The story of how 20,000 elementary-school children in Tucson – mostly at-risk and non-English speaking – are posting impressive achievements in math and language arts begins with a 91-year-old man and his love of music.
Tag: 09.12.07
Terfel Shirking? Depends Who You Ask.
“Bryn Terfel’s abrupt withdrawal from Covent Garden’s Ring cycle has split the world into non-operagoers who admire him for putting family ahead of career and the opera community which accuses him of betraying his colleagues and his art by abandoning the biggest show on earth.”
Small But Mighty, A Minnesota Troupe Thrives
Minneapolis-based James Sewell Ballet is not your typical big-city ballet company. (In fact, Minneapolis doesn’t even have one of those.) But for 15 years, the 8-member JSB has created some of the most innovative dance performances to be found anywhere, and has built a core of support for a company that might well have gone completely unnoticed in a larger town.
Warning: Theatre Needs “Big Plays”
Michael Boyd, head of the Royal Shakespeare Company, warns that contemporary theatre will not thrive unless it addresses the most challenging political and social issues of the day, with ‘big plays in big spaces’.”
London Phil’s Great Young Hope
Vladimir Jurowski is the Londo Philharmonic Orchestra’s dashing new music director. “With his commanding podium manner, brooding good looks and mane of black hair, he is the very image of a modern maestro, with the added allure for an orchestra, and the public, that he has a 12-year international career behind him. His obvious charisma and the maturity of his music-making have clearly endeared him to orchestras, critics and public alike.”
David Hare Returns To The West End
After facing accusations of abandoning Britain by launching a new work in New York last year, playwright David Hare is returning home with two plays set to hit the London stage in 2008.
UK Kids Choose Their Favorite Author (Not Who You Think)
“Roald Dahl remains the most popular children’s author among young adults, a survey has found. JK Rowling, whose first Harry Potter book sparked a publishing sensation when it hit the bookshelves 10 years ago, is only the fourth most popular author.”
Fake Memoirist Frey Publishing A Novel
Disgraced writer James Frey is writing a novel. “A HarperCollins publicist said there would be no comment from Frey, whose career was seemingly finished a year ago after allegations emerged that he had embellished, or entirely invented, substantial portions of ‘A Million Little Pieces’.”
St. Louis Museum Buys $10 Million Degas
“The St. Louis Art Museum has paid about $10 million for ‘The Milliners,’ a circa 1898 oil painting by French artist Edgar Degas, making it one of the most expensive works of art in the collection.”
Harvard Sends Bell Back To Russia
Harvard has returned a pre-revolutionary Orthodox Church bell to Russia. “The repatriation comes amid calls from countries such as Egypt, Italy and Greece, seeking to return artworks from overseas. The Orthodox Church has enjoyed a rebirth since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.”