Latest news with #TheBrothersKaramazov
New European
27-05-2025
- General
- New European
Everyday Philosophy: Where is God when children are starving?
Yet images of emaciated Palestinian children and babies, victims of the Israeli blockade on Gaza, are now so common that we risk becoming immune to them, and to what it means morally for someone to have ordered actions with this predictable result. Some humanitarian aid is getting through now, but for thousands it will be too late. No one can justify starving a child. Ever. It's not a legitimate response to the sadistic brutality of the attacks by Hamas on Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023. Adults are dying too, of course, but it is the children and babies that most wrench the heart of anyone capable of compassion. What is happening to them now, today, not as the result of drought or a pandemic, but through Benjamin Netanyahu's policies, is almost too terrible to imagine. In Dostoevsky's novel The Brothers Karamazov, the character Ivan asks how widespread and intense cruelty towards children, including their torture and murder in war, can be compatible with the existence of a good God. If the price of believing in God is that this is a necessary feature of a preconceived harmonious whole, then for him the price is too high. Ivan refuses to believe in such a God. As he puts it, 'What have children got to do with it? It's quite incomprehensible why they should have to suffer.' This is an aspect of the Problem of Evil, the problem of squaring the undeniable existence of evil in the world, both naturally occurring and evil as a result of human choice, with the existence of an all-powerful, all-knowing, benevolent God. How can this be in the plan of a supremely loving Being? And if it's not in the plan, but down to bad human choices, what possessed a kind God to invent beings with the capacity for such acts? What's going on? Atheists have a simple answer: it isn't compatible, and this is further evidence that God doesn't exist. That seems right to me. The usual response of believers is that the gift of human free will brings with it the possibility of doing evil. But it's worth asking whether we really do have free will, and also why a good God couldn't have made us more prone to treating one another better. Why doesn't He, She, It intervene to stop atrocities like the mass starvation of children? Why perform a miracle like turning water into wine, curing someone of leprosy, or making a statue weep, and not save the many hungry children of Palestine? For believers, agnostics and atheists alike there is now a practical question about how we should react to the knowledge that children are being starved. Should we, as most of us do, get on with our lives and not think too much about it? We are more or less incapable of helping them. Faced with the suffering of her compatriots in occupied France during the second world war, the French philosopher and religious mystic Simone Weil, who had escaped to England hoping to join the French resistance from there, chose a radical and self-destructive form of solidarity with them. Weil had always had a deep and passionate concern for the suffering of others. In 1928, Simone de Beauvoir, her fellow student at the Sorbonne in Paris, learned that Weil had wept on hearing about the outbreak of famine in China. In Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter, Beauvoir explained 'these tears compelled my respect much more than her gifts as a philosopher. I envied her for having a heart that could beat right across the world.' They met and discussed which was more important: the revolution that would feed all the starving people of the Earth, or finding the meaning of human existence. Weil chose revolution; Beauvoir put the existential question higher. Weil's reaction was to dismiss Beauvoir as petit bourgeois. She looked her up and down and told her: 'It's easy to see you've never gone hungry'. Weil's hopes of being parachuted back into France as a resistance radio operative were thwarted by advanced tuberculosis. In 1943, already frail, she decided to eat only the quantity of food she believed people in occupied France could obtain. This extreme act of solidarity hastened her death, which came in August of that year. She was only 34. Weil experts still debate whether solidarity really was the motivation for her minimal diet, or whether this was an act of religious asceticism inspired by her reading of Schopenhauer. Either way, self-starvation doesn't help hungry children, and I definitely don't recommend Weil's approach. But what can we do?
