“Jonathan Lennie, the classical editor of [London’s] Time Out magazine, attacked those who try to impress others by racing to be first to applaud as they recognise the closing bars of a piece and criticised concert-goers who clap between movements.” (The director of the BBC Proms has a fine response.)
Tag: 07.15.09
My Hour On The Trafalgar Square Plinth
“It was Bastille Day. But I never really explained that. Nor did I exactly say that I was Marie Antoinette for the duration of my hour on the plinth. I hoped it would be clear. Or perhaps I hoped it would give people watching in Trafalgar Square or online something to wonder.”
If You Liked Pride And Prejudice And Zombies, You’ll Love Sense And Sensibility And Sea Monsters
“The book, which [publisher] Quirk said would be 60% Austen and 40% tentacled chaos, sees Elinor and Marianne Dashwood contending with giant lobsters, rampaging octopi, two-headed serpents and other ferocious sea monsters as they set out on their quest for love.”
If Celebs Are Lure For Young Audiences, That’s Okay, Too
“What is it that makes people queue overnight for a cultural event? I suspect it’s a performer rather than a production. … But I refuse to engage in tut-tutting disapproval. Sure, young people are drawn in their cohorts to see stars made famous by film or TV. But what’s wrong with that?”
Pittsburgh’s Dance Alloy Theater Names New A.D.
“Greer Reed-Jones has been named to replace Beth Corning as artistic dire[c]tor of Dance Alloy Theater. Corning resigned last week and the board immediately promoted Reed-Jones,” the company’s education director, who is a former Alvin Ailey ensemble member and a former principal dancer for Dayton Contemporary Dance Ensemble.
Suicides Of Maestro And Wife Raise Issues Of Ethics, Law
“[E]ven among those who support decriminalizing assisted suicide, Sir Edward’s death raised troubling questions. Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, said in a BBC interview that the growing numbers of Britons going abroad to die, and the manner of their deaths, made it more urgent to amend Britain’s laws. There are ‘no safeguards, no brakes on the process at all,’ she said.”
Appreciation: Conductor Edward Downes
“He was not one of the notorious titans of the orchestra pit: there was no controversial wartime past; there were no stories of sudden rages, or reclusive obsessions of the sort that made some conductors infamous even to people who never heard them perform. There was just a much-respected man, with a determined character, fine musical judgment and commitment to his work.”
Vatican OKs Potter Prince — And Other Surprising Movies
“The Church has a tangled, fraught history with Hollywood’s offerings. The U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops has a whole site dedicated to evaluating whether films are appropriate for Catholics, including their top ten films for every year since 1965. While the Vatican’s condemnatory reactions to movies generally make for splashier headlines, the Church also has often embraced important films throughout cinematic history….”
Why Catcher ‘Sequel,’ Banned Or Not, Isn’t Worth Reading
“[John David] California’s grip on the material is about as steady as, say, a nonagenarian’s on a heavy paperweight. Among the more ludicrous aspects of the novel is that California imitates Salinger’s style by having the 76-year-old C think and talk exactly as Holden did at age 16.”
Publishers Weigh Risks, Rewards Of Later E-Book Release
“No topic is more hotly debated in book circles at the moment than the timing, pricing and ultimate impact of e-books on the financial health of publishers and retailers. Publishers are grappling with e-book release dates partly because they are trying to understand how digital editions affect demand for hardcover books. A hardcover typically sells for anywhere from $25 to $35, while the most common price for an e-book has quickly become $9.99.”