Yamaha is out with the latest version of its Disklavier self-playing piano, and this one comes, for the first time, with an internet connection. “It lets you subscribe to live-piano ‘radio stations.’ For $20 a month (or $200 per year), you can tune into channels like Classical, Broadway or Rock. Your grand piano can now play itself all day in that musical style.”
Tag: 04.17.08
You Don’t Have To Be Big To Think Big
It’s a good time to be a small theatre company in Australia. “Smaller companies that are both drawn to the big-name playwrights and wary of the financial and production pressures they involve.” But unlike past years, the big names are out there and available to companies of nearly all budget levels.
The Unexpected World Of Palestinian Movie-Making
“Cinema has left its imprint on Palestine, though often it is a ghost-like memory… Palestinian directors have a powerful sense of irony: they are very aware that everything they do will be pored over for evidence of terrorist sympathies; but, rather than collapse into paranoia, the response has been a heightened level of self-conscious wit.”
Arts Council Made Cuts Even As £150m Went Unspent
“The UK Arts Council stands accused of misusing lottery funds after failing to distribute more than £150 million intended for cash-strapped projects… Last month the funding body – one of 13 distributors of lottery money – faced a vote of no confidence from actors and directors after it cut the grants of nearly 200 theatres, orchestras and other organisations.”
Berkshire Summer Looking Good
It’s looking like a strong year for the cultural festivals that dot Western Massachusetts, playing host to the Boston Symphony and other heavyweights for several weeks each summer. “Berkshire Theatre Festival, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival and Shakespeare & Company are reporting ticket sales 6 to 16 percent ahead of the same time this year, and Tanglewood’s advance sales for classical concert events are up 6.5 percent over this time last year.”