“[Ireland’s] Garda Fraud Squad has been called in to investigate an alleged misappropriation of funds at Cork Opera House, totalling €63,000.” The multipurpose venue in Ireland’s second city “recently decided to close down for the summer, in a bid to save money, following annual losses of more than €300,000.”
Tag: 08.19.10
Philadelphia Orchestra Starts Cinema Simulcasts
“The Philadelphia Orchestra could end up in pictures. And sound. In a deal with SpectiCast and Bryn Mawr Film Institute, nine of the orchestra’s 2010-11 concerts will be offered live starting this fall to North American movie houses with high-quality projection and audio systems.”
Everybody’s Doin’ It: Berlin Phil to Simulcast Season Opener in Theatres
“For the first time, a concert of the Berliner Philharmoniker is broadcast live in more than 60 movie theatres all over Europe.” The Aug. 27 gala, with Simon Rattle conducting, will be shown in cinemas in 12 countries, from the UK to Spain to Russia.
Eight of London’s Top Theatres Join to Produce 2012 Festival
“Eight of London’s leading producing venues” – among them the National Theatre, Sadler’s Wells, Lyric Hammersmith, Royal Court, and Young Vic – “have united for the first time to create a £3 million city-wide theatre festival for 2012, celebrating the multicultural nature of the capital in its Olympic year.”
Ingathering of the Exiles: A New Orchestra of Aussie Expats
Conductor Alexander Briger (a nephew of Charles Mackerras) is creating a Sydney-based festival-style ensemble of 90 players, about half of whom will be Australians who play in such top overseas ensembles as the Berlin Philharmonic and Chicago Symphony. Conducting the Australian World Orchestra’s first concerts next August will be expat maestra Simone Young.
How James Baldwin Handled (His) Identity Politics
“A television interviewer once asked Baldwin to describe the challenges he faced starting his career as ‘a black, impoverished homosexual,’ to which Baldwin laughed and replied: ‘I thought I’d hit the jackpot’.”
Architects Turn Their Imaginations Loose on the Sukkah
“Earlier this year came word from New York about one of the more intriguing architecture competitions to emerge in some time. Sukkah City asked architects to reimagine the sukkah, a temporary hut-like structure built in the fall to commemorate the week-long Jewish festival of Sukkot.” Twelve finalists will show their work in Manhattan’s Union Square Sept. 19-20.
Detroit Symphony, Musicians Struggle Over Future Of Orchestra
“Management has put two proposals on the table, both of which would drastically reduce musicians’ pay. The DSO ranks 10th nationwide in base salaries paid to musicians. However, the new wage proposals would cut pay 28 percent (even more in Proposal B) and drop the DSO’s ranking to at least 18th.”
Inside The Celebrity Autograph Circuit (Yes, There Is One)
“I still believe in the mystery of celebrity. I think less is more. But some of the (celebrities at conventions), you wonder what the lure is — they show up so often everyone who wants their autograph in that city probably has it. Why go?”
So Twitter Isn’t Driving Buzz On Movies After All?
“Few films this summer have been hits or flops that Twitter trends indicated. All the more surprising since Twitter users increases from 50 million to 125 million over the year.”