HubArts.com

MFA wins Italian campaign

Let's just say it. The MFA comes out ahead in this Italian looted-art case. You can't say Malcolm Rogers isn't a savvy politician. Seeing the writing on the wall, apparently, as a  number of U.S. museums came under scrutiny from the Italians, he managed to give back allegedly looted art without exactly admitting anything. And he got the same deal as NY's Met - a long-term loan of some other treasure from the Italians in return. But as this story in the Times makes clear, the Met seems to be taking a sort of grudging approach to the whole matter, while Rogers has greeted the Italians and their statue like, well, friends, if not conquering heroes. As Geoff notes on his blog, this may be because we got the 9-foot statue Eirene (Goddess of Peace) and the Met got a cup. (Or is the cause-and-effect backward? Hmm.) He thinks the Times was snickering at the MFA approach, but I read it as the Met looking foolishly standoffish. In any case, as Geoff reports in the Globe, MFA curators managed a neat trick to get the statue loaned by the Italians ready in time for Malcolm to declare victory yesterday. Brava all!

Egregious Dexy's Midnight Runners Reference of the Week

Geoff went to the MFA today for the unveiling of the MFA's art loan from Italy, which put him in mind of a New Wave hit from across the pond.

Everything you always wanted to know about Holiday Pops* (*But were afraid to ask)

...is contained in this press release:

BOSTON POPS HOLIDAY SEASON BUILDS ON BELOVED TRADITIONS WITH GUEST PERFORMANCES BY BARENAKED LADIES AND NEW YORK VOICES 

KEITH LOCKHART LEADS 25 POPS PERFORMANCES AT SYMPHONY HALL

ADDITIONAL CONDUCTORS INCLUDE GRANT LLEWELLYN,  JAMES ORENT, AND ROBERT BERNHARDT

  Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops launch their 2006 Holiday Pops season, one of Boston’s best-loved Yuletide traditions, on December 11. The season stretches through New Year’s Eve and includes an effervescent mix of programming ranging from family-friendly Children’s Matinees with Santa to the elegant New Year’s Eve concert with Grammy Award-winning New York Voices. The Canadian alt-rock band Barenaked Ladies also joins the Boston Pops on December 13 and 14 at Symphony Hall.

Most programs include such holiday standards as “Hark, The Herald Angels Sing,” “Sleigh Ride,” and “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The Tanglewood Festival Chorus, John Oliver, conductor, adds its majestic sound to the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah and John Williams’ “Somewhere in my Memory,” from the hit film Home Alone. Actors Will LeBow or Paul O’Brien read “Yes, Virigina, There Is A Santa Claus,” as well as the Biblical Christmas story and thoughts on Chanukah. Programs conclude with “A Merry Little Sing-Along,” a cheery medley of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Let It Snow,” “The Christmas Song,” “Winter Wonderland,” and “Jingle Bells.”

Mr. Lockhart leads the majority of this season’s Holiday Pops concerts (8 p.m. on Dec. 11, 8 p.m. on Dec. 12, 1 p.m. on Dec. 14, 8 p.m. on Dec. 14, 4 p.m. on Dec. 15, 11 a.m. on Dec. 16, 4 p.m. on Dec. 19, 8 p.m. on Dec. 19, 4 p.m. on Dec. 20, 8 p.m. on Dec. 20, 4 p.m. on Dec. 21, 8 p.m. on Dec. 21, 4 p.m. on Dec. 22, 8 p.m. on Dec. 22, 3 p.m. on Dec. 23, 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 23, 11 a.m. on Dec. 24, 3 p.m. on Dec. 24, 4 p.m. on Dec. 26, 8 p.m. on Dec. 26, 4 p.m. on Dec. 27, 8 p.m. on Dec. 28, 8 p.m. on Dec. 29, 3 p.m. on Dec. 30, and 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 30).

Guest conductors are Grant Llewellyn (8 p.m. on Dec. 15, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 16, and 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 17), James Orent (11 a.m. on Dec. 17, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Dec. 18, and 11 a.m. on Dec. 23), and Robert Bernhardt (10:15 p.m. on Dec. 31). 

 

BARENAKED LADIES JOINS THE BOSTON POPS

Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart will lead the Pops, joined by the alt-rock band Barenaked Ladies, in special holiday performances, December 13 and 14 at Symphony Hall. The December 13 program is the annual “A Company Christmas at Pops,” a private fundraiser for the orchestra. However, tickets are still available to the public for the 1 p.m. concert on December 14.

