One of the last of the giants who created the American modern dance movement in the mid-20th century, Arpino co-founded the Joffrey Ballet, served as its primary choreographer for three decades, and shepherded the company through several financial crises and an ultimately successful move from New York to Chicago.
Author: Matthew Westphal
William Christie To Revive Legendary Production Of Atys
The lavish 1987 staging of Lully’s tragédie lyrique by Christie and director Jean-Marie Villégier at the Paris Opera made history, eventually appearing on three continents and proving that French Baroque opera could be popular enough to attract ticket scalpers. Now Christie has announced that, thanks to the support of an unnamed American patron, the production will be revived in 2010 at Paris’s Opéra-Comique. (No word yet of a U.S. run.)
Raphael Madonna Gets The Sistine Chapel Treatment
Raphael’s Madonna of the Goldfinch returns to display in Florence next month after a decade-long restoration process – and the transformation is every bit as striking as the results of cleaning Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes. (Article includes before-and-after photos.)
Christian Science Monitor Gives Up On Print
“After a century of continuous publication, The Christian Science Monitor will abandon its weekday print edition and appear online only, its publisher announced Tuesday. The cost-cutting measure makes The Monitor the first national newspaper to largely give up on print.”
The Question At The Heart Of Parsifal, Spamalot And Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade
Just what exactly is the Holy Grail anyway? Does it really exist? Did it ever? The Independent explains it all for you.
Martha Graham Company To Debut In Beijing
The company gives its first performances in China next month at the National Center for the Performing Arts (a/k/a “The Egg”). The repertoire ranges from such classics as Errand Into the Maze, Night Journey and Appalachian Spring to Graham’s last work, Maple Leaf Rag.
David McVicar Loathes Traviata, Directs It Anyway
“‘I could never do such a coarse, clumsy, reduction of this woman’ [he said in 2003]. Five years later, though, the curtain is about to rise on McVicar’s new production with Scottish Opera, his first outing with one of opera’s favourite classics. Has he changed his mind? Or changed La Traviata?”
Recession Or No, We Can’t Live Without Our Cable
“‘Video and broadband are no more discretionary for most families than running water or electricity,’ said Berstein Research analyst Craig Moffett, in a note to investors. One indicator that Americans aren’t cutting cable service just yet: High-definition, flat-panel displays are still selling quite well, and are supposed to sell well through the holiday season.”
Red-State Teens And Forbidden Fruit
“The vast majority of white evangelical adolescents – seventy-four per cent – say that they believe in abstaining from sex before marriage. (Only half of mainline Protestants, and a quarter of Jews, say that they believe in abstinence.) … [But] evangelical teen-agers are more sexually active than Mormons, mainline Protestants, and Jews.” They’re less likely to use contraception as well. Why?
It Ain’t The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas
The creators of Rue Magique say that “ours is the first musical to present the reality of prostitution for women and children.” Children, indeed: the leading character has brought her 13-year-old daughter into the business with her. But don’t expect too much reality. The author says, “I’ve had to keep in mind the capacities of the theatregoing audience. There are people who even find Rent unpalatable.”