“One of the most important works by artist Pablo Picasso is to be sold at auction in New York. Picasso’s Arlequin was last seen in public 45 years ago and is expected to fetch over $30m (£16.3m) when it goes under the hammer in November.”
Tag: 09.26.08
London Gets A New Concert Hall
“A British property developer… has given London its first concert venue since the Barbican’s opening in 1982, incorporating it in a 100 million pound ($185 million) office-building-arts-complex around the corner from the King’s Cross St. Pancras station.”
Canadian PM’s Wife Follows His Anti-Arts Lead
“A day after Stephen Harper complained that the arts community is ‘a bunch of people at a rich gala,’ his wife has pulled out of a ritzy soiree at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre… The sold-out show will feature Pinchas Zukerman and the NAC orchestra – who perform for free – followed by Tony Bennett and his band. The gala is expected to raise well over $500,000 for the NAC’s National Youth and Education Trust.”
How Far Can Honeck Take The Pittsburgh Symphony?
“In the years the Pittsburgh orchestra operated without a music director, [its] identity lost some of its luster. Good reputations are like gold in this ultra-subjective business, and it’s here that [new music director Manfred Honeck] and his connection to the Viennese repertoire can make a substantial impact.”
The Art of Forgery (And the Forgery of Art)
Notorious forger John Myatt reveals the secret to creating a convincing fake masterpiece: “You ‘hypnotise’ the original painting, look at the canvas, the thickness of the paint, the way it’s presented. The rule applies to anyone from Rembrandt to Picasso, just learn to look at the original, stand in front of it… Then I’ve got into my car with my mental file of it in my head, so I can get home and start working on it.”
Romantic Chemistry (In a Literal Sense)
“At the birth of English Romanticism, chemistry and other sciences, notably astronomy and the physics of electricity, were exciting components of the new mood. For so long assumed to be polar opposites, Romanticism and Science are justly reunited in Richard Holmes’s new book [The Age of Wonder].”
Shakespeare on Toast
“The title is explained inside: ‘[This book] is quick, easy, straightforward, and good for you. Just like beans on toast.’ It is a good job the book is so compelling, or the author would look like a blinking idiot.”
Culture Isn’t on the Debate Agenda (But It Should Be)
“Shouldn’t taxpayers also acquire equity status [in exchange for the Wall St. bailout], so that rather than handing out corporate welfare we get some direct dividend if any of these private companies turn around? And couldn’t that dividend be used, in part, to underwrite full American public participation in the arts? … [And] what if the NEA just changed the rules? What if, say, its art museum exhibition grants were available only to shows that are open free to the public? That one small policy change would cause a profound shift in the way American museums do business.”
Christoph Eschenbach Named Music Director of National Symphony
“His designation, announced last night by Kennedy Center officials, comes with a twist: Eschenbach, 68, also will hold the newly created title of music director of the Kennedy Center. In this role, he will work closely with… the center’s programmers on the kinds of interdisciplinary, themed festivals and projects that have become something of a Kennedy Center hallmark.”
Wheeldon Company Makes Good Back Home in London
“What a difference a year makes! When Christopher Wheeldon brought his new company Morphoses to Sadlers Wells last year, I complained that the programme was monochrome and prim – a poor advertisement for so exciting a venture. Wednesday’s bill was exactly the opposite: full of life, intelligence and promise for the future.”