She had plenty of experience in that theatre as an actor, but taking over the artistic directorship after the contentious departure of Emma Rice was quite a challenge: “The big learning curve was understanding my place as artistic director in the organisation, at a point when it was bruised and people needed healing. It was traumatic.” – The Stage
Tag: 05.28.19
Netflix Is First Studio To Speak Publicly (And Unhappily) About Georgia’s New Abortion Law (No Hasty Decisions, Though)
The company’s chief content officer said in a statement, “Given the legislation has not yet been implemented, we’ll continue to film there, while also supporting partners and artists who choose not to. Should it ever come into effect, we’d rethink our entire investment in Georgia.” – Variety
There Will Be No Roof Garden Or Avant-Garde Spire At Notre-Dame: French Senate Votes To Make It Like It Was
“On Monday evening, the French Senate approved the government’s Notre-Dame restoration bill — but added a clause that it must be restored to the state it was before the blaze, striking a blow to the government which had launched an international architecture competition to debate ideas on the restoration.” – The Local (France)
Author Tony Horwitz Dies Suddenly At 60
Though he won a Pulitzer in 1995 reporting for The Wall Street Journal on the conditions of facing low-wage workers, he was best known for his books combining personal travel and history, often following himself the path of historical figures. His most famous volume, Confederates in the Attic, is now used in many a college course. – NPR
Gerard Schwarz Named Music Director Of Palm Beach Symphony
The 71-year-old conductor, formerly music director of the Seattle Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and the Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center, will take over in Palm Beach this fall. He has also accepted a faculty appointment at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. – South Florida Sun Sentinel
Robert Bernstein, Longtime CEO Of Random House And Co-Founder Of Human Rights Watch, Dead At 96
“Under his direction, Random House expanded into the world’s largest general-interest publisher, increasing revenue from $40 million in 1966, when he was named president, to more than $800 million in 1989, when he was forced into retirement. … For decades, he spent what few free hours he had promoting human rights, a passion that deepened in the 1970s when he visited Moscow with a delegation of American publishers.” – The Washington Post
Countless Historic Sites In Italy Ravaged By Looting, Vandalism, And Plain Old Neglect
“The country boasts the highest number of UNESCO world heritage sites in the world, but according to EU statistics is second-last in Europe for public funding of culture. As a consequence, parts of its immense heritage – which have survived earthquakes and wars” – have essentially been abandoned. – The Guardian
Collectors Bought Rare Antique Manuscripts, Only To Find Out They’re From French Public Archives
Until it went bankrupt in 2015 after its founder was prosecuted for money laundering and fraud, the French company Aristophil held the world’s largest private collection of historic manuscripts. For the past 18 months, auctioneers have been liquidating that collection — but now 900 lots have been withdrawn because they are, in fact, stolen government property. – The Art Newspaper
The Rehabilitation Of Antonio Salieri (Modestly)
“Two centuries of calumny have created sympathy for the musical devil: I found Salieri’s grave festooned with bouquets. These were evidence that the man and his music are enjoying a modest comeback.” – The New Yorker
Artist Peter Max Has Dementia. Those Around Him Saw Opportunity To Profit Big
“For five years and counting — the latest lawsuit came Friday — the artist’s family, friends and associates have been trading lurid courtroom allegations of kidnapping, hired goons, attempted murder by Brazil nut, and schemes to wring even more money out of what was already one of the most profitable art franchises in modern times. From Shun Lee to the high seas, the twilight years of Mr. Max’s life have produced a pursuit of art-auction profits and a trail of misfortune as surreal as his trippiest works.” – The New York Times