“While Lockwood acknowledged [Stéphane] Grappelli as his hero, he by no means limited himself to the elder violinist’s ‘gypsy jazz’ milieu. Lockwood was already a rock star by the time he met Grappelli – a veteran of the progressive band Magma – and would proceed from his tutelage to a career heavily identified with jazz fusion. In addition, Lockwood was a composer of violin concertos as well as two operas, and created a musical with his first wife, singer Caroline Casadesus.”
Tag: 02.19.18
Ping-Pong At The New York Philharmonic (That’s Onstage, Not In The Lobby)
“Michael Landers and Ariel Hsing, table tennis champions in their early 20s, are featured as the Ping-Pong-playing soloists in Andy Akiho’s energetic concerto Ricochet, which will have its American premiere on Tuesday as part of the Philharmonic’s Lunar New Year gala. And yes, this is the first time a Ping-Pong table has been onstage at David Geffen Hall.”
Is It Time To Completely Rethink Ballet Class?
“Eventually, around the beginning of the 19th century, ballet class took the form and structure of what professional ballet dancers now do every day, beginning at the barre with pliés and ending in the center with allégro. … Yet today’s ballet dancers need to be much more versatile.” Emma Sandall talks with dancers, artistic directors, pedagogues, and researchers about what in ballet training could change for the better.
Comedian Sued By Ex-Husband For Defaming Him In Her Standup Act
“The lawsuit, described by a leading lawyer as a test case [for comedians], relates to a show by Louise Beamont (stage name Reay). Hard Mode was billed as a ‘provocative show [that] explores censorship and surveillance’, though one critic described it as being ‘at its core … about a very recent and raw heartbreak’. Thomas Reay is also suing his wife for breach of privacy and data protection, is seeking £30,000 in damages plus legal costs and wants an injunction to prevent her publishing statements about him, she said.”
The Opera House That’s Really Pulling In A Younger Audience Is The World’s Oldest Company
“The [Paris Opera], which celebrates its 350th birthday next year, is an unlikely contradiction to the worldwide trend of an aging audience at operas. … According to the company, it had 95,000 audience members younger than 28 last season – more than 10 percent of tickets sold and 30,000 more than just two years before.”
‘The First Large-Scale Exhibition By A Major Western Museum In Iran’
“In a masterstroke of cultural diplomacy, the Louvre will launch a major exhibition next month at the National Museum of Iran in Tehran, comprising 50 works [ of Greek, Roman, and Persian art] drawn from its collection and the Musée Eugène Delacroix in Paris.”
Top Posts From AJBlogs 02.19.18
The Ground as Partner, as Enemy
Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca at the Joyce Theater through February 25th. … read more
AJBlog: Dancebeat Published 2018-02-19
Jazz and beyond projects with 2018 NEA funding support
Given all the noise, the National Endowment for the Arts’ $25 mil for arts, literature and education announced Feb. 7 may have been overlooked. But these funds and the projects they support, nationwide, should be noted. … read more
AJBlog: Jazz Beyond Jazz Published 2018-02-19
Artistic Resistance in Our America
This weekend, the conductor and pianist Jeffrey Kahane played with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra … But it was his encore that was unforgettable. He bowed his head before starting, waited a moment, we anticipated. It took several notes to recognize with his slow start. … read more
AJBlog: The Bright Ride Published 2018-02-18
The Gershwin Moment
Not only do I believe in George Gershwin; I believe we are embarking on a Gershwin Moment. That is: modernism has departed, and so (sooner or later) will the Standard Narrative for American classical music that we learned from … read more
AJBlog: Unanswered Question Published 2018-02-18
Monday Recommendation(s): Three From ECM
Andy Sheppard, Romaria (ECM)
Nicolas Masson Quartet, Travelers (ECM)
Shinya Fukumori Trio, For 2 Akis (ECM) … read more
AJBlog: RiffTides Published 2018-02-19
If We Can Edit Your Genes Can We Trust Your Talent?
“The notion, then, that we could enhance someone’s “natural” talents by tinkering with their genes just before or just after fertilization is fraught with both practical and moral difficulties. Which gene(s) should we target? Can we be confident of the intended result many years later? Are the risks to a child outweighed by whatever competitive advantage in sport might result?”
Man Breaks Off And Steals Thumb Of 2,200-Year-Old Terra Cotta Warrior
The man, who was attending the museum’s after-hours ugly-sweater party on Dec. 21, entered the terra-cotta warrior exhibition room and used his cellphone’s flashlight to view the displays. Then, according to an affidavit by Jacob B. Archer, an F.B.I. special agent, the man put his arm around the statue and took a selfie. The authorities said the man, later identified as Michael Rohana, then went for a more permanent memento.
When J. Edgar Hoover Declared War On Black-Owned Bookstores
In a one-page directive, Hoover noted with alarm a recent “increase in the establishment of black extremist bookstores which represent propaganda outlets for revolutionary and hate publications and culture centers for extremism.” The director ordered each Bureau office to “locate and identify black extremist and/or African-type bookstores in its territory and open separate discreet investigations on each to determine if it is extremist in nature.”