England’s Opera North might well be the most innovative and exciting company in the UK, in an age when regional companies elsewhere are cutting back and programming cautiously. “The priorities for Opera North are now all about gentle expansion.”
Tag: 04.11.08
Scottish Gallery Finally Acquires Long-Sought Trove
The National Galleries of Scotland have been given possession of more than 50 paintings by 19th century Scottish painter David Roberts, works which many had feared would never make it to Scotland despite a collector’s bequest. “The six oil paintings and 51 watercolours and drawings [are] worth more than £500,000.”
It’s 3-D! And This Time, We Promise It Won’t Suck!
If you’ve been hearing a lot about the new wave of 3-D movies and wondering why Hollywood would try to resurrect a half-baked technology that no one liked in the first place, you’re not alone. But “3D is finally poised to come of age, backed by the rapid deployment of digital projection infrastructure and a roster of evangelists who swear blind it will transform the way we watch films once and for all.”
Legend Of Arabic Writing Earns Some Western Respect
“At 73, the novelist Bahaa Taher has weathered political purges and a lengthy exile from his native Egypt to carry off the [first ever] Booker prize for Arabic fiction… One of the most respected living writers in the Arab world, he has written six novels (three translated into English), four short-story collections, plays and non-fiction.”
If They Play Any Liszt, There Could Be Casualties
“Concert pianists, used to being the centre of attention, are not known for their modest egos. So it is a challenge, if not a risk, to put eight of the best from Melbourne and Sydney on stage with eight Steinway grand pianos and ask them to play like an orchestra.” Yet this is exactly what a concert promoter in Australia is doing.
County Gov’t Considering $27m Gift For New World Sym
“Miami-Dade County could give nonprofit New World Symphony $27 million to help fund an expansion of its campus… The money would come from conventional development tax funds.” The orchestral training academy is hoping to score a total of $45m in government grants for its $200m expansion project.