Leonard Slatkin seems to have become the go-to conductor for orchestras in a tight scheduling spot. Twice this season alone, he has stepped in to lead the Pittsburgh Symphony when other conductors took ill at the last minute, and next week, he’ll lead the first half of the PSO’s European tour. Most conductors hate being pressed for time, but Slatkin claims to actually enjoy these unexpected engagements, even when they mean canceling his vacation.
Tag: 08.17.06
City Charged With Supporting Anti-Semitic Art
“As [San Antonio] begins the process of allocating almost $4 million in arts funding, officials are facing a budding dispute between next-door neighbors that has led to accusations of cultural racism and counter charges of attempts to stifle artistic freedom. At the heart of the dispute is the criticism by a prominent Jewish religious leader of the political undertones in an Esperanza Peace and Justice Center cultural program about the Middle East conflict.”
Elegy For A Silenced Musician
Charles Barr, the 31-year old Cleveland Orchestra bass player who was killed last week when his bicycle was struck by a truck, was memorialized Wednesday by friends and colleagues. “Barr, with a mop of honey hair and intense, inquisitive eyes that seemed to burn through his glasses, joined the orchestra in 2002 and fast became a favorite of musicians and stagehands alike. Those who saw him perform were drawn into his kinetic, charismatic orbit.” Barr was also well-known to musicians throughout the U.S. – more than 500 people attended the service.
New Miami Hall Gets A Tune-Up, Cleveland Style
Miami’s new concert hall is almost ready to open its doors, and while the city doesn’t have a professional symphony orchestra of its own at the moment, it has engaged the very best ensemble it could find to help fine-tune the acoustics of the chamber. The Cleveland Orchestra, which will play a 3-week residency in Miami this winter, will be on hand later this week to give acousticians Russell Johnson and Tateo Nakajima their first taste of the hall’s full sound.
Chinese Leader As Bestselling Author
Former Chinese leader Jian Zemin’s writings have been given extraordinary promotion, and have soared to the top of the bestseller list. “Published in three tomes, the collection of 203 speeches, articles, letters and decrees is difficult to carry, let alone read. But since its launch last week, the work has been extolled as one of the three ideological foundations of the Communist party. Along with similar works by Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, it forms the closest thing the party has to a Bible, guaranteeing its place in every library, university and military barracks.”
Legendary Art Dealer Annely Juda, 91
“Annely Juda, who has died aged 91, was the doyenne of British art dealers. Tiny but formidable, she could strike terror into the heart of an errant artist. She said what she thought, whether it was asked for or not, and over 40 years built up a reputation as one of the most discerning of contemporary dealers, with a stable of artists loyal to her personally, as well as to her gallery.”
2,500-Year-Old Chinese Warriors Found
Two 2,500-year-old terra cotta warriors have been discovered, and archaeologists believe they may be predecessors of the army buried with China’s first emperor. “The four-inch-tall figurines were made in Qin, China’s most powerful state, before its ruler unified China in 221 BC, state media reported. They were found in the north-western province of Shaanxi in the ruins of a workshop.”
How A Historic Painting Emerged From £50 Fake
“A painting of Mary Queen of Scots, one of only two thought to have been made in her lifetime, has been discovered – in the National Portrait Gallery’s very own store. The portrait was bought for £50 by the gallery in 1916 at Christie’s. But later it was written off as an 18th century fake and was left to gather dust.”