The National Portrait Gallery has discovered hidden paintings beneath Tudor portraits in the Collection. The discoveries are displayed from today as part of Hidden: Unseen Paintings Beneath Tudor Portraits in the recently remodelled Room 3; admission if free. Recent analysis undertaken as part of the Making Art in Tudor Britain project used scientific techniques to analyse the portraits in the display to increase the […]
Michelangelo
Bolshoi prima ballerina Marianna Ryzhkina adds her voice to the chorus of disapproval
Things still are not as they should be at the shiny new Bolshoi, says Reuters. Back stage, dancers grumble that practice rooms have become cramped and the Bolshoi has lost the charm that can only exist with the patina of a bygone era. Much the same criticism levelled at the Royal Opera House renovation and that […]
Antonioni’s muse is 80: Happy Birthday Monica Vitti
The great Italian actress Monica Vitti is 80 today. She passed seamlessly from being the muse of the intense Michelangelo Antonioni, to becoming Italy’s favourite comedienne in films such as 1973’s hilarious Polvere di stelle, with Alberto Sordi. She had a stunning screen persona which managed to combine physical beauty and perfect comic timing. Her husky […]
The Times celebrates Milan’s Raymonda… but why?
Milan’s newspaper, the most influential Italian paper, Il Corriere della Sera, almost ignored La Raymonda at La Scala last week, with Valeria Crippa’s short article dismissing it quickly. Here the past is preserved in mothballs, the brilliant Marius Petipa’s choreographic style appears decrepit, and dull scenery frames an ageing corps, despite the freshness of the students of the school. Others however looked a little closer. Elsa […]
Alan Hollinghurst’s new novel, The Stranger’s Child: “an extraordinary achievement”
Lovers of Hollinghurst’s writing have been waiting a long time for the end of June 2011 and the publication of his new novel. In fact, the wait has been seven years, but now we know that it was worth it. As we sit with the book in our hands, the critics start penning their reactions. […]
Piedmont’s Royal Palace shows highlights of Italian art
The Royal Palace of Venaria (Reggia di Venaria Reale) – a prior home of Italy’s royal Savoia family located 10 km from Turin – is celebrating 150 years of Italian unity with an exhibit spanning centuries of Italian art. “La Bella Italia” features over 350 paintings and sculptures, gathered from every major cultural center in […]
Best Hung Theatre Personalities 2010 – The Full Monty!
In Mark Shenton’s excellent, illuminating and entertaining blog for the Stage, “Shenton’s View”, he has followed up his blog on London’s Unsung Theatrical Heroes with the Best Hung list! When I posted my blog on Monday about London’s unsung theatrical heroes, one of those I named wrote to thank me – but quipped, “Damn, I […]
