Directors of 18 major museums from around the world have signed a declaration that their institutions act as “universal museums” for the good of the world, and therefore they will not hand back ancient artifacts to their countries of origin. “The universal admiration for ancient civilisations would not be so deeply established today were it not for the influence exercised by the artefacts of these cultures, widely available to an international public in major museums.”
Tag: 12.09.02
Canada’s New “Turner” Prize?
The new $50,000 prize for a young Canadian contemporary artist is meant to draw attention. “The Sobey Art Award is the new Turner Prize, the Giller of the visual art world. With only one award behind it so far, it’s not as prestigious as either yet, but give it time. It’s rich, it’s backed by a bona fide collector of fine Canadian art and it’s truly national in scope.”
Chicago Buildings In Peril
Chicago – land of historically-significant skyscrapers – has a plan to preserve important buildings. Only one problem – the department that’s supposed to protect the buildings is so laughably understaffed, the system is unworkable. That’s how embarrassing mistakes are made…
More On Baz’s Boheme
“Given his bad-boy reputation and hipness quotient, one might expect Baz Luhrmann’s late 1950s-set “La Boheme” to, in effect, go nuts. It doesn’t. Based on his 1990 Australian Opera production, it’s a surprisingly straightforward, generously entertaining, ravishingly designed accomplishment. Few will find it truly moving.”
All In The Casting
“To assist with the overhaul, Baz casts luscious twentysomethings in the four romantic leads, bringing cheer to those of us who feel that attractive people have always been an oppressed and ignored minority in the performing arts.”
Somewhere Between Pop And…
“Luhrmann maintains his exotic persona by keeping the Italian original and using slangy, conversational, occasionally silly hep-cat-man supertitles, undertitles and side titles with contrasting type fonts – including script for romantic arias and even a “KA-POW” in the struggling-artist horseplay – as part of the multitasking collage sensibility. This can be amusing. It can also be self-conscious.”
A Treat As A Musical
“The total result is a very special and very appealing style somewhere between romance and chic, that actually is new on Broadway.”
Rejoicing In Live Theatre
“Whether you queue up for the cheap seats or splurge on the more expensive ones, Luhrmann’s paean to love and death is worth experiencing at least once.”
Toronto Symphony To Pick Oundjian?
Top candidate to take over as music director of the Toronto Symphony is former Tokyo String Quartet violinist Peter Oundjian. Oundjian retired from playing the violin in the mid-90s after an injury and made his conducting debut in summer 1995, replacing an ailing André Previn at the Caramoor festival. The TSO has been without a music director since June 2001.
Have Muppets, Will Sell
The Muppet empire has been chopped into pieces since Muppet creator Jim Henson died in 1990. The company was sold soon after Henson’s death, and some of the characters were resold off to Sesame Street last year. The rest of the troupe has been on the market for the past year. Is Miss Piggy enough of an enduring character to endure?