Franz Welser-Möst survived his six-year tenure as conductor of the London Philharmonic – but just barely. Installed as music director at age 29, he made sweeping (and unpopular) changes, saw three managing directors unseated in his six years, and was dubbed “Frankly Worse Than Most” by his critics. Now, four years after his departure, he’s back on top – head of Zurich Opera, and about to take on the Cleveland – and finally able to reflect on his difficult past. – The Telegraph (UK)
Tag: 08.16.00
MOMA MATTERS
Artists Robert Rauschenberg and Art Spiegelman, filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese and performers Laurie Anderson and David Byrne have spoken out in support of striking employees at the Museum of Modern Art. The first strike in 27 years by museum employees — including archivists, conservators, curators, librarians and other professionals is now in its seventh month. – New Jersey Online (AP)
VISUAL AID
David Hockney believes that Constable’s amazing sky pictures were accomplished with the aid of optical devices. “Meteorologists look at skies in a different way to most people. They study clouds professionally. They say that only Constable got them right.” – National Post (Canada) (The Telegraph)
STOPPED TRAFFIC
Israeli port officials in Haifa intercepted a crate bound for the U.S. that was filled with valuable artifacts (ranging from 3000 BC–1000 AD) looted from Israeli archeological sites and believed to be headed for sale on the international antiquities black market. – Times of India (AP)
HOUSE ORGAN?
Bernard Arnault has bought Art & Auction Magazine. “The tricky part comes when you notice that Art & Auction – whose audience is a small but influential cabal of art sellers and buyers – has suddenly become a corporate sibling of Phillips, the world’s third-largest art auctioneer. Meanwhile, Christie’s auction house is owned by Arnault’s archrival, Pinault Printemps Redoute. – Inside.com
NO ONE CALLED IT “ROADKILL” AT THE TATE
She may be unknown by name, but taxidermist Emily Mayer’s work is already wildly famous – she made the severed cow’s head and stuffed bear for Damien Hirst’s hits. Now she’s setting out to make a career as a sculptor – but, to the shock of many, her medium’s still the same. “A lot of the animals I work with come from road-kill. I’ll be driving along when I suddenly see something and slam on my brakes.” – The Times (UK)
BRUSTEIN TO LEAVE
Founding director Robert Brustein will step down as head of American Repertory Theatre after 22 years. “Brustein has functioned as a director, adapter, fund-raiser and playwright (the ART will stage his adaptation of Chekhov’s ‘The Proposal, the Bear, and the Wedding Reception’ and his new original play `The Face-Lift’ this season, which opens next month with a limited run of `The King Stag’). He also has remained unapologetic about some of the company’s more misguided productions.” – Boston Herald
MONUMENT TO BAD TASTE
Small towns in Canada – mostly on the prairies, have erected giant statues to all sorts of things: “giant deer antlers, a giant turtle, a giant mushroom, giant wheat sheaves, a giant space ship like Star Trek’s USS Enterprise at a town called Vulcan, and the giant Happy Rock – a slab of rock with a happy face painted on it.” There are about 220 of them across the country. “It’s an embarrassment to some of the communities, but at the same time it attracts attention.” – Chicago Tribune (Reuters)
I AM WOMAN, HEAR ME…
Women are stealing the show in London musicals this summer. “You should never underestimate the power of being female, 40-ish and sexually ripe. That would seem to be the lesson of London theater in general this summer, with midlife resurrections translating into big box office.” – New York Times
DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN
Actor Nathan Lane stomped off a New York theatre TV show after being asked why his movie career hadn’t gone so well as his stage career. “On his way out the door, the actor was overheard barking into his cell phone: ‘I did not come on this show to defend my movie career!’ “ – New York Post