Actors and writers gathered in London Thursday to mark the centenary of Oscar Wilde’s death with public readings, concerts, lectures, and exhibitions. – BBC
Tag: 11.30.00
TENOR OF THE WORLD
“Ben Heppner, a Canadian gentle giant of 44, is that rare bird – and, rarer still, he can not only sing the notes, but sing them with musical sensitivity and intelligence too, as well as making a fair stab at acting them out on stage.” – The Telegraph (UK)
FAUX WILDE
A recording, long thought to be the only one of Oscar Wilde, probably isn’t. “Experts have analysed the recording using the latest techniques, and have concluded it is likely to be a forgery.” – BBC
STALLING IN BOSTON
Arts boosters in Boston look around the country and see cities encouraging development of arts facilities. But in Boston, plans for new arts initiatives seem to have stalled out. “In Boston, it seems, ambitious dreams to incorporate the arts into major development plans have generally failed.” – Boston Herald 11/30/00
POE’S MYSTERIOUS CODE
For 159 years, a cryptogram, offered by Edgar Allan Poe, has baffled puzzle solvers. “Solving it became the holy grail of the art, with Poe fanatics convinced it would unlock a secret message from beyond the grave.” Now a Toronto software engineer has cracked the code, and it turns out that… – The Globe & Mail (Canada) 11/30/00
EXCLUSIVITY SELLS
Online auctions were supposed to transform the world of art sales, democratizing the bidding process and thus driving up prices. “But so far, that hasn’t proven to be the case. Fine art collectors, perhaps missing the posh surroundings of the auction house, don’t seem to feel comfortable shopping online.” – Wired
UNCERTAIN TIMES IN CANADA
Canada’s two book superstore-chains are locked in battle as Indigo makes a hostile bid to buy Chapters. Both the chains are losing money. And with the threat of US booksellers trying to get in the Canadian market, the book industry in Canada is entering the all-important holiday season with much trepidation. – The Globe and Mail (Canada)
TOUGH SEASON
Argentina’s National Symphony is wrapping up its season. But it’s been a tough year for the orchestra. Due to “indifference” by the government and withholding of funding “several concerts had to change programme or artists, and many didn’t get paid, along with programme-note writers, purveyors of orchestral parts, and, most grievously, the Auditorio de Belgrano.” – Buenos Aires Herald
TENOR OF THE WORLD
“Ben Heppner, a Canadian gentle giant of 44, is that rare bird – and, rarer still, he can not only sing the notes, but sing them with musical sensitivity and intelligence too, as well as making a fair stab at acting them out on stage.” – The Telegraph (UK)
THE ABC’s OF THE TURNER PRIZE
“The Turner Prize is probably the biggest advert for the British art world. Headline-grabbing exhibitions aside, it is the one time the esoteric world of the ‘YBAs’ – Young British Artists – meets the people. For all its outrageousness, once an artist is nominated for the Turner Prize, they become part of the establishment.” Here’s an annotated guide through the workings of the Turner. – The Scotsman