The Bolshoi Ballet may not be all that it once was, but getting it to America for a tour is still an enormous undertaking. – Chicago Tribune
Tag: 05.28.00
CARMEN AS CAR MAN
Matthew Bourne’s choreographic re-imagining of the “Carmen” story in a 1960s midwestern American town where cars rule is a bit of a stretch – but it works. – Sunday Times (London)
FUTURE GREATS
Peter Martins’ direction of New York City Ballet has been dissected in detail – but he has also wrought influence on the company’s blue chip school. – New York Times
OUT IN THE PROVINCES
Terry Teachout travels to Raleigh and has a revelation: “Sit down, dance buffs, because I’ve got news for you: The best full-evening story ballets of the past quarter-century are currently being choreographed right here in the Barbecue Belt by Robert Weiss, artistic director of Carolina Ballet.” – Washington Post
INTERNET MOVIE NOT MORE THAN A CURIOSITY
It’s widely assumed that our TVs and computers will someday get married and everybody will live happily ever after. Now a highly-touted film called “Quantum Leap” is the “first major motion picture” to premiere on the Internet – downloadable for $3.95 for the standard version, $5.95 in hi-rez. Is it a soul-trembling experience? Not hardly. After you get all the technical specs squared away (and they are considerable), the movie just isn’t that good. So much for pioneers. – Chicago Tribune 05/28/00
ASIAN GAINS
More and more Asian directors, producers and actors are making it big in Hollywood. This new presence has nothing to do with diversity, though. It’s about cashing in at the box office. – Boston Herald 05/28/00
CRISIS OF JUDGMENT
If last year’s selections were absurd, this year’s choices of Bjork as best actress and “Dancer in the Dark” as best picture defy understanding. What is going on at Cannes? – The Observer (UK) 05/28/00
TO THE WEB FOR THE SOURCE
Increasingly, publishers of academic books favor removing bibliographies from the printed book and posting them on the web. It makes for shorter books and greater access to scholarly addenda online. – New York Times
A CHAMPION STEPS DOWN
Joseph Dalton has been a tireless promoter of contemporary music with his recording label CRI. But after a decade running the company, the 37-year-old has stepped down – a loss for fans of new music. – New York Times
OVERREACHING AMBITIONS?
Outgoing music director Bramwell Tovey built a major new-music festival – one of the best in North America – and rebuilt the Winnipeg Symphony. But he also spent it into the ground, says the orchestra’s president. – CBC