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
It could be that some New Hampshire Republicans just need to do a little more reading
"The far right now dominating the American Republican Party is selling an idea of liberty that in practice amounts to unfettered freedom but only for the like-minded." (Getty Images) I don't spend a lot of time thinking about why Democratic politicians struggle so much to connect with working-class voters. That's for the party leaders and candidates to figure out. But it's entirely possible that Fyodor Dostoyevsky partially diagnosed the problem almost 150 years ago, when he wrote in 'The Brothers Karamazov': 'The more I love humanity in general, the less I love man in particular.' Recent Republican success winning over the working class is a little easier to understand considering America's Puritan roots. The right has long made political hay by convincing millions of voters that the degradation of society is most evident not in corrupt fiscal policies but in expressions of human sexuality. Every legislative session has its examples, and this year one of them is a book banning bill now headed to the governor's desk. House Bill 324 is touted by conservatives as 'parental rights' legislation meant to keep certain books out of the hands of impressionable young people. It reads: 'This bill prohibits material that is obscene or harmful to minors in schools and creates a procedure for removal and cause of action.' 'Obscene,' of course, always refers to sexuality and not the cherished Americana of extreme violence. And, importantly, it does not encompass the most glaring national obscenity: economic inequality. Whether or not you buy the Republican argument that HB 324 targets only 'flat-out pornography' in schools — which seems unlikely because that's already covered under New Hampshire's existing obscenity laws — author Jodi Picoult is correct in her assessment of the bill's true intent and the price we all pay for censorship: 'These parents will tell you that the books are exposing kids to topics that are salacious or revolutionary. What kids are really being exposed to are lives and mindsets different from their own, which creates compassion and empathy.' The bottom line is that what Republican New Hampshire lawmakers — and many conservative parents — don't like is LGBTQ themes in literature. Why? Because they are convinced that the four horsemen of the American apocalypse will ride into town dressed in drag. But the riders they should worry about have always been with us, gulping the rarefied air of Pullman palace cars and private jet cabins. The American right's fixation on sexuality is bad enough on its own, but it is downright confounding when coupled with Republican-backed efforts that exacerbate economic inequality. Only one of those things is an existential threat to the American experiment, and I promise you it's not Picoult's 'Nineteen Minutes.' HB 324 is an unnecessary bill that exists only to scratch the Republican itch to crush content it deems symbolic of Western decline. But the real threats to society are found elsewhere. For example, consider New Hampshire Republicans' myopic repeal of the Interest and Dividends Tax, an action undertaken in service to the state's economic elite. That move should be constantly discussed and dissected in this state, especially now as lawmakers work at cutting hundreds of millions from the next state budget. But conservatives would rather fish in libraries for words and themes to be offended by. Meanwhile, those with the least in New Hampshire are on the threshold of fresh harm from the right's cold budget priorities. If you want more evidence of this dynamic, consider the 'big beautiful bill' now in the works in Washington, D.C. Once again, a few will win and the struggling many will lose. But the trick to sneaking garbage like that through is to make people look for threats in the wrong places. Immigrants, diversity programs, books with titles like 'Gender Queer.' Republican voters are made to believe that those are the issues pulling at America's seams and not the obvious culprit: the 1 percent's scorched-earth pursuit of limitless wealth. Riding shotgun with all of this is the rot of hypocrisy. The far right now dominating the American Republican Party is selling an idea of liberty that in practice amounts to unfettered freedom but only for the like-minded. That is why the party so consistently defends bigots and punches down on the vulnerable. You can see evidence of this in the always-uneven Republican application of 'local control.' How is HB 324 in alignment with local control? How are any of the laws targeting transgender rights in alignment? Well, they're not, because 'local control' isn't a Republican principle. It's a label applied or removed as a matter of philosophical convenience. The New Hampshire Legislature's latest go at book banning is unsurprising, considering the puritanical forces as old as the nation itself that continue to influence conservative ideology. But if they're as concerned about the degradation of society as they say, one can only hope that they'll realize before it's too late that the call is coming from inside their house. Because sexual content in a novel isn't going to be America's undoing, but the continuation of policies that increase the nation's already obscene levels of economic inequality almost certainly will.
New York Times
05-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
This Week in Mets: What are the most encouraging aspects of their hot start?
