an interesting eclectic celebration of music across Canada. “No public radio service I know of is so conspicuously designed to showcase the epic range of moods, tastes and peccadilloes conveyed in the contemporary musical output of its own creative community. That’s a big deal, something to celebrate.”
Tag: 09.13.08
Why Historical Arts Narratives Fail
“The much-derided but nonetheless hugely influential historical narrative that the Museum of Modern Art has been promulgating ever since its opening in 1929 is just as full of holes — and if you peer carefully through them, you’ll see some of the best art of the 20th century, even though it’s nowhere to be found on MoMA’s bright white walls.”
Hughes: Hirst Is A Hack
Influential art critic Robert Hughes has come out swinging against Damien Hirst and what he sees as the grossly inflated art market that has allowed Hirst to become a global star. “Actually, the presence of a Hirst in a collection is a sure sign of dullness of taste.”
Saudi Judge Calls For Death Of “Immoral” Broadcasters
“The most senior judge in Saudi Arabia has said it is permissible to kill the owners of satellite TV channels which broadcast immoral programmes.” The comments are alarming to the region’s dozens of satellite channels, many of which broadcast across national borders from liberal enclaves like Qatar, and represent a “huge dilemma” for Saudi Arabia’s ruling royal family.
TIFF Pays Tribute To The Art of Cinema
The Toronto International Film Festival is wrapping up this weekend with a collection of low-profile, film buff-friendly works meant to bring out the technical side of cinema – film as high art, rather than easy entertainment.
Critic: Cronenberg Was In Way Over His Head
The new opera based on the David Cronenberg horror classic, The Fly, was universally panned by critics in its opening weekend. “When a work of art of any kind crashes and burns so spectacularly, the question isn’t really why, but how? …I can’t help think it came down to that old Greek word hubris.”
Hitting Rock Bottom (In A Good Way)
Merce Cunningham’s “Ocean,” an ambitious music and dance extravaganza set to the music of John Cage, has been performed only eight times in the 14 years since its premiere, despite strong reviews whenever it is staged. The latest performances took place last week in a massive rock quarry in central Minnesota, the most ambitious staging yet, and 3,600 people drove as much as 180 miles to see it.
Is Texas Really Ready For George Steel?
Many observers were surprised when George Steel, known for his innovative programming as head of Columbia University’s Miller Theater, announced that he would be leaving New York to take over as chief of the very traditional, cautiously programmed Dallas Opera. Will his commitment to new music and reputation as a trailblazer be of any use at a conservative company in a conservative part of the country?
Getty Villa’s Neighbors Hit Back Against Noise
“As it has done each September since 2006, when it reopened after a $275 million expansion, the Getty Villa is using its newly constructed 450-seat outdoor theater to revive a genre of work rarely seen on American stages.” But an ongoing dispute between the Getty and some of the Villa’s neighbors saw one performance nearly ruined by a radio intentionally blasting from a nearby house.
The Posthumous Rise Of A Literary Star
“When the novelist Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis died 100 years ago this month, his passing went little noticed outside his native Brazil. But in recent years he has been transformed from a fringe figure in the English-speaking world into a literary favorite and trendsetter, promoted by much more acclaimed writers and by critics as an unjustly neglected genius.”