Cracks in the Arts: New Orchestras, Bartering, and AI at Cannes

In February, Jeffrey Kahane departed from the San Antonio Philharmonic and subsequently unveiled a new initiative focused on orchestra and education. Midsize theaters in the Twin Cities are expressing concerns about dwindling corporate and civic support, describing their situation as 'melting.' Following an $8 million budget cut from the federal government, NPR is undergoing a reorganization and offering buyouts. To help make touring feasible, UK music venues are now allowing bands to sleep on-site. Amid the cost-of-living crisis, artists on Instagram are exchanging paintings for haircuts and groceries. At Cannes, AI has been likened to 'a tsunami,' prompting celebrities to trademark their identities to guard against potential misuse. Soprano Felicity Lott passed away at 79, and conductor Herbert Blomstedt, aged 98, was taken offstage during a Mahler performance at the San Francisco Symphony.