“It’s been two years since Saparmurat Niyazov – the deeply perverse dictator of Turkmenistan, died. At the time of his death, Turkmenbashi (‘father of the Turkmen’) as he preferred to be known, was on the brink of global superstardom… [photographer Nicolas Righetti’s book] Love Me Turkmenistan presents a glimpse of the [dictator’s] personality cult at its peak.”
Tag: 12.11.08
Russia and Ukraine Fight Over Bulgakov
A poll of Russians named the author of The Master and Margarita Russia’s second-greatest writer ever (after Pushkin). But he was born in Kiev, which is now, of course, the capital of independent Ukraine. Gogol, who wrote in Russian about his Ukrainian background, has become a similar battleground.
Manoel de Oliveira, The Elliott Carter Of Cinema
The Portuguese filmmaker celebrated his 100th birthday on Dec. 11, the same day that composer Elliott Carter did. And, like Carter, Oliveira is still making new work.
Liverpool’s Year As Cultural Capital Draws 15 Million Visitors
The old seaport had a major success as the European Community’s Capital of Culture for 2008, with the region’s economy getting a benefit of £800 million. The European Commission president called Liverpool’s effort “one of the most successful capital of culture programmes that we have ever had.”
Mexico City Gets A New Contemporary Art Museum
“The Museo Universitario de Arte Contemporáneo, to give it its full title, is a significant addition to the Mexican art world, providing 3,300 sq. m of gallery space, which its chief curator, Guillermo Santamarina, plans to fill with large-scale international exhibitions, installations and Mexico’s largest public collection of contemporary art.”
Elliott Carter At 100
“Elliott [has], even now at 100, a fantastic vitality and a fantastic youthful view of things,” James Levine says. “He’s literally still in his prime. He’s writing just one marvelous, original new piece after the other.”
The Tale Of Genji, The World’s First Illustrated Novel
An exhibition in Sydney examines how the thousand-year-old book has inspired visual art ever since its inception. “The empresses and higher court ladies had the tale read to them and at the same time they would look at paintings accompanying the story. It is assumed this tale was illustrated practically right away.”
The Top Ten Books To Impress Women
“A survey commissioned by the National Year of Reading has found the top 10 reads to impress a woman. Top of the list is Nelson Mandela’s autobiography Long Walk to Freedom. If you also drop in that you adore Shakespeare, poetry, and cookery books; are never off current affairs websites; and – sorry readers – that you take the Financial Times, then there may be queues.”
Abbado Re-Ups With Lucerne Festival
“Claudio Abbado’s term at the helm of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra has been extended for another four years, the Italian conductor said Thursday. Abbado, who has suffered from medical problems, will stay on as musical director of the Swiss festival’s orchestra until the end of 2014, artistic director Michael Haefliger added.”
Bass-Baritone Richard Van Allan, 73
“Richard Van Allan, who has died aged 73, was a stalwart of British opera from his debut in the Glyndebourne chorus in 1964 until his last appearance at the Edinburgh Festival two years ago.”