An interactive sound-art installation erected in a Boston suburb is drawing attention for its innovative use of the city as a soundscape. “Under the dome, anyone can spin the dial and make an original mix of sounds, and with each turn, the direction the dial faces in the landscape calls up sound culled from that location.”
Tag: 05.10.08
Remembering The “Nazi Olympics”
“Just in time for another Olympics, and another debate about the permeable boundary between Olympic sport and international politics, the Holocaust Museum is reprising its 1996 exhibition devoted to the infamous Games of ’36. The powerful show, which has traveled extensively since it opened more than a decade ago, has been reinstalled, with the addition of new artifacts.”
From YouTube To Your TV
“Several television series have tried to translate the Internet’s user-generated content to television. But a new National Geographic Channel special is believed to be the first hourlong documentary to be inspired by a YouTube clip.” It probably won’t be the last.
Crafting An Identity For The Hirshhorn
“The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden [in Washington, D.C.] has never been like most other Modern- and contemporary-art museums… It has always been, in one sense, an accidental museum, visited by a lot of people who know that it is part of the Smithsonian Institution and wander in because it is free, but have little idea what’s inside.”
Hiding Your Flick From The Critics
The latest installment in the Indiana Jones film franchise hasn’t hit theaters yet, but the Internet critics already have their knives out. “Movie studios increasingly tend to protect their biggest bets from advance showings… Bad notices could keep the more ambivalent moviegoers from attending and thwart a truly huge box office haul.”
Ehnes Blasts CBC Classical Cuts
“Include one of Canada’s most celebrated violinists among the music lovers across Canada who are sad and angry about the sharp cuts to classical music programming at CBC Radio Two.” James Ehnes says that “there are some people at the top who have decided they don’t like classical music, and because they don’t like it, they know best. That’s never a good thing.”
Charlotte Music Director Extends His Stay
“Christof Perick will remain the Charlotte Symphony’s music director for an extra year to help smooth the transition to his successor… The orchestra plans to choose the new leader in early 2009. But the winner probably won’t be able to devote much time to Charlotte during the 2009-10 season,” so Perick will stick around.
The New Music Programming Problem
The local critic in Tampa Bay, Florida, has been openly critical of the “safe” programming decisions made by the Florida Orchestra. But can an orchestra really be expected to program music that they already know audiences won’t buy tickets to hear?
Bleak Picture Emerges In Columbus
No one is shutting the door on the possibility that the Columbus Symphony could continue to exist beyond June 1, but the orchestra’s board has rejected the idea of backing off their huge proposed cuts, and the musicians appear unwilling to accept any such drastic cuts only three years after they accepted a 20% pay cut. The city’s mayor also says he won’t be stepping in to mediate…
Ticket Sales Strong In Columbus Despite Money Woes
The Columbus Symphony may have money problems, but they don’t appear to stem from a lack of public interest in the ensemble. “To date, the symphony has sold more than $2.1 million in tickets for the 2007-08 season. Total sales for the previous year were $1.9 million.”