The Cambridge Community Chorus (CCC) was founded in 1990, and has in the past 18 years grown in size and skill under the leadership of William Ethaniel Thomas. Thomas is retiring from his post and led his farewell concert in Sanders Theatre on May 25 before an enthusiastic audience. For his final program Thomas chose two large works: one by Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), and one by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912).

William Ethaniel Thomas (more…)

“Boston is adrift in the brave new competition among big American cities vying for tourist dollars.” Maureen Dezell, WBUR

Maureen made that charge back in July 2006 in an article that turned out to be one of the last posts on the late WBUR Arts Online. Now that the quote, along with a link to the piece, is part of an invitation to an Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston workshop on April 23 where, for $50, attendees can listen to experts talk about ways that we can “create for Boston and Massachusetts what Philadelphia and Pennsylvania have successfully done” to encourage cultural tourism. The latest news out of Philadelphia is that Boston has its work cut out for it — Philly is surging ahead. (more…)

If you ask the British public who the foremost actors of the 20th century were, you will likely get the names of Sir John Gielgud, Sir Ralph Richardson, Sir Laurence Olivier (later Lord Olivier), and Sir Alec Guinness. You are not likely to hear the name of Paul Scofield, who died last week of leukemia at the age of 86.

The late Paul Scofield — a titanic figure in theatrical history
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It may now have entered its tabloid phase.

One of the alleged Pollock paintings in a dispute that has taken a tawdry turn.

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But the Nov. 28 International Foundation for Art Research [IFAR] symposium, “Are They Pollocks? What Science Tells Us About the Matter Paintings,” drew relatively scant media notice, even though it had been billed by some as the conclusion to one of the most heated debates in recent art world history.

None of the coverage of the IFAR symposium, moreover, mentioned the extensive, interconnected relationships between the symposium participants, IFAR, and several key players in the Pollock Matter Affair, especially the Pollock-Krasner Foundation.

Alex Matter and some of the paintings at the center of the controversy

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Abstract Expressionist painter Jackson Pollock doing his thing
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Jackson Pollock in Action

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