The Editor's Page

Just as I began to put my mind to this commentary, the results from the first of this year's old master sales, The Scholar's Eye: Property from the Julius Held Collection Part I, at Christie's began coming in—a most gratifying confirmation of the time-honored forces of the market in the arts: 85% of the modestly estimated works sold, a… Continue

Mild und leise. Plenty of otherwise gentle people lose their grip on civility when Wagner’s name is mentioned. I was standing in line at the post office explaining to a friend why I thought Wagner was greater than Bach. I felt that we were in a safely uncivilized location, but no. The woman in front of us turned around and said, “I totally disagree with everything you’re saying.” I had been foolish. The cult of Wagner, which swept half of Europe

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It is only too obvious that the worldwide economic collapse will affect all sectors of the global economy and therefore most aspects of our lives. Most arts organizations are already well along in addressing this murky, complex, and constantly shifting situation have announced cuts ranging from the relatively minor to cancelled or postponed performances, exhibitions, and building projects. Their managers know that things will be different in three months or six months, and probably not for the b… Continue