The Classical Bit Awards are back, and Placido Domingo picks up two awards. “Domingo received a lifetime achievement award and shared the critics’ prize for his part in the Royal Opera House’s production of Tristan and Isolde. Katherine Jenkins won album of the year for Living A Dream while Andreas Scholl beat Bryn Terfel and Renee Fleming to the singer of the year crown.”
Tag: 05.04.06
Does deYoung Museum Have A Papua New Guinea Problem?
“There’s recent news that a handful of sculptures at [San Francisco’s] M.H. de Young Memorial Museum may be the ‘national cultural property’ of Papua New Guinea, and if so, probably were exported illegally. Whether or not that turns out to be true — an official from the Port Morseby museum who was here last month thinks three of the pieces are on the list — San Francisco museum officials say this issue shouldn’t be compared to the controversial Met and Getty situations.”
Lord of the Rings – Packing For London?
The mega-expensive musical Lord of the Rings has not exactly been a hit with critics. But Andrew Lloyd Webber — “the undisputed king of mega-musicals as well as one of the wealthiest men in the world — made a 24-hour flying visit to Toronto last weekend just to catch the show. The upshot: Insiders say LOTR’s next gig is likely to be at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane, owned by Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group.”
Reading Canada’s Arts Budget
So what does the Canadian government’s newly announced arts budget mean for the arts? “Good news in that the 302-page document actually contains measures, albeit modest ones, with some application to the arts. Bad news in that these measures aren’t commensurate with what arts organizations say they need and, for some, indicate a worrying direction on the part of the government.”
Picasso Sells For $95 Million
A Picasso was sold for $95 million Wednesday night, the second-highest price ever paid for a painting. “The image of Maar, one of Picasso’s mistresses, was sold on the second night of the important spring auctions. “Boy With a Pipe” (1905) holds the record price for a Picasso. That painting sold for $104.2 million in May 2004.”
Police Find Truck With Stolen Art
Police in Florida recover a truck full of art that had been missing for tqo weeks. the driver, Patrick McIntosh, 36, had “been missing since April 17, when he and his 24-foot Budget rental truck pulled out of Boca Raton with millions of dollars worth of art, including seven canvasses by the Abstract Expressionist painter Milton Avery. He had been hired by David Jones Fine Art Services to deliver the art from private dealers and collectors — and at least one museum — in Boca Raton to a series of homes and galleries in New York.”
NY City Ballet – Not The Vatican Anymore?
“Of the four other major Balanchine-driven companies in the United States — along with the Miami City Ballet, serious contenders include the Boston Ballet, the Pacific Northwest Ballet and the San Francisco Ballet — dancers now have viable alternatives. When Balanchine was alive, City Ballet was the Vatican; now, with directors like Mr. Villella, a City Ballet star of the 1960’s and 70’s who cherishes the kind of coaching in depth that is not part of City Ballet’s system, the choice of whether or not to stay in New York isn’t so clear-cut.”
The Morgan Library Gives NY A Fine New Concert Hall
“New York has few intimate and acoustically appealing halls in the 250-seat range. The Morgan is hoping that its handsome space — designed, like the pavilion, by the architect Renzo Piano — will become a valuable resource. It usually takes concertgoers (this one, at least) time to assess the acoustics and qualities of a new hall. But it’s clear from the get-go that this one will be welcomed by the music lovers in the city.”