“Dunham brought to audiences, other artists and students an array of movement possibilities that had not been seen or used before in contemporary dance. Today it’s impossible to imagine modern dance without these influences.”
Tag: 03.26.06
Orchestras Discover The Internet (Finally!)
Want to download that orchestra concert you heard last week? Soon you may be able to. “Negotiations are under way with orchestras in London, Paris and three German cities. The current intention is for each orchestra to offer, on average, four concerts a season for digital downloading, and one of the four would also be released on CD. The project reflects a seismic shift in the way music is being discovered, distributed and heard.”
When Video Goes Viral
Video clips sampled, made and circulated on the net are hot. “These things are becoming ground zero for pop culture. It’s no longer the moment on the Jon Stewart show, it’s ‘Did you watch the viral video of the moment on the Jon Stewart show?’ “
Toronto Entertainment’s “Downward Spiral”
“Toronto’s entertainment industry has been trapped in a long, downward spiral. How badly did Toronto think it needed “The Lord of the Rings,” the colossal, $28 million musical spectacular that officially opened here Thursday night to high hopes but reviews that fell far short of expectations? Badly enough that the Ontario government agreed to risk $3 million in public money in this for-profit show — not for the building but, incredibly, the actual production — despite charges that deficit-strapped provincial taxpayers were now being asked to subsidize someone’s singing hobbits.”
“Rings” Panned In The Press
The new “Lord of the Rings” musical got generally beat up by critics last week. “Most reviewers said the show, which runs to almost four hours, did not live up to expectations. The Toronto Star described it as ‘dull’, while the Toronto Sun said it ‘falls victim to its own hype’. But the granddaughter of author JRR Tolkien praised it for staying true to his classic tale.
BBC Defends Spending On Art
The BBC is defending itself against critics who are protesting the corporation spending £4m on art. “Well-known artists including Rachel Whiteread and Tracey Emin are among those who have been asked to produce artworks for the corporation under a programme of purchasing public art linked to the redevelopment of Broadcasting House in London.”
McMaster: Keep Edinburgh Scottish
The outgoing director of the Edinburgh International Festival says the festical is financially sound. “Brian McMaster, who steps down at the end of this year’s Festival, also warned against any reduction in its Scottish talent, saying he would be ‘surprised and bloody angry’ if that happened.”
Archiphobia – Aussies Have It Bad
“Why is it that Australians, who think so much about design when choosing a new BMW, a Dyson vacuum cleaner, or a Dualit toaster, think so little about design when it comes to their homes? Why is it that only 3 per cent of Australian homes are designed by an architect? Why are we so archiphobic?”
Man Behind The Curtain – Steve Jobs
“Whether he’s inspiring his staff or negotiating with captains of industry, Jobs has outsize abilities to persuade, motivate, inflame the imagination and enrage. How did he get this way? Like the Wizard of Oz, Jobs tries his best to hide behind a curtain, keeping a tight rein on media access and dealing harshly with friends who say too much to biographers.”
Condo Developer Markets The Art
A Toronto condo developer is “in the process of buying $700,000 worth of art from local galleries. Condo buyers will be invited to select their piece from the collection when the as-yet-undeveloped units hit the market in April. The idea was to offer an incentive that reflected the spirit of the art-rich neighbourhood. The question is, will this investment help ease the pang of gentrification for long-time residents?”