A controversial exhibit at Stockholm’s Museum of National Antiquities that sparked a row last month when the Israeli ambassador to Sweden briefly shut it down, has been taken down from the show. The installation, entitled ‘Snow White and the Madness of Truth’, “featured a small ship carrying a picture of Islamic Jihad bomber Hanadi Jaradat sailing in a rectangular pool filled with blood-colored water.”
Tag: 02.09.04
GarageBand – Clogging The Internet With Amateur Music
Since Apple released GarageBand, its digital music creation application, the internet has become jammed with amateur musicians posting their musical creations. “The amount of creative energy that GarageBand is creating is staggering. Apple has created a monster…. As a pro musician/producer, I love this app. It puts the fun back into creating. I’m amazed.”
Harry In Ancient Greek
The first Harry Potter book has been translated into ancient Greek. “Classics teacher Andrew Wilson, from Bedford, says it is the longest text to have been translated into the ancient language in 1,500 years.”
Florez – The Tenor As Rock Star
Peter G. Davis is ready to declare 31-year-old tenor Juan Diego Flórez a star, after his New York debut. “There has been no shortage of agile tenors recently to handle the florid bel canto repertory, but none I’ve encountered offers this kind of total package. Flórez’s accurate articulation of coloratura and the sheer fizz of his passagework, without loss of tonal quality or definition, take the breath away.”
Schjeldahl: Altering Barnes Would Be “Aesthetic Crime”
Peter Schjeldahl pays his first-ever visit to the Barnes Collection and weighs in on discussions now determining its fate. “Altering so much as a molecule of one of the greatest art installations I have ever seen would be an aesthetic crime. It would also give hosts of my fellow art lovers access to treasures that they might otherwise never see. And it’s not as if aesthetic crimes don’t happen all the time. Life goes on. But something extraordinary would be lost in the event.”
Seattle Rakes In The Music Dollars
A new study measures the economic impact of Seattle’s music business. Figures show that the music business generates “more than $650 million in annual revenue and 8,700 jobs for the local economy, according to an economic impact study released last night by Mayor Greg Nickels. When combined with revenue generated by businesses that support the core music industry, the figure tops $1.3 billion.”
UK Museums About To Lose Tax Loophole
“In the last two years museums, encouraged by the Association of Independent Museums, and some independent consultants, realised they could take advantage of a ‘gift aid’ tax concession. This allows charities to reclaim tax on donations from UK taxpayers. The loophole for museums worked by visitors agreeing to make a ‘donation’ equal to the admission fee, and in return they were nominally admitted free.” But That’s soon to go away…
Beyonce, Hiphop And Yo-Yo Ma At the Grammys…
Beyonce and Hiphop rule at the 47th Grammy Awards. “For best classical album, two recordings of Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 were competing. The version conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas won over Mr. Boulez’s, though the Boulez album took the honor for best orchestral performance. Winning three awards was Yo-Yo Ma’s Obrigado Brazil.”
If We Bribe You Will You Buy A Book?
Can Australian readers be bribed into buying books? “Books Alive began as the Government’s antidote to the GST’s bite into book industry revenues. From July 31 to August 15, backed by a $1.85 million advertising campaign, booksellers hope to tempt customers with $5 editions of six popular books, available with the purchase of another book.”