BNL will blend their laid-back sound with the power and warmth of “America’s Orchestra” in Christmas and Hanukkah highlights from their 2004 album Barenaked for the Holidays. Though this is the Pops’ first collaboration with BNL, Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops have previously worked with such rock artists as Guster, My Morning Jacket, and Aimee Mann.

The 8 p.m. Boston Pops concert will also be taped for broadcast next holiday season on Boston’s WBZ-TV.

 

 

CHILDREN’S MATINEES

Children’s Matinees feature family-friendly favorites such as “A Holly Jolly Jingle” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” with Will LeBow and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. Mr. LeBow or Mr. O’Brien also recite “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” capped off by a visit from Santa.

The Holiday Pops season includes eight kids’ matinee concerts at 4 p.m. on Friday, December 15; Friday, December 22; Tuesday, December 26; and Wednesday, December 27; and 11 a.m. Saturday, December 16; Sunday, December 17; Saturday, December 23; and Sunday, December 24. These special family concerts include a children’s sing-along, and parents can bring cameras to take photos of their children with Santa. Table seats will include a kid-friendly menu, along with special holiday treats.

 

NEW YORK VOICES

New York Voices join the Boston Pops for four concerts building to their New Year’s Eve performance at Symphony Hall. Although the group finds its roots in jazz, this Grammy Award-winning vocal quartet also sings in genres ranging from classical to R & B.

The New York Voices perform with the Boston Pops at 8 p.m. on December 28 and 29, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on December 30, and 10:15 p.m. on December 31. Doors open at 8 p.m. for the New Year’s Eve concert, which also offers audience members the chance to dance in Symphony Hall.

 

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for the 2006 Holiday Pops Series are priced from $25 to $115. Tickets for the New Year’s Eve celebration are priced from $80 to $167. Holiday Pops tickets may be ordered by phone by calling SymphonyCharge at 617-266-1200 or 888-266-1200, or online at www.bso.org. Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The box office remains open through intermission on concert nights. American Express, MasterCard, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, personal checks, and cash are all accepted at the box office. There is a $5 per ticket handling fee for tickets ordered by phone or online. All Holiday Pops patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket. In consideration of all patrons, please note that children under the age of 4 are not permitted at evening Holiday Pops performances.

 

Morning reads etc.

Geoff says the first Italian loan to the MFA under their new pact will be announced tomorrow. ... New Hampshire's Ken Burns will debut his new documentary "The War," about World War II, at Dartmouth on Friday, sez Names & Faces. Rationing may be enforced on the homefront when the full project debuts on PBS in the fall: it's 14 hours long. ... Four days until the ICA press opening.

Ruth Brown on radio

Over at WGBH (89.7 FM), they've posted a 2005 interview with the late Ruth Brown by "Eric in the Evening" host Eric Jackson. It's worth a listen.

And as your holiday bonus...goodbye

Bruce Hangen is out at the BSO, sez Geoff. And the Dig has snark on more layoffs at my tabloid alma mater, the Herald.

Happy holiday

I'm sure Howie Carr or someone will be railing against it by the end of the day, but there's a pretty interesting Thanksgiving-related art exhibit that's the subject of a Globe feature today. Artist Sam Durant purchased some of the figurines and other items from the closing Plymouth National Wax Museum and has turned them into art exploring the real relationship between the Pilgrims and the Indians. The exhibit, "Scenes from the Pilgrim Story: Myths, Massacres, and Monuments," is at Mass Art.

Just pucker up and blow

Another office tip today brings me to "Pucker Up: The Fine Art of Whistling," a documentary that's screening at the MFA several times over the next week, beginning Friday at 6 p.m. The film by Kate Davis and David Heilbroner features the International Whistling Competition, ending in "a nail-biting whistle-off." Better yet, I'm told the world champ will be flying in from the Netherlands to entertain at the Friday screening and one at noon Saturday. Kids and grandparents welcomed. General admission is $7 and you can buy tix here.

Blog it your own damn self

A friend here at the office is on the committee of the "Do It Your Damn Self!" 11th Annual National Youth Video and Film Festival, so I have to tell you: It's Friday (at the MFA and the Brattle) and Saturday (at the Brattle), and you can find all the details on this worthwhile event here.

Greater, or lesser

There's so little meaningful arts coverage on local TV these days that I feel like I have to mention it when it comes up. So...Thursday at 7, WGBH's "Greater Boston" will feature the Wang Center's pending name change to Citi-something plus Jared  Bowen's visit to the MFA's "Fashion Show" exhibit.