The West Virginia Symphony has been in debt since the moment it moved into its new home at Charleston’s Clay Center three years ago, and the orchestra is hoping a major endowment drive will plug the seemingly permanent hole in its finances. The WVS’s accumulated debt stands at nearly $800,000, with $640,000 more on various credit lines. Worse, the orchestra’s subscriber base is less than half what it was a decade ago, and cuts to the musicians’ roster and the season schedule have done nothing to alleviate the problem.
Tag: 07.25.06
Will HD Reinvigorate Radio?
“Most stations have yet to modify their transmitters to support the technology, and the tuners, which can run from $300 to $3,000, exist almost exclusively for car stereos. But as traditional radio competes fiercely for listeners’ attention with CDs, MP3s and satellite radio, the industry is betting on HD to keep it relevant.”
A 24-Hour Arts Gabfest (But Why)
Curator Ulich Obrist is about to have a long day. “On Friday evening he will sit down with his friend and soul-mate, the Dutch architect (and designer of this year’s temporary pavilion at the Serpentine) Rem Koolhaas, and interview more than 60 artists, writers, academics and commentators for 24 hours, non-stop. Between them they will chew the ears off Brian Eno (the warm-up, at 6pm), Damien Hirst (vampiric, at 4am), and the likes of Doris Lessing, Richard Rogers, Ken Loach, Richard Hamilton and Gilbert & George (fresh as daisies at 7am).”
London Fringe Theatre Evicted For Casino
One of West End London’s few fringe theatres is being evicted to make room for a casino. “During its brief tenure, Sound has acquired a reputation as the capital’s only theatre dedicated to gay-themed work, despite having no formal artistic direction. It was launched in June 2005.”
Why The Long Tail Doesn’t Explain Everything
“The Long Tail isn’t useful as a theory of everything. It is best and strongest when it helps us understand what’s happening to our culture. It shows, graphically, the difference between the mass culture we’ve had, and the folk culture we’re bringing back. That’s an achievement worth celebrating, and it’s why the Long Tail can leave us feeling like cavemen looking at a map of the world for the first time. But the book should come with a warning: There’s more to this economy than chasing tail.”
In Canada: Performing Arts See Surge In Audience
Canada’s audience for performing arts has increased strongly, says the government’s statistics service. In 2004 “the performing arts industries reported before-tax profit of $49.2 million for the year, almost double the income reported three years earlier in 2001, the report said. Revenue in the sector hit $1.2 billion, up 4.2 per cent from the previous year, reflecting strong public support for the performing arts, the report said.”
Fox Prez: New Indecency Rules “Vague”
The president of Fox TV entertainment is complaining about new “indecendy” rules for broadcasters, calling them vague and “difficult to manage.” “Last month, US President George Bush signed a law increasing the maximum fine for airing unsuitable material tenfold to $325,000 (£175,000). ‘None of our business plans are designed to take on such huge fines’.”
No Food, But Maybe A Movie Will Get You To Fly With Us?
American airlines have discovered that the quality of inflight entertainment figures in how passengers choose their airline. “After the price, the overall quality of in-flight service and a comfortable seat, then the in-flight entertainment is next in importance in a long-haul premium flight.”
Levine Is Top-Paid Conductor In U.S.
With paychecks totaling $3.5 million, “James Levine is not just among the most acclaimed music directors of his time. His combined salaries from the Boston Symphony Orchestra and New York’s Metropolitan Opera make him the highest-paid conductor in the country, according to the most recent Internal Revenue Service filings.” This does not, however, mean he wins the world title for highest paid conductor.
When Electricity Goes Out, Theatrical Magic Begins
“It’s a joke among theater critics that readers ticked at a review often begin an acerbic e-mail with a variation of: ‘I was at the theater, and you couldn’t have seen the same show I did.’ Well, I’ve got news for you. I was at the theater, and you can’t see the same show I did. Because when you go, a storm will not be knocking out all the electricity 25 minutes before the last scene.”