To Jeremy Strick’s way of thinking, “the crisis that forced MOCA’s leaders to face facts and consider radical options, including a merger with LACMA, was ‘a crucible. It was difficult, it was painful, but thank God it happened’.”
Tag: 12.25.08
The Fabulous, Furious Eartha Kitt
“Sex symbols always confront the world’s morality, but few went to such lengths as Eartha Kitt… Whether asking Santa Claus for a yacht (with an obvious payback in mind) in her hit ‘Santa Baby’ or seductively plying a man young enough to be her grandson with champagne during her nightclub act, Kitt presented herself with a take-it-or-leave-it attitude that defied the judgments of others.”
Italian Opera Houses On The Brink
With three of Italy’s 14 major opera houses in receivership and budgets badly stretched at the rest, the upcoming cuts in the nation’s cultural budget are causing serious concern. “There is almost no private support of the arts in Italy – there are no tax incentives to drive that – and the government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi warned months ago that every theater, museum and archeological site had become a luxury.”
Las Vegas Phil Eliminates Executive Director Job
At the same time that the orchestra’s board president stepped down this week, executive director Peter Aaronson was let go – because the orchestra couldn’t afford to pay him. “It was not just that my salary [$125K] was overpriced, we had no cash flow to keep the doors open.” Aaronson will not be replaced.