“One of Boston Ballet’s newest talents, who had moved to the city only a month ago, was shot in the stomach over the weekend, struck by an apparently stray bullet in a spray of gunfire in the city’s Theater District.”
Tag: 09.12.06
Ben-Hur Goes Back To The Stadium
“Veteran French impresario Robert Hossein is undertaking a re-enactment of Ben-Hur in France’s biggest football stadium. “The sword-and-sandal epic in which Charlton Heston swept to victory after cinema’s most famous chariot race is to be staged on an epic scale at the arena where France won the football World Cup in 1998. A cast of several hundred will recreate naval battles between the Roman fleet and Mediterranean pirates, and stage ancient Roman gladiator fights and a live chariot race.”
The Ticket Fee Rip-Off Game
These days it’s impossible to avoid service charges for buying tickets. “Confused? No wonder. And leaving aside the chaos of all this, in what parallel universe is it remotely justifiable to charge audiences an extra £2.50 per ticket?”
FCC Has Plan For Vacant Airwaves
“The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday set a road map for making vacant television airwaves available for other services by early 2009, when broadcasters are due to switch to digital signals. The airwaves at issue, frequencies below 900 megahertz, are a desirable slice because the signals can easily penetrate walls, trees and other obstructions unlike the higher frequencies.”
Apple Jumps Into Movies
Apple introduces a newmovie download service. Apple CEO Steve “Jobs also showed off a compact gadget, dubbed iTV, that will allow consumers to watch movies purchased online — as well as other digital content stored on a computer — on a connected television set. It will sell for $299 and be available early next year.”
Chinese Director Plans To Work Around Ban
“Acclaimed Chinese director Lou Ye, whose new film, ‘Summer Palace,’ is set partly during the Tiananmen Square student uprising, said he plans to continue working in China despite a five-year ban imposed on him by government officials. He said he will try to work in and around the system and find alternative ways to get his work distributed, such as on DVDs. Or he may focus on screenwriting.”
Theatre Critic Herbert Whittaker, 95
“He imagined himself a war correspondent on a battlefield, writing about costumed soldiers that bled emotions on a stage. But the struggle that Herbert Whittaker documented and supported for almost half a decade was a real one. As The Globe and Mail’s emeritus drama critic until 1975, Mr. Whittaker found himself on the front lines of the creation of a distinct Canadian theatre.”
Birmingham Orchestra Launches Podcast
The City of Birmingham Orchestra is launching a monthly podcast. “Members of the public will be invited to review recent concerts, and each recording will aim to explain how the musicians work together. Each free podcast can be downloaded through the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s website.”
iTunes’ Classical Top Ten
Classical music sells on iTunes in greater numbers than in CD stores. But what are the most popular downloads? The list is revealing, writes Marc Geelhoed.
Baltimore Symphony Contract Talks Going Well?
“Both sides negotiating a new contract for Baltimore Symphony Orchestra musicians have maintained a media blackout, but, with the current contract set to expire Saturday night after the annual BSO gala, there are a few favorable signs – and also potential concerns. … As the orchestra’s management aims to balance a budget after a string of annual deficits, negotiating points may include the orchestra’s size and the length of its season – factors that can affect the BSO’s reputation and ability to attract and retain talent.”