“Writers born elsewhere tend to be captivated first by the grandeur and reckless honesty of the great Russian authors; some might always view the country though the prism of Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov and Vasily Grossman.”
Tag: 12.19.10
An $11 Million Christmas Tree?
“An Abu Dhabi luxury hotel that boasted an $11m (£7m) Christmas tree decorated with gold and gems has admitted it may have taken the holiday spirit a bit too far.”
Broadway’s Haves And Have-Nots (One’s Ailing)
“The other Broadway? The one with the new musicals and modern plays? It is in a Grinch-worthy slump. More than a dozen shows with high hopes but meager ticket sales are poised to close by the end of January.”
Onstage With The “Nutcracker”
“Up on stage, as well as in the wings, there’s as much chatter during the performance as you’d find in any neighborhood pub.”
Detroit Symphony Strike Taking Its Toll
“After three months, the bitter dispute has left deep scars on the institution. The breakdown in trust between musicians and management has been well-documented, but the mounting financial impact of the strike in terms of lost ticket sales, alienated patrons and disaffected donors could linger long after the orchestra returns to the stage.”
Group Think – What Makes One Team Smarter Than Another?
“A striking study led by an MIT Sloan School of Management professor shows that teams of people display a collective intelligence that has surprisingly little to do with the intelligence of the team’s individual members.”