“Helen Gardiner, one of Toronto’s most beloved cultural philanthropists, died yesterday at her Caledon East farm, just four days after her 70th birthday… [With her husband, Gardiner] assembled a spectacular ceramics collection and not only gave it to the people of Ontario, but built the museum that houses it.”
Tag: 07.23.08
New “At The Movies” Hosts Named
Ben Lyons of E! Entertainment Television and Ben Mankiewicz of Turner Classic Movies have been named to replace Richard Roeper and Roger Ebert on At The Movies. Ebert and Roeper “each announced [Monday] they were disassociating themselves from the movie-review program citing changes Disney planned to make to the long-running series.”
PhilOrch Keeps Paying Ex-President
Joseph Kluger stepped down as president of the Philadelphia Orchestra in late summer 2005, but tax records show that the orchestra continued to pay him for two more years, even after a new chief was in place. Kluger says the $313,000 he received was for “consulting.”
NJ Cuts Back On Arts Funding
“Against a backdrop of cutbacks, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts reduced by 12.6 percent its funding for arts organizations, programs and projects on Tuesday… It could have been worse, [though.] Through a statewide lobbying campaign, arts leaders joined with educators and businessmen to convince legislators to restore more than half of the 27 percent funding cut in the budget that Gov. Jon S. Corzine submitted earlier this year.”
Levine Had Cancerous Growth, Docs Say
James Levine, who left his Tanglewood duties earlier this month to have emergency surgery, apparently had a cancerous growth on his kidney. “Fortunately, because of early detection, it had not spread to the surrounding tissues, blood vessels, or lymph nodes. Doctors reported the surgery was completely curative and no further treatment is necessary.”
Prominent Authors Confess Which Classics They Haven’t Read
Perhaps it takes attaining a certain level of accomplishment to be able to admit the famous books one hasn’t read…
Paris Opera Ballet Season Down Under Canceled
The Victoria government won’t support a planned tour by the Paris Opera Ballet, and the season has collapsed. “We’re embarrassed for Australia, and we’re embarrassed for Melbourne. It’s terrible after having been given such a wonderful time in Sydney for the ballet to be flicked by Melbourne.” Supporters of the planned vist warned that “the decision might do “irreparable damage” to the reputations of Melbourne and Australia.