San Francisco Ballet has unveiled plans for its 75th anniversary season, and the year will include no fewer than ten world premieres, as well as “an international tribute to the company with visits by the New York City Ballet, the National Ballet of Canada and Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo.”
Tag: 05.10.07
Munch Painting Returned After 60 Years
“Austria yesterday returned a painting by Edvard Munch, called Summer Night on the Beach, to Marina Fistoulari-Mahler, the granddaughter of composer Gustav Mahler, ending a 60-year legal battle.”
Another Day, Another Smithsonian Scandal
The Smithsonian has been ordered to reinstate a fired whistle-blower, after a federal panel determined that he had been dismissed in retaliation for going public with information about the misuse of museum facilities.The allegations were later substantiated by the Smithsonian’s inspector general.
Hard To Believe Canadians Didn’t Want To Watch It
“A war of words has erupted between the American producer and the Canadian distributor of Karla after the controversial feature film about [infamous Canadian torturer/murderer] Karla Homolka failed to turn a profit at the box office and had its DVD release delayed by more than a year because of resistance from video distributors.”
Final Proof That Too Much TV Is Bad For You?
“A new study finds a strong correlation between high levels of television watching and learning problems in teenagers. The survey, which followed 700 families for 19 years, is being seen as a major revelation in what has often been a contentious debate.”
Painting By Numbers
A mathematical process known as “stylometry” is being developed in an effort to change the way art experts authenticate paintings. Teams of engineers, working with art experts and students, are attempting to quantify a “visual signature” for Vincent Van Gogh. The techniques in play are similar to those used “to determine the authorship of letters, literary texts, and even musical compositions.”
Making Dance More Than Just A Set of Steps
Intensive dance instruction for those looking to make a career in the field is nice and all, but what about elementary-level dance education for the general schoolkids of the world that actually seems relevant to their everyday life? “About seven years ago, Alvin Ailey educators broadened their school visits to include more than just dance technique… The lessons tap into the life of the famed African-American dancer to bring to light history and social issues.”
Free Stuff Coming To Baltimore (Again)
The city of Baltimore is hoping to repeat the success it had last fall when dozens of arts organizations scrapped admission charges to select shows, concerts, lectures, etc. The city council is on the verge of approving a $500,000 grant to underwrite another edition of Free Fall Baltimore, as the admission-free fest is called.
Should Harvard Professors Know How To Teach?
“Harvard is where academic superstars are continually expected to revolutionize their fields of knowledge. Cutting-edge research is emphasized, and recognized with tangible rewards: tenure, money, prestige, prizes, fame.” But should these expert researchers be expected to be great teachers as well? A new internal report calls for “sweeping institutional change, including continuing evaluation and assessment of teaching and learning, and a proposal that teaching be weighed equally with contributions to research in annual salary adjustments.”
Mr. Mamet Goes To Washington
David Mamet is turning to politics for his next play, slated to open on Broadway this fall. Mamet’s last overtly political work was the screenplay for the popular 1997 movie Wag the Dog. The new play “is a contemporary comedy about a president named Charles Smith and is set a few days before the election, in which he is running as an incumbent. The action unfolds over one day and involves, according to a synopsis provided by the producers, ‘civil marriage, gambling casinos, lesbians, American Indians, presidential libraries, questionable pardons and campaign contributions.'”