Tag: 07.17.00

THE BIRTH OF A PHENOM

How could Amazon afford to give away the costly overnight shipping of “Harry Potter” books? “Harry’s initial success is key to Amazon’s initial success, which is key to the rise in the Internet-stock market, which is key to Amazon’s ability to spend on promotion more than it makes on sales, which is how it can FedEx 250,000 Harrys for free. This helps to create the biggest publishing event of all time, which actually does not even primarily benefit Amazon (which will sell fewer than 10 percent of Harrys sold) but in fact benefits most of all its primary competitor, Barnes & Noble, which will sell far and away the lion’s share of Harry.” – New York Magazine

  • HARRY LOVES A PARTY: While Barnes & Noble and Amazon sold about a million copies between them on the opening weekend of “Harry,” independent bookstores used the occasion to throw elaborate parties, many of them beginning with the midnight release of the book. – Publishers Weekly

WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT GREAT BOOKS?

“Many of the Great Books contain allegories for the journey of the soul from one’s particular time, place and attachments to a transcendental perspective, where the mysteries of human existence, love, faith and longing are illuminated. After this journey to the heights of insight, we return to our own time and place better able to appreciate both its shortcomings and its virtues.” – National Post (Canada)

POETRY IN THE FAST LANE

In 1992 the annual Poetry Publication Showcase was begun.  “In 1992 the mood was feisty but beleaguered: ‘We few, we happy few, we band of poets’ went the boast. Now there’s a sense that poetry’s making it, moving rapidly to the center(s) of our cultural life. Poets House executive director Lee Briccetti, who dreamed up the Showcase as a way to bring attention to a severely marginalized literary form, hopes the poetry world is poised to take advantage of what she terms ‘a moment of cultural readiness.'” – The Nation

CAMERON TRIES TO TURN IT AROUND

He was the Giant of Theatre in the 1980s, producing one mega-musical hit after another. Cameron Mackintosh is “one of Britain’s 200 richest people, estimating his personal wealth at $600 million. He owns seven theaters in the West End of London. He was knighted in 1996 for his services to British theater.” But in the past decade he hasn’t had much luck. He’s hoping that will change with his latest show, opening in London this week. – New York Times

GAMBLING ON ART

The Bellagio Hotel may have closed its art gallery and sold the art, but maybe the peripatetic Guggenheim believes in the culture of Las Vegas? Reportedly, the Venetian Hotel is talking with the Goog about building a branch next to the hotel. The museum is already sending a show to Las Vegas next year. Meanwhile, the Philips Collection is negotiating with the Bellagio. “I think Las Vegas could use a little culture.” – Times of India (AP)

HARD NOT TO COMPARE

Leon Fleisher’s recording of Brahms’ D-minor Piano Concerto with George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra is one of the 20th Century’s best. But 35 years ago Fleisher injured his right hand and was relegated to performing left-hand works only. But he’s been on the mend in recent years and this weekend took a crack at the Brahms again with the Chicago Symphony. It was a mixed pleasure… – Chicago Tribune

LUMINOUS, BUT A MILD DISAPPOINTMENT

“Based upon a simple, deft theatrical idea, it has a text nearly as luminous as Vermeer’s paintings, which the work venerates, and it has compelling, appropriately incandescent music. In the usual sense of an opera as music first, text second and stage possibilities last, it is unerring – immediate, subtle, probing, inherently operatic and gorgeously crafted. But as a radical intertwining of operatic elements into the kind of entirely new theatrical experience that ‘Rosa’ was, it is a mild disappointment.” – Los Angeles Times

WHAT BECOMES A WELL-ROUNDED CITIZEN?

“As high-tech leaders persistently, almost desperately, call for more educated workers, the ‘info-tainment’ business that is rapidly absorbing the Internet and all other media makes well-informed citizens even more rare and unusual. The constant ‘dumbing-down’ and vulgarization of the culture industry, driven by mass marketing and profits, is clearly at odds with educational excellence, but few high-tech leaders can bring themselves to admit their role in this depressing decline.” – Los Angeles Times

BEHIND ANOTHER SELLARBRATION

He’s America’s oldest enfant terrible. Peter Sellars is directing the next edition of Australia’s Adelaide Festival, and has already changed its focus from being the traditional international potpourri to one concentrating on Aussie artists. But before getting too excited about Sellars’ plans it might be instructive for Adelaidians to take a look at his track record… – The Idler