Those in the arts love to bemoan profit-obsessed America’s ignorance of culture, and to imagine what could be if only some big corporate TV network would trumpet the cause of serious art, music, and literature to the unwashed masses. Well, guess what? They are, says Peter Dobrin, at least on the Discovery Channel, and the culturati might want to take notice.
Tag: 10.28.07
Pavarotti’s Widow Lashes Out At The Press
Much has been written about the private and financial affairs of Luciano Pavarotti in the weeks since the legendary tenor’s death, and his widow is hitting back. “She denied being left in debt or that she was squabbling with his three adult daughters over his will… It has been reported in the Italian media that she was left £12.6m in debt and that their marriage had been on the rocks before he died.”
The Secret World Of Stagers
In the world of high-end ballet, “the stager — the person who has taught the dancers the steps, timing, architecture and intention of a ballet but is not the choreographer — is, from a public point of view, the ghost in the machine… The largely unsung stagers make it possible for ballets to be reproduced all over the world.”
The New Face Of The Wooster Group
“Since its first shows in the mid-1970s the Wooster Group has been a famously tight-knit troupe of collaborative artists overseen by Ms. LeCompte. But as the lineup of actors has changed, so has the artistic center of gravity, moving at points to Spalding Gray, Willem Dafoe, Ron Vawter or Kate Valk. Over the past several years [Scott Shepherd] has emerged as the new main man, a counterpoint to the dynamic presence of Ms. Valk.”
The Strange And Wonderful Pull Of Berlin
“Berlin continues to exert a glittering if, to some, reptilian fascination. It will always be haunted by Hitler’s ultimate evil. But it still breathes the giddy air of the 1920s — campy, wicked and darkly fun — and has become a new world center of youth culture and la vie de bohème. Today it is also a power center for the new Europe and an ever more ambitious building site for architecture rebuilt or eagerly modern. The latest testimony to that fascination is Berlin in Lights, a 17-day festival in New York.”
Why Denver Needs A Better Hall
The debate is on in Denver over a proposed $550m bonding package funding various cultural and infrastructure projects that will come before voters in November. $60m of the money would go towards an overhaul of the city’s aging concert hall. Kyle MacMillan says that the importance of a great hall should not be taken lightly. “There has been much talk in recent years of trying to transform [Denver] into a world-class city. By definition, such cities have world-class cultural amenities, and Boettcher Concert Hall does not come close to making that grade.”
How Did Minnesota Lose Its Broadway Connection?
“Once upon a time, Minneapolis and St. Paul were trendy spots to road-test new musicals before they hit the Great White Way. Nowadays, those tryouts are going to other cities – taking prestige, money and jobs with them.” So what changed in the Twin Cities? “It’s not that local theater folks aren’t trying… [but] local markets can be so eager to have the imprimatur of a pre-Broadway tryout that they’re willing to virtually give away the theater space for the weeks and months of rehearsal leading up to performances.”