Tag: 01.19.04

The Royal Ballet’s Monica Mason – A Love Story

It’s been 15 months since Monica Mason took over as head of London’s Royal Ballet after Ross Stretton was fired after only a year on the job. “What is remarkable is that Mason’s honeymoon period seems still to be continuing. People at Covent Garden speak of her with respect, often love. This is the way she talks about the company – as something greater than herself that she wishes to serve. And yet she is a forceful presence: a woman of purpose.”

Report: Pope Keeps Thumbs Horizontal Over Gibson Movie

The Vatican officially denies reports that the Pope endorses Mel Gibson’s new movie. However, “one prominent Roman Catholic official close to the Vatican, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said he had reason to believe that the pope probably did make the remark about the film. ‘But I think there’s some bad feeling at the Vatican that the comment was used the way it was. It’s all a little soap-operatic’.”

The CBC’s Hippest Project

“Don’t be alarmed if you hadn’t previously heard of CBC Radio 3. Most CBC executives themselves don’t even understand the on-line revolution happening right under their noses. CBC Radio 3 is more than just music. ‘We’re trying to develop new forms of storytelling and develop a web presence that incorporates audio, video and text. No media company in North America is doing anything like this’.”

The Danes Come To America

The director of the Royal Danish Ballet has a mission leading up to the 200th birthday celebrations of August Bournonville in 2005: “to make ballets vivid to the contemporary viewer who may not instinctively find them accessible and appealing.” The company is visiting America, and Tobi Tobias reports that progress is well along towards that goal…

Modern Media Sending Us To Hell?…Well…

“The modern media, at least according to the modern media, is our cultural Gin Alley — a virtual world that caters to our basest instincts, fuels a mass addiction to sex and violence, and blinds us to the big political and social picture. Before we conclude that we’re all going to hell in a cleverly marketed handbasket, though, it’s worth putting this cultural lament in historical perspective.”

Comics Comeback

“At the culmination of the so- called golden age of comics in the 1950s, an estimated 250 million to 300 million comic books sold annually, transforming this country’s popular culture and becoming one of its most important exports. Even if unit sales of new comic books are down to about a third of that level, they’re still averaging about $200 million in sales each year. Combined with classic or back-issue comics and graphic novels, total sales may be more than $700 million a year. Beyond the financial throw-weight of the industry, comics have as much or more impact on American popular culture than ever.”

Tenor Walks Across England Singing

American tenor David Pisaro is walking 200 miles across England. “He will stop each evening to perform Franz Schubert’s Die Winterreise in 13 venues along the route including village halls, shops and churches with pianist Quentin Thomas. The song cycle traces the physical and emotional journey of a rejected lover travelling away from home and Mr Pisaro says he hopes his trip will bring the music to life.”

Israel/Sweden Harden Stands Over Attacked Artwork

The row between Sweden and Israel over the Israeli ambassador’s attack on artwork in Stockholm is escalating. “The artistic director of the museum, which is keeping the work on display, has reportedly been attacked. Artist Dror Feiler, who is also said to have been threatened, said the envoy’s actions made reconciliation harder. He told the BBC World Service that his work was “absolutely not” a glorification of suicide bombers as had been claimed and criticised Zvi Mazel for a “stupid act”.