It’s not just the ever-growing Fringe: the International, Film, and Book Festivals are expanding, too. But yes, the Fringe is the biggest issue: it regularly sets attendance records and is now Scotland’s most lucrative event. But as it continues to surge, the side-product problems are causing worry among residents, campaigners, and the government: “It’s clearly not sustainable, but on several levels. The question that everyone is asking is: is growth the only metric of success you have?” – The Herald (Scotland)
Tag: 02.24.19
The Leviathan Of Piano Concertos
“At over seventy minutes, [Busoni’s Piano Concerto of 1904] may be the longest concerto ever written for any instrument. It may also be the most challenging. It demands nearly superhuman stamina and virtuosity of its soloist, who plays almost continuously throughout and whose part is fiendishly difficult.” – New York Review of Books
“Workism” – The Idea That Work Defines Us (And It’s Making Us Miserable)
The economists of the early 20th century did not foresee that work might evolve from a means of material production to a means of identity production. They failed to anticipate that, for the poor and middle class, work would remain a necessity; but for the college-educated elite, it would morph into a kind of religion, promising identity, transcendence, and community. Call it workism. – The Atlantic
Soprano Hilde Zadek, Postwar Star Of Vienna State Opera, Dead At 101
“Throughout her career, Ms. Zadek was praised by critics for her dark-hued voice, dramatic intensity and fine musicality. Before retiring from the stage in 1971, she also sang at the Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden and other major houses. But her primary work was in Vienna. There, in the city she feared would revile her [as a Jew], she sang more than 700 performances in dozens of roles; taught for years at the Vienna Music Academy; [and] presided over the International Hilde Zadek Voice Competition, a prestigious contest for young singers.” – The New York Times
Sotheby’s Plans An Enormous Expansion
The expansion project—which will be done by New York-based architect Shohei Shigematsu, a partner in the Rem Koolhaas-founded firm OMA—will drastically grow the auction house’s gallery footprint. It will expand the gallery space to more than 90,000 square feet, from a current total of 67,000 square feet—a growth equivalent to more than half an acre. A total of 40 galleries of various sizes will span four transformed floors. – Artnet
Dvorak, Harry Burleigh, and Cultural Appropriation — a “PostClassical” Podcast
Could Harry Burleigh — Antonin Dvorak’s African-American assistant — be considered an Uncle Tom? These days, the question comes up whenever Burleigh comes up: it’s a symptom of the times. And it is addressed head-on over the course of the most recent PostClassical Ensemble WWFM podcast. – Joe Horowitz
Weekend Extra: A Lester Young Story
Long ago, Billie Holiday dubbed Lester Young the President of The Tenor Saxophone. The title long since morphed into “Prez.” – Doug Ramsey
Mary Boone Galleries Will Close In April Before Boone Goes To Jail
The final exhibitions at the galleries—Julia Wachtel at her Chelsea location and Derrick Adams in her 5th Avenue Midtown space—will open in March and close 27 April as planned. Boone has been ordered to surrender herself to authorities by or before 15 May. – The Art Newspaper
Damaged NY Pier Forces Art Show To Relocate
The annual Armory show decided to move a show off the pier. “Following a routine inspection, we discovered structural issues at Pier 92, Out of an abundance of caution, we have made the decision to relocate any activity to Pier 90 while we conduct further analysis at the site.” – The New York Times
Leader of Orange County’s Performing Arts Center Abruptly Leaves Under Mysterious Circumstances
A look at Terry Dwyer’s nearly 13-year tenure at the Segerstrom Center offers no obvious rationale for such a hasty and undignified goodbye. By many measures, he was the most effective leader in the institution’s 33-year history. – Voice of Orange County