The beloved Russian baritone, undergoing long-term treatment for brain cancer, has cancelled all future staged opera performances and recently had to call off a recital tour. So when Peter Gelb had the idea to invite him to sing at the gala, he kept the plan secret, in case Hvorostovsky was too ill to make it. But make it he did, and sang up a storm. (video)
Tag: 05.08.17
Stradivarius Violins Lose Yet Another Blind Test To New Instruments
The last major published study asked ten well-known soloists to play a selection of Strads and new violins, and the players solidly preferred the new ones. The latest test happened in Paris, just after the previous one, and was repeated in New York; it focused on the impressions of listeners in the concert hall. And once again …
Sydney Morning Herald And Melbourne’s The Age Axe All Arts Writers
The elimination of all staff positions for arts writers and deputy arts editors is part of a recently announced layoff of a quarter of all newsroom employees at the Fairfax Media chain’s print papers. In response, all journalists at the papers have gone on a weeklong strike.
French Arts World ‘Breathes A Sigh Of Relief’ At Macron’s Election
The fact that the new president-elect chose to give his victory speech in front of the Louvre has been taken as a hopeful sign of his attitude toward culture (and its funding), as has the fact that he studied piano for ten years in his youth. There may be a bit of wishful thinking going on, however.
Top Posts From AJBlogs 05.08.17
Monday Recommendation: Fay Claassen
Fay Claassen, Luck Child (Challenge)
With exceptions, the Dutch singer departs from her incomparable interpretations of standard songs to explore contemporary pieces. They include the title tune written by guitarist Leni Stern, … read more
AJBlog: RiffTides Published 2017-05-08
So What Exactly Is Public Media In The Age Of The Podcast?
Public media is service. This is complicated, because the obvious next question is: Who is served? And that raises the really hard questions: What is the role of public media today? Is public media today serving the needs of communities outside of its audiences? What do people need and want from a public media in the United States?
How To Write About Authoritarians Without Getting Arrested
Try mysteries, especially police procedurals. “The fiction author has to do what a journalist cannot. The novel isn’t just a work of fiction; it is ‘alternative facts.’ Readers expect novelists to tell them the stories that aren’t printed in newspapers; the ‘real’ saga they’ve heard about on WhatsApp.”
Smaller Arts Groups In New York Are Hoping For A Larger Slice Of The City’s Cultural Budget
It’s worrisome for large organizations like the Met Museum and all of the residents of Lincoln Center – but the boroughs are excited: “Mayor Bill de Blasio and his lieutenants are deep into a re-examination of the city’s $178 million arts budget and other cultural resources to try to give a higher profile — and perhaps more taxpayer money — to smaller institutions in disadvantaged neighborhoods.”