'And it seems to me there's so much strength in me now that I can overcome everything, all sufferings, only in order to say and tell myself every moment: I am!' — 'The Brothers Karamazov,' Fyodor Dostoevsky May has not started the way the Mets would like. They've lost both series this month and a left-handed reliever for the season. That's a rough four days. Advertisement But New York had about as good an April as a baseball team could have. And despite Sunday's doubleheader sweep at the hands of the Cardinals, let's examine the three most encouraging aspects of the first month-plus for the Mets: The pitching staff's depth has been better than anticipated. The story of the Mets' season has been the performance of their rotation. The Mets have had 33 traditional starts this season, the two games with Huascar Brazobán opening as the exceptions. That's about as many starts as a healthy individual starting pitcher will make in a full season. Here's how the Mets as a staff have performed next to recent Cy Young winners. I mean, you're probably not picking the 2025 Mets as the Cy Young of Cy Youngs — but they're in the conversation with that group, which is made all the more remarkable by the prolonged absences of both Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas. The Mets lead the league in wins, ERA, FIP and homers allowed as a rotation, even after a rough day Sunday. And then there's the development of April that surprised even David Stearns: the success of the entire bullpen. That relief corps has slowed down of late, but Brazobán and Max Kranick have quickly shown themselves capable of handling more important innings as the season unfolds. Nothing evolves more from Opening Day to October than a bullpen — remember, Edwin Díaz was the only member of the Opening Day pen last year to pitch in the postseason, and Ryne Stanek was pitching mop-up duty to start September — and the Mets have placed more options at their disposal. Pete Alonso is on another level. Alonso was justifiably named the National League Player of the Month for April after delivering the finest month of his career. This was a version of Alonso the Mets hadn't seen at all the last two seasons, and he's made a hot streak that would feel good for a week last for a full month. Advertisement Alonso will slow down at some point (I think), but that April performance meant a lot to some of the other hitters in the lineup who have yet to hit their stride. Alonso's consistency in coming through meant fewer nights when the spotlight fell on a Juan Soto or Brandon Nimmo or someone deeper in the lineup. Luisangel Acuña looks like a big-leaguer — and maybe a big-league starter. As fun as the 2024 season was for the big club, it was kind of a wreck for the Mets' position players in the farm system. Ronny Mauricio was out for the season, Jett Williams and Drew Gilbert were hurt much of the year, Acuña struggled in Triple A, Brett Baty couldn't run with the opportunity in the majors, etc. For any fan plotting out how the position player core would shift in 2025 and beyond, it was tough to trust anyone in that group. Acuña's late-season cameo, in which he basically performed like Francisco Lindor for a week while filling in for him, restored some confidence in his future. But he's built off that in a longer stretch this past month, rebounding from a slow start to be an effective major-league hitter for a few weeks. And it's again come at an important time, with Jeff McNeil initially out, Baty unable to hold his own in the majors and more playing time likely to open with the injury Jesse Winker suffered Sunday. Acuña brings a different dimension to the bottom of the Mets' lineup with his speed, and this could be a good time to give him a longer run of everyday play. The Mets were swept in Sunday's doubleheader by the Cardinals to lose the series. It's the first time this season they've dropped consecutive series. They are 22-13, 2 1/2 games up in the National League East. The Diamondbacks salvaged their series finale in Philadelphia despite blowing a 7-1 lead and requiring extra innings to do it. Arizona is 18-16. Advertisement The Cubs couldn't finish off a sweep in Milwaukee on Sunday, and they lost starter Shōta Imanaga in the process. Chicago's 21-14 record is still good for first in the National League Central. It hosts the Giants through Wednesday before traveling to New York. at Arizona RHP Griffin Canning (4-1, 2.61 ERA) v. RHP Ryne Nelson (1-0, 5.82 ERA) LHP David Peterson (2-1, 3.06) v. RHP Zac Gallen (2-4, 4.93) RHP Kodai Senga (3-2, 1.38) v. RHP Merrill Kelly (3-1, 4.06) vs. Chicago RHP Clay Holmes (4-1, 2.95) v. RHP Jameson Taillon (2-1, 3.86) RHP Tylor Megill (3-2, 2.50) v. LHP Shōta Imanaga (3-2, 2.82) RHP Griffin Canning v. LHP Matthew Boyd (2-2, 2.70) When writing about Clay Holmes last week, I mentioned that Holmes had been better the third time through the order than the second, if you measured it by only counting the hitters he faced three times in the same game. This is the way I've calculated this stat since 2021, when Rob Mains at Baseball Prospectus made two points about survivorship bias. If you'll allow me to steal from my own 2021 piece: So what's the best way around this? Well, to narrow the sample. Instead of looking at every hitter these pitchers face, let's look at only the hitters they've faced three times in the same day. That's going to make the sample a lot smaller, but it'll be more representative of the decision a manager faces when deciding how big a factor the third-time-through penalty is for an individual pitcher. So let's do this for each Mets starter this season. How's the third time through the order gone for them? Canning and Peterson have shown the most distinct penalties the third time through the order, while Senga's penchant for slow starts means he has a very unusual split. This remains a small sample, but I'll keep monitoring it. So, did Alonso have the best April in team history? Since I suggested Alonso was on pace for it two weeks ago, he: Yes, of course, all the games the Mets played in March and April helped with a lot of those counting stats. But the 2025 run environment mitigates that, especially in the slash line, where three of the four players ahead of him played in an era with a lot more runs scored. So I'm sticking to it: Alonso just had the best April for a hitter in Mets history. Advertisement • Winker left the first game of Sunday's doubleheader with soreness in his side caused by a throw home from left field. Winker