Category: people

Acclaimed soprano Frances Yeend, a regular on New York stages in the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s has died aged 92. “Her last performance with the Met was in 1963, as Gutrune in Wagner’s Götterdämmerung… Most recently Ms. Yeend was an emeritus faculty member of West Virginia University in Morgantown.”

“Who is buried in Friedrich Schiller’s tomb? Several people, apparently, but none of them the famous poet and playwright, according to new research. After two years of painstaking DNA research, experts have determined that none of the remains billed as those of Schiller belong to the German writer.”

“Victor F. Christ-Janer, a member of a group of influential architects who built Modernist homes and offices in New Canaan, Conn., died on March 24 at the home he designed for himself there. He was 92.”

“France is making a fuss this week over Richard Serra, the 68-year-old American bantamweight who fashions elegant, gargantuan art out of steel… But the sheer scale of Mr. Serra’s work has always created difficulties, to which Paris has found two creative solutions…”

“Among the allegations: Drabinsky and Gottlieb directed staff to inflate earnings, income and assets, allowing the company to maintain its share price. Suppliers were induced to issue invoices with false dates. Accounting software was changed to foil auditors.”

Spacey had previously criticised the reality shows as a “13-week promotion for a musical.” Lloyd Webber is currently on the judging panel for I’d Do Anything which sees hopefuls compete for a role in the musical version of Oliver Twist.

Bocelli has admitted that at times he sold his talent short. He said: I regret being forced by circumstances to do things that were very profitable, but occupied a lot of time I could have dedicated to more artistically satisfying work.”

“Sir Salman Rushdie has confessed how he emerged a better person after being under a fatwa that saw him live a life in virtual seclusion for almost a decade.”

Alice Walker’s daughter has talked about what a terrible mother Walker was. “Walker is furious with Rebecca for making such sentiments public, and mother and daughter are estranged with little hope of reconciliation.”

“Much of the music of America’s past, its dances and marches and dirges, was played simultaneously. But Brant’s ingenious use of the location and carefully engineered counterpoint allowed the ear to accommodate the various musical strands. Music not meant to get along did.”