— is the highlight of the city’s social calendar. This year’s version was controversial before it even started, with much protest about the latest Austrian politics. And then…at the ball itself, an actor made up to be Hitler, jumped out of a Rolls, “marched straight into the opera house, giving Hitler’s salute and nodding to astonished guests in white tie, tails and ball gowns.” As the actor – who claimed he was making an anti-Haider protest – was dragged away by security staff, he shouted “I’m back. I’m here to greet my people”. – London Evening Standard
Tag: 03.03.00
BAZILLIONAIRE TEACHERS
There’s a new class of college professor, recently made wealthy by their internet ventures. And yet, while they may dress better and take more leaves, their multi-millions are no reason to quit, they say. – Chronicle of Higher Education
“MEAT PORTERS”
Ever since pointe shoes, male dancers have had little more to do than…well, move their more comely partners around the stage. But there are signs that choreographers are paying more attention to men these days. “Men who dance solo, it seems, are determined to use their bodies to express the kind of cogent thoughts on gender, sexuality, relationships, and the politics of society that have, in the wake of established feminism, been seen as another province where women take the lead, vocally and in terms of artistic creation.” – Glasgow Herald
EMPOWERING THE ARTS
Former cultural officers in a Zimbabwean province have banded together to found a Performing Arts Empowerment Foundation, aimed at promoting the arts while improving the welfare of artists in the province. The group will set up a fund, contract with medical services and implement a retirement scheme. “We intend to empower artists, most of whom did not own houses and left their families in abject poverty when they died.” – Zimbabwe Mirror
HUBBARD STREET DANCE –
– gets new artistic director. Dancer/choreographer James Vincent has performed with Nederlands Dans Theatre and is is presently director of corporate entertainment and special events for Disneyland Paris. – Chicago Tribune
ANOTHER ORCHESTRA CLOSES
On the heels of South Africa’s National Symphony Orchestra going out of business earlier this year, the National Chamber Orchestra has announced its demise for lack of funding. Heavily subsidized by South Africa’s former white governments, the country’s large cultural institutions are having a tough time with reduced support from the new governments. – Daily Mail and Telegraph (South Africa)
A POPULAR GHETTO?
On the eve of a big World music festival in London, a critic wonders if the music of Africa has come of age in the West or is it still the lure of the exotic that attracts. – London Times
THE UNIFIED ALIEN THEORY
No other way to explain it, really. After watching last week’s Grammy Awards, one critic has figured it out. Mariah Carey and Celine Dion? Nothing human about them. They’re aliens! – The Age (Melbourne)
ARTIFACT LAUNDERING
Israeli agents have recovered a plundered ancient Roman-era bust after a four-year hunt. In the process they busted an ancient-artifacts laundering ring, and for the first time have traced a sophisticated scheme for moving stolen artifacts. “The bust quietly passed through the hands of the thief to a number of mediators and merchants, until finally appearing this week proudly for sale in the shop window of an antiquities store on the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem’s Old City.” – Jerusalem Post
“MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA” —
— has sold 4 million copies and been translated into 32 languages. Steven Spielberg is set to direct the movie version of the book. But Mineko Iwasaki, the source for much of the material in the books is unhappy. “Basically, what is written in Arthur Golden’s book is false,” says the retired geisha, in her first interview since the book was published in Japanese in November and she was able to read it. “He got it wrong.” – Washington Post