Phoenix Symphony Selects L.A. Phil Alum As Its Next Music Director
The Phoenix Symphony announced that Chilean‑Italian conductor Paolo Bortolameolli will become its Virginia G. Piper Music Director beginning in the 2027‑28 season, after serving as Music Director Designate for 2026‑27. He was chosen from a three‑year, 100‑candidate search, emerging as the clear favorite of both the orchestra’s musicians and the search committee. Bortolameolli brings a distinguished résumé that includes a Yale Master of Music, mentorship by Gustavo Dudamel, and guest‑conducting stints with the Phoenix Symphony. His appointment marks the 12th music directorship in the orchestra’s 80‑year history.
Bill Kurtis To Retire From NPR’s “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me”
Veteran journalist Bill Kurtis announced his retirement from NPR’s weekly news‑quiz program “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!” after a 12‑year tenure as judge and scorekeeper. His final episode is scheduled for May 23, 2026, concluding a broadcasting career that stretches over seven decades,...
Good Morning
Rising production costs are forcing American theater companies to stage new works in London, where venue rentals are cheaper than Broadway. The Kennedy Center’s two‑year closure leaves a cultural void, yet Washington National Opera successfully mounted Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha shortly...
An Opera Singer Who’s Made A Name As A Car Salesman
A classically trained opera singer has reinvented his career by becoming a car salesman who films himself belting arias on the dealership lot. He writes original lyrics that describe each vehicle and posts the performances on TikTok and Instagram, where...
Thinking Of AI Art — You Have To Think Of It As Its Own Art Form
Filmmaker Harmony Korine, famed for Gummo and Spring Breakers, is now championing AI‑generated immersive art. Through a partnership with generative‑AI startup Runway, his studio EDGLRD produced a trippy short set in Miami’s Design District, debuting at Art Basel. Korine describes...
The Giant Nude Woman In SF’s Embarcadero Plaza Will Be Staying All This Summer
The San Francisco Arts Commission voted on March 4 to keep Marco Cochrane’s 48‑foot steel‑and‑mesh nude sculpture “R‑Evolution” in Embarcadero Plaza through October 2025. The work, originally created for Burning Man in 2015, is privately funded by the Sijbrandij Foundation and...
Crystal Pite On Choreographing Work About Big Real-World Problems
Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite, a multi‑award‑winning figure in contemporary dance, blends massive ensemble work with intimate, emotionally resonant storytelling. Her catalog—including “Flight Pattern,” “Figures in Extinction,” and “Betroffenheit”—directly engages issues such as the refugee crisis, climate change and collective trauma....
What Will Happen To DC Theatre Without A WaPo Theatre Critic?
In February, The Washington Post eliminated its entire arts and culture desk, including full‑time theatre critic Naveen Kumar, leaving Washington, D.C. without a dedicated regional theatre reviewer. Freelance pieces now fill the void, but coverage remains sparse. Thirty‑three local theatres...