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October 1, 2010

UMS’s Arts Roundup: October 1

By Rachelle Lesko

Many members of the UMS staff keep a watchful eye on local and national media for news about artists on our season, pressing arts issues, and more. Each week, we pull together a list of interesting stories  and share them with you.  Welcome to UMS’s Arts Round-up, a weekly collection of arts news, including national issues, artist updates, local shout-outs, and a link or two just for fun. If you come across something interesting in your own reading, please feel free to share!

ARTS ISSUES

  • The orchestral world continues to change as Zarin Mehta steps down as President of the NY Philharmonic.
  • And so does the opera world — Placido Domingo is also reducing his commitments.
  • But James Levine is finally back after months of health issues that curtailed his ability to conduct.
  • Arts jobs count too–NEA chief advocates the legitimacy and worth of creative jobs in the arts during hard economic times.
  • Is opera worth the expense? Alex Ross voices his opinion regarding the Met’s $16 million Wagner opera cycle.

ARTIST UPDATES

  • Stephen Sondheim at 80: An interview with the man who revolutionized the world of musical theater.
  • Dancer/choreographer Trisha Brown featured at the Whitney Museum of American Art in program of her seminal works.

UMS NEWS

  • Rosanne Cash brings superb voice and new depth to classic and new country tunes alike during her performance of “The List” at Hill Auditorium on Saturday night [review].
  • Jordi Savall brings music of Spain and Mexico to St. Francis Church [review].

LOCAL SHOUT-OUTS

  • Play the piano? Always wanted to try? Now’s your chance! Pull up a seat and try out any of the seven Pianos ‘Round Town, located on the sidewalks of Depot Town and Downtown Ypsilanti.
  • And you can play your own melody for UMS — at intermission of the Mariinsky Orchestra and Takacs Quartet concerts (Oct. 10 and Oct. 14 respectively).
  • A potential sign of hope emerges for struggling arts institutions in Michigan with the Detroit Institute of Arts likely to get $10M from the state.

JUST FOR FUN

  • Once again, the hills will be alive with the sound of music, as Oprah reunites the original Sound of Music cast members.
  • Dancers morph into human sculptures around Manhattan as part of the Bodies in Urban Spaces project.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachelle is the UMS Development Administrative Assistant and has just started her fourth season at UMS. She likes to spend her free time running, knitting, reading, and going to concerts. She also has a weakness for cupcakes—her favorite dessert!