What is the architectural future of the 21st century city? A new show in Venice attempts to get a grip on a diverse and wide-ranging collection of design ideas, “painting a picture of emerging megacities in which poverty is as stunning a feature as density or scale.”
Tag: 09.14.06
Paris Finally Gets A Home Back For Classical Music
“Paris had become one of the last major western capitals without a world-class space devoted exclusively to symphony concerts and a permanent home for its orchestras. But the French government yesterday set out to reclaim the city’s classical music heritage, unveiling a €30m refurbishment of the Art Deco Salle Pleyel in Paris.”
Munch Masterpieces To Go Back Before Public
“Two recovered Edvard Munch paintings will go on display in Oslo before they are repaired, say museum officials. Masterpieces The Scream and Madonna were stolen by two armed men in a daring daylight raid in 2004. Police recovered the paintings in August, and Norway’s Munch Museum said both works had suffered slight damage. They will be put on display briefly over the next few weeks.”
Ravinia’s Record Summer
The Chicago Symphony’s Ravinia Festival had a record summer, with 640,000 attending. “We had an excellent year, and there were so many factors in expanding our audience. But the two key things were our strong pop lineup and the Full House initiative designed to build back CSO attendance in the pavilion.”
So, People Who Like Musicals Aren’t High?
What does your taste in music say about your taste in illegal drugs? Quite a lot, if you believe the researchers behind a new study at the UK’s University of Leicester. “Researchers were trying to find out what people’s taste in music revealed about their lifestyles. They discovered that fans of every style of music had taken drugs, with those who preferred DJ-based club music topping the list.” Other findings include that more than 25% of classical buffs smoke pot, that blues fans are the most likely to have a driving violation, and that fans of Broadway musicals are the least likely to have tried drugs.
Robertson Gets Extension In St. Louis
The St. Louis Symphony has extended the contract of popular music director David Robertson through 2010. The orchestra has enjoyed a resurgence since Robertson took over in 2005, and the new contract continues the trend of American orchestras locking up their maestros long-term, once it becomes clear that the fit is a good one.
UK To Allow Instruments Back On Board
In response to public outcry (and what it says is a diminished threat level,) the UK’s Department of Transport says it expects to relax restrictions on airline carry-on bags by next week. “The changes are likely to mean bulky items, including musical instruments, will be allowed as carry-on baggage.” Some restrictions, including bans on liquids and gels, are likely to remain in place for the time being.
Universal: YouTube, MySpace Are Stealing
Music giant Universal says YouTube and MySpace are enabling the theft of music by Universal artists. “We believe these new businesses are copyright infringers and owe us tens of millions of dollars. How we deal with these companies will be revealed shortly.”
Christie’s Widens Its Business Lead
“Last year, for the first time in decades, Christie’s claimed ascendancy over Sotheby’s. In the first half of 2006 Christie’s extended its lead, selling $2.13 billion, up 38% on 2005, while Sotheby’s turned over $1.96 billion. Since the 1960s, Sotheby’s has always claimed the lead, although the gap between the two narrowed through the 1990s.”
The Art Investment Fund And The Museum
“Art funds are a relatively new phenomenon, spawned by the financial markets’ constant search for new gizmos and by the booming art market, particularly the contemporary art market. About 12 funds have been created in the past three years, playing off the contrast between the surging art market and the flat stock market. Those that have stayed the course include The Fine Art Fund and The China Fund. Notwithstanding their financial marginality, art funds raise interesting dilemmas when their holdings are shown in public museums.”