The London of the future will have to support a much higher population density than the one- and two-story rowhouses currently house. Some architects take a shot at showing how it might be. – The Times (UK)
Tag: 02.01.00
THE REAL ARTIST
“For a painter whose name we’re not even sure of, who aggressively discouraged imitators, whose stormy, rumbustious life was curtailed by an early death, partly as a result of his own violent, impetuous nature, Caravaggio occupies an extraordinarily important role in the history of European painting. It’s hard to imagine Rembrandt’s work without him, for example, and Rubens and Velasquez were among an army of admirers He was an arrogant, violent brawler and a sexual outlaw as well as an artistic and social revolutionary who changed our perception of space.” Two new books shed new light on one of art’s most important yet unknown characters. – Irish Times
NOT TO WORRY, NOT TO WORRY
Chief executive of Covent Garden downplays crisis over his building and says problems are to be expected of any new performance hall; that the Opera House will work magnificently. Further, ticket sales are on target to fill 97 percent of the house, and he’s confident in the company’s choice of repertoire. – Financial Times
GENERAL CULTURAL COLLAPSE
South Africa’s National Symphony Orchestra plays its final concert. The rest of the country’s orchestras are teetering and may follow the National out of business within a month or two. Critics wonder if this signals the general collapse of the country’s arts institutions. – South Africa Daily Mail and Telegraph
- A changing era and a changing culture. – New York Times 02/01/00
ONE HIT WONDERS:
Pondering the mysteries of the “standard repertoire.” Is it a matter of quality? Why do good composers like Dukas or Orff or Mussorgsky have one of two pieces that are performed but nothing else? – Philadelphia Inquirer
CYBERORCH
The Dallas Symphony will hit the web playing. Orchestra to webcast performances in $10 million web initiative. – Dallas Morning News
ONCE UPON A TIME
Okay, so Tom Wolfe changed journalism. Nonetheless, when he starts lecturing about art, he’s tiresome. – Salon
A GOOD YEAR FOR BOOKS
Preliminary sales figures suggest 1999 was an excellent year for the book business, with sales increases registered by most publishing houses. – Publishers Weekly
THE END OF VIDEO STORES
Movie piracy is rampant on the web. And not just old stuff, but movies that are currently in theaters. Get yourself some broadband and the quality rivals today’s VCR. For free. Tick, tick, tick… – CBC 02/01/00
FILM SET IN INDIA ATTACKED —
— and destroyed by protesters. Director Deepa Mehta, a leader of India’s new wave of filmmakers was trying to film in Varanasi. Hindu nationalists destroyed the set because they said it was disrespectful to their religion. – BBC 02/01/00