Florence’s Uffizi Gallery could see its budget cut by 25 percent next year, leading to severe cutbacks. “Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s government has approved the cuts, which will be discussed by parliament in the autumn and are aimed at containing Italy’s deficit within limits set by the European Union.”
Tag: 08.19.04
SF Symphony Chorus Leader Stepping Aside
“Vance George, whose sensitive but painstaking leadership has forged the San Francisco Symphony Chorus into one of the nation’s leading ensembles, will step down as chorus director at the end of the 2005-06 season.”
CNB Star Departs Company
After 20 years, last spring Rex Harrington closed out a stellar career as a principal dance with the National Ballet of Canada. But it was still a surprise this week when the company reported he wouldn’t be sticking around in some other capacity. “I just realized there are certain things I’d like to try if I’m not going to dance.”
Online MIA: Classical Downloads
Why is there so little classical music available on commercial download services? “This is a missed opportunity and it shows the difficulty the downloading revolution has in coping with classical music’s enormous back catalogue and the stream of new releases.”
Russia To Prosecute Artists For Lampooning Church
The Russian parliament has ordered prosecutors to bring a group of artists to trial for allegedly “inciting religious strife” by lampooning the Russian Orthodox Church.
Barnes & Noble Has A Good Quarter Even W/O Harry
Book sales comparisons between this June and last are difficult because last year offered a new Harry Potter book. But even without one this year, Barnes & Noble has a good quarter. “The hit may have been only a single, but a 5% jump in bookstore revenues to $961.3 million and a 1.4% rise in comps still look pretty good in the scorebook.”
“Beatles” Suitcase A Fake
A suitcase bought in Australia and thought to be a long-lost trove of Beatles music, is definitely full of fakes. “Many of the items in the suitcase appeared to be fakes, including ticket stubs for the band’s appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show and the premiere of A Hard Day’s Night which were reproduced from images that appeared in a book.”
New: Top Of The (Download) Charts
It won’t be long before music charts that only count CD sales will be obsolete. Napster has announced it is starting a top downloads chart to rank music popularity. “The Napster Online Music Chart will count down the top 20 tunes based on sales as well as songs that have been streamed (listened to online but not bought for permanent download) in a show that goes out Sundays at 7pm.”
Elmer Bernstein, 82
Film score composer Elmer Bernstein has died after a long illness. “Although he only won one Oscar during his 50-year career, for Thoroughly Modern Millie, he was nominated 14 times, most recently in 2002. As an accomplished pianist, Bernstein moved to Hollywood from New York in 1950 as his movie career took off. Among more than 200 film and TV credits were the scores for To Kill a Mockingbird, Birdman of Alcatraz, The Ten Commandments and The Age of Innocence.”
In Sydney – Just Put On A Show
“Sydney’s independent theatre scene is thriving. Whether or not it’s a by-product of the lack of work available, it’s a sign that certain practitioners aren’t content to leave their unemployed fate in the hands of others. Actors, directors, writers and designers are joining forces to produce their own stories, show their work and hone their craft.”