Jayne Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Today my classic music station posted this link on their FB page - Greece's national symphony & chorale are being shut down. They gave a performance and here is a clip of Elgar's Nimrod and the Greek National Anthem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=aUmubmoEjHo#! Obviously the TV camera operator closed in on the faces of the most emotional musicians and chorusters. Imagine if this was the London Symphony Orchestra shutting down entirely - or any other beloved institution. These are clearly the artists who don't earn glamorous salaries - they do this because they love music. While we may disagree with some of the Greek politicians' policies, I grieve that so many institutions are suffering - not just in Greece but also in Spain (Barcelona Ballet) and Italy (everything but La Scala). Then in places like Egypt - the problem is the fundamentalists running the government. The Cairo Opera House recently announced a strike in support of the fired AD, in an incredibly emotional moment on the stage when the curtain rose for the opera Aida: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMlAm5dMzz0 I wish I knew what to do that would actually be helpful. Link to comment
sandik Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 And I believe their national television network was also shuttered. Link to comment
Paul Parish Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Awful news. Greece, the home of the muses! Link to comment
Janneke Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 I find it shocking, sad and very upsetting. The closure of the national television station is especially extreme (imo). Link to comment
Jayne Posted July 3, 2013 Author Share Posted July 3, 2013 well, a small light in Egypt - the military has deposed the Muslim Fundamentalist President and his Islam-oriented Constitution. Hopefully Egypt will get a new democratic government and constitution, and appoint good leaders with funding for their cultural institutions. Link to comment
Jayne Posted July 19, 2013 Author Share Posted July 19, 2013 More sad news, NYT reports that some stolen paintings may have been burnt by the mother of a suspect. Her logic at the time was that the government could not convict her son if there was no evidence. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/19/world/europe/romanians-tale-has-art-world-fearing-worst.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Maybe not a crime against humanity, but definitely a crime against all future generations who will not be able to see the works. Link to comment
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