There seems to be no shortage of books postulating either that classical music has made itself irrelevant, or that it has never been stronger or more popular. Scholar Richard Taruskin has taken the measure of both sides, and finds that “the discourse supporting classical music so reeks of historical blindness and sanctimonious self-regard as to render the object of its ministrations practically indefensible.” Still, “classical music is not dying; it is changing… Change can be opposed, and it can be slowed down, but it cannot be stopped.”
Tag: 10.22.07
The Secret To Making Your Money Back
With major West End musicals now routinely costing untold millions to bring to the stage, it’s become more crucial than ever to have an idea of what is likely to result in success before one begins. Thus, the rules: “If you can’t sum up your £10 million spectacular in a breath, forget about it… Exude a winner’s confidence before you even open.” And if you want a long run, “people have got to come more than once.”
The New Cronenberg?
“Eastern Promises, a Russian mob story set in contemporary London, is far removed from the films that earned [director David Cronenberg] the nickname ‘king of venereal horror.” But no one need worry that the Canadian is softening with age. “I’ve always been dealing with transgressive groups, so in that sense, it’s not unusual for me, as I’m interested in marginal characters outside society.”
The Best-Kept Secret In UK Theatre? Scotland.
Typically, English theatre critics write about Scotland once a year, at Edinburgh Festival time. Michael Billingsley says that they’re missing out. “Scotland’s current political and economic buoyancy is reflected in its theatre… Where England grows ever more introspective, Scotland looks outward.”
A New Tolstoy War
“Almost 140 years after first publication of [Tolstoy’s War & Peace,] a nasty duel has broken out between rival versions of the weighty tome published in the US. The argument between the two new translations is, fittingly, one of weight. Acclaimed translators Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky’s faithful version of Tolstoy’s tale of birth, death, love, war and peace clocks in at 1,267 pages and features all of the 500 or so characters Tolstoy introduced… Facing it in bookshops across the US is British translator Andrew Bromfield’s reduced, ‘original’ version. The Bromfield War and Peace, first published in Britain earlier this year, runs to just 886 pages, does away with the French and the philosophical digressions, and boasts a happy ending.”
Technology Brings New Mona Lisa Revelations
“The Mona Lisa’s famously enigmatic smile was originally wider and more expressive, according to new scans of the painting… [Also,] Da Vinci changed his mind about the position of two fingers on the Mona Lisa’s left hand,” and the colors of the famous portrait have changed considerably with age.
Assessing The Turner Shortlist
So much is written about the Turner Prize when the shortlist is unveiled every year, but how often do you get a serious examination of the actual art being celebrated? It may not be as juicy as all the ideological debate, but Adrian Searle has a complete analysis of the 2007 Turner finalists, currently on show in Liverpool.
Ruhr Triennale Gets Another New Director
“Stage director Willy Decker is to be the new director of the Ruhr Triennale starting in 2009. He succeeds Jürgen Flimm, now director of the Salzburg Festival… Founded in 2002 by Gerard Mortier, the Ruhr Triennale offers adventurous music, theater and dance programs in unused industrial spaces in the Ruhr Valley.”
Is There A Tenor In The Hou… Oh, Yeah, There’s One.
When tenor Ben Heppner took ill midway through an oratorio in Vancouver over the weekend, the entire Vancouver Symphony performance was in jeopardy. But incredibly, another well-known tenor, Peter Butterfield, was in the audience, and was immediately conscripted to finish the show, even though he hadn’t sung the piece in 20 years.
Major Libraries Shun Google Scans
“Several major research libraries have rebuffed offers from Google and Microsoft to scan their books into computer databases, saying they are put off by restrictions these companies want to place on the new digital collections.”