Tag: 05.23.00

THE END OF CIVILIZATION AS WE KNOW IT

Last week La Scala announced it will produce Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical “Phantom of the Opera”. “It is not so many decades since Arturo Toscanini’s decision to perform the works of Wagner at this temple of Italian opera was met with consternation. Even today, there is a faction of the Scala audience still sniffy about that Austrian interloper Mozart. Many opera lovers want La Scala to be faithful only to its great Italian traditions.” – The Age (Melbourne) (The Guardian)

COURTING A MAESTRO

Later this week a delegation from the New York Philharmonic heads to Milan to try to talk conductor Riccardo Muti into signing up to run their orchestra. Says Muti: It is a love affair,” he said, in his trademark style: equal part arrogance, equal part charm. “But it is not yet a marriage.” And besides, the charms of La Scala and his current job aren’t easily overlooked. – Sydney Morning Herald

THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF JAZZ

New York’s Lincoln Center announces it will build what it says will be  the first concert hall built specifically for jazz. It’s “a 100,000-square-foot complex at Columbus Circle with two auditoriums, a club-size jazz cafe, two rehearsal studios and a classroom, all wired for recording, broadcast and Webcast. – New York Times

SIR JOHN GIELGUD, who has died aged 96, —

— “was challenged only by Laurence Oliver for the title of greatest English actor of the 20th century.” – The Telegraph (UK)

CLASSICAL ACTOR: “He was the last survivor of that triumvirate of legendary theatrical knights – Laurence Olivier, Sir Ralph Richardson and Sir John – who dominated acting in England and vitalized Shakespeare in what became a golden age of classical theater.” – New York Times

THEATERS GO DARK FOR GIELGUD: Sir John continued working until a month ago, but had taken a break from working because of his failing health. – BBC

“History’s greatest speaker of Shakespearean verse.” – The Globe and Mail (Canada)

He “had the most perfect male vocal instrument of them all, and no one who heard it on stage or on screen will likely ever forget it.” – Los Angeles Times

SIR JOHN GIELGUD —

— who has died aged 96, “was challenged only by Laurence Oliver for the title of greatest English actor of the 20th century.” – The Telegraph (UK)

CLASSICAL ACTOR: “He was the last survivor of that triumvirate of legendary theatrical knights – Laurence Olivier, Sir Ralph Richardson and Sir John – who dominated acting in England and vitalized Shakespeare in what became a golden age of classical theater.” – New York Times

THEATERS GO DARK FOR GIELGUD: Sir John continued working until a month ago, but had taken a break from working because of his failing health. – BBC

“History’s greatest speaker of Shakespearean verse.” – The Globe and Mail (Canada)

He “had the most perfect male vocal instrument of them all, and no one who heard it on stage or on screen will likely ever forget it.” – Los Angeles Times

THE STATE OF THE STAGE

Four New York theater directors – Graciela Daniele, Brian Kulick, Marianne Weems, and Evan Yionoulis – discuss theater today. They agree theater is thriving, but “quantity doesn’t necessarily mean quality. It feels there’s not that much difference now from the mentality of Broadway.” – Village Voice

CORPORATE DIVESTMENT

Sara Lee donates 52 works of art to 40 museums. It’s the largest gift to the most museums in US corporate history. ” The 52 works are described as representing ‘a concise survey of European avant-garde painting and sculpture from 1870 to 1960.’ Not much would strike a viewer as ‘avant-garde,’ most of the art having entered the mainstream years ago.”- MSNBC (Newhouse)