Artists have been announcing protests and boycotting commitments in Austria to protest the Freedom Party’s ascent to power. But the Vienna Philharmonic has been silent on the matter. One critic asks the orchestra why. And by the way, he wants to know – what about only having one woman in the orchestra? – The Guardian
Tag: 03.10.00
THE KEYS TO MY SUCCESS
No one knows for sure the exact year the piano was born, but the Smithsonian has settled more or less on 1700. The Smithsonian has put together a suitably impressive birthday celebration for the most popular instrument in Western music. – Washington Post
EUROPEAN EQUIVALENT OF AOL/TIME-WARNER MERGER
Euro-giants unite, with broadband player United PanEurope Communications (UPC) acquiring all of the assets of the pan-Euro station group SBS Broadcasting. – Variety 03/10/00
IT’S ROSY IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT
The future, that is. The digital film revolution promises some big improvements in the way movie theaters do business. All well and good. But can they afford the new toys in the first place? For many exhibitors, the issue in front of them is survival. They’re struggling to climb out of the red after a financial squeeze caused in part by growing competition from other media and an ambitious period of new theater construction and refurbishment designed to lure customers. – Los Angeles Times 03/10/00
A MUSEUM BY ANY OTHER NAME
In Britain, fears that the country may be “over-museumed” after a rash of building. So some of the latest museum editions aren’t calling themselves “museums” at all. Bristol’s newest $180 million baby doesn’t have the word in its name. Instead, the 11-acre site has the unwieldy name of “@ Bristol” and the emphasis is all on the toys of new technology, IMAX movies and video. – The Telegraph (UK) 03/10/00
C’MON, ADMIT IT
Think you’re well read? At a certain point, don’t you despair of the sheer volume of everything out there that’s worth reading? “Let’s not pretend: when did you last read a book by any of the younger Russian novelists? You’ve read Victor Pelevin? Really? ‘Chapaev i pustota,’ or the translation, ‘The Clay Machine-Gun’? Did you finish it? Did you understand it?” Really? – The Guardian
COULTHARD DIES
Canadian composer Jean Coulthard, one of Canada’s first composers to achieve widespread recognition, has died at the age of 92. – CBC