received an MRI on Sunday to determine the severity of the injury. The Mets expect an IL stint, though that's not yet official. • Danny Young hit the IL with a left elbow sprain Wednesday, and it was only a matter of time before he ultimately decided to undergo Tommy John surgery. He is out for the rest of the season. • The Mets signed Brooks Raley and immediately put him on the IL. Coming off his own Tommy John surgery, Raley could be a factor late in the season. • The Mets also shifted Manaea, A.J. Minter and Montas to the 60-day IL. • Minter is still undecided on surgery, which would end his season as well. Even if he decides against surgery, he'll be out until late in the season. • Montas has passed Manaea in their recoveries from spring injuries. Montas remains on schedule for a return in early June, while the Mets are hopeful but not certain Manaea will be back that month. Triple A: Syracuse at Jacksonville (Miami) Double A: Binghamton vs. Reading (Philadelphia) High A: Brooklyn at Asheville (Houston) Low A: St. Lucie vs. Clearwater (Philadelphia) And so we reach the end of this stretch to start the season, where I take quotes from my 10 favorite novels. 'The Brothers Karamazov,' as I mentioned last year, is my favorite ever. I had initially read it in high school, knowing nothing about it or Dostoevsky, and marveled at all that a novel could be. Then I reread it in 2019 to close off my aforementioned Dostoevsky Project. (Man, I would have finished that endeavor so much quicker if I had just waited until March 2020 to start it.) Whenever I reread something I first came across in high school, I'm a little worried it won't live up to my memory of it (like 'The Catcher in the Rye,' to be honest). But 'The Brothers Karamazov' was even better the second time around. For those keeping track, those top 10 novels ended up as (in no specific order after the top two): The Mets went 9-19 in May last year and made the postseason anyway. Four times in their history, they've gone 19-9 or better in May and missed the postseason. One year, New York went 19-9 in May and still managed to lose more than 90 games. What seemingly cursed season was that? (I'll reply to the correct answer in the comments.) (Photo of Pete Alonso and Juan Soto: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images)
Observer
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Observer
What does it mean to live a good life?
This article is a reflection on an English movie I watched last night, 'When Nietzsche Wept'. When Nietzsche Wept is a psychological drama that explores the fictional encounter between the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and Dr Josef Breuer, set in 19th-century Vienna. The film intricately weaves themes of existentialism, unfulfilled love, and intellectual struggle, ultimately highlighting the transformative power of self-exploration and emotional catharsis. Well, we all aspire to live a good life. Yet, the definition of a good life remains elusive. Who decides what a good life is? How do we measure it? Can we ever truly know if someone is leading one? And what of those who came before us, were their lives better or worse than ours? The question persists across generations and cultures, challenging philosophers, thinkers, and ordinary people alike. Nietzsche rejected conventional morality and social expectations as determinants of a good life. Instead, he argued for 'Übermensch' (Overman or Superman), an individual who creates their own values and rises above societal norms. 'He who has a why to live can bear almost any how,' he wrote, emphasising that meaning, rather than comfort, defines a fulfilling life. In his view, a good life is not necessarily an easy one but one where an individual carves their own path with strength and determination. On the other hand, Albert Camus, a leading existentialist thinker, viewed life through the lens of absurdity. He questioned whether life had any inherent meaning at all. His famous metaphor of Sisyphus, eternally rolling a boulder uphill only for it to roll back down, encapsulates the struggle of human existence. Yet, Camus argued, one must imagine Sisyphus happy. To him, the good life is not about escaping suffering but embracing the absurd and living with passion despite it. It is about finding joy in defiance, in moments of beauty, and in our personal acts of rebellion against meaninglessness. Osho, the controversial spiritual teacher, took a more fluid and individualistic approach. He dismissed rigid philosophical frameworks and religious doctrines, advocating instead for a life of spontaneity and deep awareness. 'Don't seek, don't search, don't ask, don't knock, don't demand, relax,' he advised. For Osho, the good life is one where one lives in the present, unburdened by the expectations of society or the past. Russian philosophers, too, have grappled with this timeless question. Fyodor Dostoevsky explored the moral and spiritual dimensions of life, often portraying characters who suffer greatly yet find redemption through faith or moral awakening. In The Brothers Karamazov, he suggests that suffering and hardship might be essential components of a meaningful existence. Similarly, Leo Tolstoy, after years of searching, concluded that a good life must be rooted in simplicity, humility, and love. Nikolai Berdyaev, another Russian philosopher, took a different approach, arguing that true fulfilment lies in creativity and spiritual freedom. He saw human beings as creators, destined to shape their world and their destinies. 'The meaning of life is revealed only through creative acts,' he wrote. This perspective aligns, in some ways, with Nietzsche's call for self-overcoming but with a greater emphasis on the spiritual aspect of human existence. So, what does it truly mean to live a good life? Is it wealth and material success? Is it peace of mind? Is it love and relationships? Is it the pursuit of knowledge? Or is it merely survival? The answer is as varied as the human experience itself. Some find it in ambition and achievement, others in simplicity and surrender. The pursuit of a good life is deeply personal. It is shaped by culture, personal experiences, and individual aspirations. It is a question that each of us must answer for ourselves, not through blind adherence to societal norms but through introspection and conscious choice. In the end, perhaps a good life is not something to be defined but something to be lived, authentically, courageously, and with an open heart.
