Defacing Goya Prints

“Two years ago, the Chapmans bought a complete set of what has become the most revered series of prints in existence, Goya’s Disasters of War. It is a first-rate, mint condition set of 80 etchings printed from the artist’s plates. In terms of print connoisseurship, in terms of art history, in any terms, this is a treasure – and they have vandalised it.”

Scottish Minister Announces A New National Theatre – Critics Laugh

The Scottish culture minister promises that the government will fund the long-awaited National Theatre in the next session of parliament. Ha! roar the government’s critics. That’s what the government promised at the last election. “Opposition politicians said the timing of the announcement, in the run up to the election, smacked of political opportunism rather than any real desire to invest in the arts. Critics also pointed out that the establishment of a national theatre was a key policy commitment of Labour’s first term in office. Its abandonment has been seen as one of the key failures of the Scottish Executive.”

SF Ballet Rehires Dancer

San Francisco Ballet has reversed a decision not to offer a contract to one of its dancers. On March 1, Joan Boada, received a notice that he would not be re-engaged along with three other dancers. “At the time, Tomasson said he took into account economic and artistic considerations. The ballet is projecting a $1 million deficit for next season.” Though the other three contracts were not renewed, Boada’s has been.

Alabama Symphony: Riding Out The Storm

Five years ago the Alabama Symphony was in bankruptcy. And with no executive director currently and a music director preparing to depart, ticket sales and endowment down, the orchestra is working hard to keep things going. “Yet in the face of reports nationwide of unprecedented deficits, curtailed seasons, canceled concerts, layoffs and bankruptcies, ASO is holding up quite nicely, thanks to loyal support from corporate sponsors and dedicated board members and musicians.”

The Cool New Magazine

A new magazine started showing up in bookstores last week. “In lieu of a title page, there is an unsigned list of the monthly magazine’s intentions, including a ‘focus on writers and books we like’ and a nod to ‘the concept of the Inherent Good’; and an editor says they also hope to include an interview with a philosopher in every issue. On the back cover, there is only a small hint at the cool orbit in which the Believer already spins.” It’s the new McSweeney’s endeavor…

Sony Will Lay Off 1000

Sony CEO Andy Lack, who succeeded Thomas D. Mottola about three months ago, “plans to eliminate 1,000 jobs in the United States and abroad as part of a broad cost-reduction plan that would try to cut expenses by more than $100 million a year, people close to the company said yesterday.”

Clear Channel Accused Of War-Mongering

American radio giant Clear Channel Communicarions “finds itself fending off a new set of accusations: that the company is using its considerable market power to drum up support for the war in Iraq, while muzzling musicians who oppose it.” Is Clear Channel keeping musicians with political opinions of which the company disapproves off its stations?

Nervous Tension

It had been 30 years since Roy McDonald had played as an extra in Ottawa’s National Arts Center Orchestra. So when he was asked to audition for an extra role in Symphony Nova Scotia, he was flattered…and a lot nervous. But “I was told the audition would be casual, which I incorrectly interpreted to mean friendly. I pictured me and the conductor in a brightly lit rehearsal hall – introductions would be made, smiles, a couple of handshakes, and then someone would say, ‘OK, Mr. McDonald, let’s hear you take a whack at the Beethoven.’ I had also imagined I would steadfastly avoid falling into the trap of getting nervous: I had nothing to lose.” Boy was he wrong.

Examining The Poetics Of Protest

On March 5, Poets Against The War presented Congress with 13,000 poems protesting the drive to war on Iraq. “To say that this was an unprecedented publishing event is putting it mildly. It may have been the beginning of a sea change—not only in the way that poems are published and circulated, but in the way that they are thought of in terms of their cultural role. The presentation capped off the most visible organized poetic protest against war with Iraq.”