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

• What’s next on the list to download to your ipod? Ballet!
• The use of captions during plays give theaters access to new audiences, including the hearing impaired.
• 2011 Edinburgh International  Festival to focus on Asian culture and influence.

Artist Updates

• World famous composer Philip Glass writes a new opera, to premiere in 2013.
• Alongside 14 others, Yo-Yo Ma is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom—the country’s highest civilian honor—from President Obama.

UMS News

• Annarbor.com performance review of Stew & the Negro Problem at the old Leopold’s pub. Additional performances on Friday and Saturday!

Local Shout-Outs

• Intriguing exhibit opens at DIA, looking at artist fakes and the detective work used to verify artworks.
• Students host EMU music festival featuring local bands.

Just For Fun

• Check out this circus-like version of “Swan Lake” that has lately been making the rounds on youtube.  Amazing or horrifying? You decide!

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

• New innovation in orchestral organization may be on the horizon – a look at how restructuring could open up new possibilities for management and musicians alike.

• The Guggenheim expansion to Abu Dhabi brings human rights concerns to the forefront.

Artist Updates

• A look at the challenges that arise in preserving Merce Cunningham’s impeccable dance legacy beyond The Legacy Tour, coming to the Power Center stage in February.

• Cecilia Bartoli adds “artistic director” to her bag of tricks.

UMS News

• Do you have tickets to the Rosanne Cash concert?  Consider picking up her book, too – Composed: A Memoir

• Laurie Anderson’s Delusion opened the BAM Next Wave Festival this week: reviews from The New York Times and the Village Voice.

Local Shout-Outs

• The DIA uses geocaching to engage the community in exploring the metro Detroit area and draw attention to the Inside|Out project.

Just For Fun

• Would you ever watch an opera in the Big House?  In Washington D.C., they’re not too far off…“Play Ballo!”

• In Sweden, a robotic swan created by Mälardalen University dances to Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake.

• Shocked by Lady Gaga’s meat-dress at the Video Music Awards?  Believe it or not, she’s not the first to dress carnivorously.  Check out the art history behind her meaty wardrobe.