Times
José José, Mexico’s Prince Of Song, Has Died At 71
His career spanned four decades and millions of albums, and the singer was nominated for six Grammys, though he never won. (The Los Angeles Times has collected five of the best of José’s performances for those who don’t know El Principe de la Canción.) – Variety
Myron Bloom, French Horn Player Who Helped Mold The Cleveland Orchestra, Has Died At 93
Bloom “was horn royalty. As Szell’s principal horn in Cleveland for more than two decades, he appeared on many of the orchestra’s celebrated recordings, and was the soloist in its classic account of the Horn Concerto No. 1 by Richard Strauss. He later became principal horn of the Orchestre de Paris under the conductor Daniel Barenboim, and an influential teacher.” – The New York Times
Seth Pinsky Will Be 92nd Street Y’s New Leader
Mr. Pinsky, 48, was appointed by Mayor Bloomberg as president of the city’s Economic Development Corporation just before the height of the 2008 financial crisis. In that role, he negotiated on behalf of the mayor for the new Yankee Stadium and the World Trade Center; as for the arts, he worked on the deal to sell city property to the Whitney Museum for its second location and on the renovation of the Kings Theater in Brooklyn from a vacant and deteriorating movie theater to a multipurpose arts center. – The New York Times
After More Than 30 Years, Eddie Murphy Is Doing Stand-Up Comedy Again
“Over the years, Murphy has teased fans with talk of a comeback, but this time, inspired by [his new movie, Dolemite Is My Name], he appears to mean it. He signed a deal with Netflix to put out a new special next year, and has a theater tour lined up, which means he could be in clubs working out jokes soon.” Jason Zinoman meets the star to talk about the reasons for his return and how he is and isn’t different from the megastar Murphy of the ’80s and ’90s. – The New York Times
Pianist Paul Badura-Skoda, 91
Until his death, Badura-Skoda had been among the last pupils of Edwin Fischer still performing. He was much respected, having played under the baton of Fischer’s friend and colleague Wilhelm Furtwängler, as well as under Herbert von Karajan, Hans Knappertsbusch, Hermann Scherchen (who conducts Beethoven’s five concertos included in the ‘Edition’) and George Szell. – Gramophone
Stanley M. Freehling, One Of Chicago’s Greatest Arts Philanthropists, Dead At 95
“What was the crowning achievement of Stanley M. Freehling, the extraordinary philanthropist, fund-raiser and all-around arts agitator for the State of Illinois? Was it the saving of the Goodman Theatre? The creation of Ravinia, as Chicagoans now understand it to be? The salvation of the ailing Arts Club? Creating a key foundation for the world-class contemporary art collection at the Art Institute of Chicago? Or was it his offering up arts education for arts-averse Illinois politicians? It all depends on who you ask.” – Chicago Tribune
Al Alvarez, Poet And Author, Dead At 90
“[He] championed the work of Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, wrote a provocative study of suicide and explored his own risky pastimes in [bestselling] books about rock climbing and professional poker.” – The Washington Post