Is it true that “nothing great ever happens in art unless there’s some big money somewhere on the scene?” That “there must be some kind of economic boom and not too much warring” and that “peace tends to equal commerce and commerce equals art?”
Tag: 02.02.04
Barenboim: Of Politics And Music
“The question of when an artist must engage in politics remains a painful, personal dilemma. It is an issue that preoccupies conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim, Israel’s most-celebrated musician, and one of its most vociferous critics.”
Times Flap – What’s Up For Book Review?
There’s been a big uproar about what might be instore for the New York Times Book Review, after an online column last week quoted top editors contemplating fundamental changes in the way the section reviews books. “If people in publishing see the New York Times doing something that is changing the way they handle books, the industry will respond — because they need to get the coverage.”
When Pixar Left Disney
So the wildly successful animation studio Pixar is leaving its distribution deal with Disney. But why announce it now, when there’s still two years left to go in the deal? Perhaps it has something to do with the power struggles going on around Disney chairman Michael Eisner?
West End Musicians Protest Virtual Orchestra
The British musicians’ union is protesting plans by producer Cameron Mackintosh to replace some musicians with a virtual orchestra. “Any fan of West End musicals will recognize that the orchestra is the beating heart of the production. Take the musicians away and you remove at a stroke one of the vital elements of the live theatre experience.”
FCC Chair Calls For Investigation Of Janet Jackson Superbowl Stunt
The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission called for an investigation of how Janet Jackson’s naked breast got on the Superbowl halftime broadcast Sunday. Jason Timberlake “blamed a ‘wardrobe malfunction,’ but Federal Communications Commission chief Michael Powell called it ‘a classless, crass and deplorable stunt’.”
Havel Comes To America
Playwright Vaclav Havel plans to move to the United States for several months this year, giving lectures and maybe resuming his writing career. “Havel, who was invited by the Library of Congress, plans to stay from April to July, mostly in Washington.”
Chinese Buy Back Treasures Looted In 1800s
In 1860, Western powers pillaged the Summer Palace outside Beijing and carted off some of its treasures. A hundred-and-forty-something years later, wealthy Chinese are buying back the bronzes looted from the palace. “Among the Chinese people, it’s a crowd-pleasing campaign. They still feel bitter resentment at the thuggery of the invading Western powers that exploited China’s weakness in the 19th century.”
Greek Museum Denies Loan Of El Greco
A Greek museum has refused a request from London’s National Gallery for the loan of an el Greco painting, because Greek officials are worried the work might be confiscated. A Swiss man has claimed ownership of he painting, which he says was stolen by the Nazis.
Now In Church – Monty Python At The Organ
Apparently some British church organists are having fun with their church service performances, spicing them up with tunes from decidedly secular fare – from Monty Python to pop tunes. “The tunes – reported to range from the EastEnders theme to Dambusters at a Remembrance Day service – are usually disguised and intended to amuse only those in the know.”