“To anyone who has seen [Alexandra] Ansanelli dance, it’s hard to imagine her as a civilian. Some dancers seem like regular people who just happen to have found themselves onstage. Others, like Ms. Ansanelli, appear to belong to a more rarefied universe. … [I]f she were to play a fictional ballerina, it would be a Vicki Baum-like character, ready to sacrifice everything for her art. But perhaps that’s exactly why Ms. Ansanelli is leaving ballet.”
Tag: 05.06.09
Recession In Full Swing At Sotheby’s Impressionist Sale
“The art market flunked a stress test last night as Sotheby’s posted its lowest total for a New York Impressionist and modern art auction since November 2001. The top two lots, by Picasso and Alberto Giacometti, failed to sell. The $61.4 million total was about a quarter of the tally of a year ago….”
Tony Voters Made Some Very Odd Calls
“After the Tony nominees were announced yesterday, I put a single question to 15 of the 806 voters, theater professionals all: Did you see ‘Soul of Shaolin’? It played 24 performances in January and February at the Marquis Theater. Now the cast of 33 Chinese kung-fu monks are competing with Liza Minnelli, Will Ferrell and ‘Slava’s Snowshow’ for the Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event.”
With New Director’s Arrival, One-Third Of Dancers Leave Orlando Ballet
The ballet mistress and 10 dancers – five dismissed by incoming artistic director Robert Hill, five who have resigned – are “exiting the Orlando company following its 35th anniversary season, which saw economic challenges, a mid-season switch of artistic directors, and first-rate performances.”
Gauguin Cut Off Van Gogh’s Ear? Don’t Believe It.
“Doubtless Van Gogh was difficult, yet is there any solid evidence that Gauguin attacked him? No. To be fair, there aren’t many established facts in the strange case. … The evidence, such as it is, points to Vincent.”