There was a time, not too long ago, when the Lucerne Festival was only a minor blip on the classical music scene, but these days, the Swiss town is among the most important stops for the world’s top touring orchestras. But it wasn’t until Claudio Abbado came on board in 2000 that the festival developed the idea to create its very own dream ensemble. “What Abbado proposed was for the festival to have its own orchestra once again, but one of a very special nature… Its 40-odd members would be supplemented by players from the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonics, as well as front-rank chamber musicians and soloists. Indeed, the orchestra’s roll-call was astonishing.”
Tag: 10.15.04
Gee, They Always Say Such Nice Things About You
Prominent operatic and theatrical director Jonathan Miller is taking shots at the audiences at large venues such as London’s Royal Opera House, saying that “when people pay £150 a seat to see a production funded by the state, there is a sort of desire to see, reflected from the stage, an image of their own wealth.” Miller prefers small theaters packed with devotees, where “you don’t feel like you are waiting for the interval to go to the crush bar where you’ve ordered very grand drinks, and you bear your wife there like an ornamental hawk on your wrist. That’s when I hate the arts. When it’s enjoyed by a group of people who are there to display their privilege.”
They Can Pick ‘Em
The UK publisher of Yann Martel’s Booker Prize-winning novel, The Life of Pi, has capitalized on the author’s success to the tune of a “£1.1m pre-tax profit for 2003”, enough to place the once-struggling Canongate Books firmly back in the black. Canongate, which had twice been in receivership before its current run of good luck, is also the publisher for Booker winner DBC Pierre.
London’s Booming Art Market
“London is one of the dominant forces in the world’s contemporary art market, second only to New York. At least that’s the conclusion suggested by the success of the Frieze art fair, which opened in the capital yesterday. At last year’s inaugural event, dealers sold art works worth up to £20m, according to the organiser, Matthew Slotover. The number of exhibitors this year has risen from 125 to 150, and hopes are that business will be better still.”
Overpainted Raphael Discovered In Italy
A previously unknown painting by Raphael has been discovered in a church in Umbria, where it had been hidden behind another work. The work’s authenticity has been verified beyond doubt, and London’s National Gallery is considering making a request to display it alongside a similar work it currently has on view. The painting “was only re-examined in the course of a survey of diocesan art works ordered by the present bishop of Gubbio, Pietro Bottaccioli. Restorers discovered the banner had been painted over, and decided to remove the later work, millimetre by millimetre, with scalpels.”