“The J. Paul Getty Museum, aiming to deepen its collection of works by Peter Paul Rubens in his prime, has made its first major acquisition since the January arrival of Michael Brand as director. The work, ‘The Calydonian Boar Hunt,’ was painted on an oak panel, 23 1/4 by 35 5/8 inches, apparently in 1611 or 1612… Museum officials, who said they bought the work in late April from a London dealer, declined to disclose the price. But a smaller Rubens oil sketch of the same subject — roughly 10-by-20 inches, again on a wood panel — sold for $5.4 million at Christie’s London on Dec. 8.”
Tag: 05.08.06
Will Four Orchestras Become One?
A controversial proposal to merge four orchestras in Osaka, Japan, has the country’s musicians buzzing. The merger idea was suggested by the head of the region’s economic authority as a way to overcome dwindling government subsidies and rising musician costs. But some say that the proposal is misguided, and even suggest that Osaka could actually support more orchestras than it already has, given proper management and artistic leadership.
England’s ‘Other’ Arts Channel Looks To Become Its Flagship
For decades, the BBC has ruled the roost when it comes to arts programming in Great Britain. But competition looms in the form of a Rupert Murdoch-owned satellite channel called ArtsWorld, and this month, the channel will begin broadcasting in Hi-Definition, a change which has some predicting a new (and popular) wave of arts programs with unrivaled sound quality.
Berlin Phil’s Youth Movement
The Berlin Philharmonic under Sir Simon Rattle is still frequently referred to as the world’s greatest orchestra, and few other ensembles could even think of challenging the assertion. But what is often underplayed is not how good the Berlin is, but how young its musicians have become. “Nearly half the 122 members are under 40, including 13 20-somethings. Seventy-seven were born after Jan. 1, 1960, and the average age is 45. That is about five years younger than during the Karajan period.”
Apple vs. Apple: The Rematch
A court has ruled that Apple Computer did not violate a 1991 trademark agreement with The Beatles’ old Apple Corps recording label when it established the popular iTunes music download service. Apple Corps, which has clashed frequently with the computer company over copyright, claimed that a violation had occurred when Apple Computer moved into the music business. Lawyers for the computer giant insisted that iTunes is “primarily a data transmission service and permitted by the agreement,” and London’s High Court agreed.
Broadway Cleaning Up With High-End Tickets
“So far this season, Broadway attendance is up 4 percent from the same period last year. Total box-office receipts for the season are up 12 percent. You will notice a discrepancy here… There are several reasons of course, like a few hit musicals and a movie star or two on exhibition. But a large part of the answer can be attributed to one factor: premium tickets.”