Los Angeles Times
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
An 8-year-old's guide to ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child': L.A. arts and culture this week
About halfway through opening night of 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' at the Pantages, I had an unsettling revelation: I had totally lost the plot. I was standing in line to buy a $25 owl for my 8-year-old daughter during intermission of the three-hour play, and I had absolutely no idea what was going on. I wanted to ask my daughter to explain what was happening to me, but if I'm being honest, I was embarrassed. I mean, I'm a reasonably intelligent adult of a certain age. I read and comprehended 'The Brothers Karamazov' in college, and I keep track of the intricate details of my family's byzantine schedule with what I regard to be superhuman recall. So why was I having trouble with a hit Broadway show based on one of the most recognizable franchises in human history? The second half of the show did not bring more clarity, although I did manage to wrap my mind around the ending even though I was unsure of what exactly had led to it. This is where I pause to tell you that I really loved the play, despite being hopelessly lost. The magic effects are super, and maybe that was the problem. I spent so much time admiring the floating books, the outrageously spooky Dementors and the fiery wand-wielding that I wasn't paying attention to the dialogue. (I did know enough to spot that Aidan Close — the actor who played Scorpius Malfoy — was truly funny and hugely enjoyable to watch.) But I suspect the real issue was that the show is built in a very distinct world — one that my daughter is fully immersed in. Having read the first four books and watched every single movie multiple times, she didn't miss a beat. She was absolutely riveted every time I looked over at her. Which also distracted me. She was so darn cute. The show got out past 10 p.m., and my daughter fell asleep on the drive home, which is something to consider if you do take your own 8-year-old, or borrow one from a friend or family member. At any rate, I couldn't wake her to explain it to me then, so I waited until the following afternoon to casually ask what exactly had happened in the play. 'Mom,' she said, crossing her arms and regarding me with the stern demeanor of a Catholic school teacher. 'Do I have to explain everything to you?' In this case, yes, I told her. Yes, you do. I'm arts and culture writer Jessica Gelt, and I promise you I'm not always off the mark. Ashley Lee and I are here with your biweekly dose of arts news. 'Gustave Caillebotte: Painting Men'The largest display of the French Impressionist's work on the West Coast in 30 years features about 100 paintings and drawings — a selection that specifically considers his distinct focus on male subjects, from family members and close friends in domestic interiors to anonymous workers, sportsmen and soldiers in their everyday environments. The free exhibition is on view Tuesday through Saturday, until May 25; a conversation with the exhibition's co-curators about its genesis, research and development takes place Tuesday on site and online. Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Brentwood. '44'The smart, satirical R&B musical spoofs the rise and presidency of Barack Obama, as well as the many eccentric political characters on both sides of the aisle that crossed his path during his time in the White House. The show, created by Eli Bauman, began as a sold-out engagement at the Bourbon Room and is returning to L.A. after hit runs in New York, Philadelphia and Chicago. Performances run through March 23. Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City. 'Exhibitionism'Rajiv Menon Contemporary's newly opened permanent space is dedicated to bringing contemporary South Asian and diasporic art to the United States. Its inaugural exhibition features more than 20 pieces by 19 artists, ranging from emerging to established, and explores artists' relationship to privacy and attention through depictions of intimacy, domesticity and the art world. It is on view through March 30. Rajiv Menon Contemporary, 1311 Highland Ave., Hollywood. — Ashley Lee TUESDAYNick Lowe & Los Straitjackets The sharp-witted singer-songwriter is joined by the lucha libre mask-clad guitarists.7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Troubadour, 9081 N. Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. Joe Minter and Daisy Sheff Solo shows by the two painters are the inaugural exhibitions at Parker March 29, closed Sundays and Mondays. Parker Gallery, 6700 Melrose Ave. Víkingur Ólafsson & Yuja Wang The pianists collaborate in a program featuring works by Conlon Nancarrow, John Adams, Arvo Pärt, Rachmaninoff and Schubert.8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Tyshawn Sorey The world premiere of the composer-percussionist's 'For Julius Eastman' features Sarah Rothenberg on piano.8 p.m. Zipper Concert Hall at the Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Larry Stanton: Think of Me When It Thunders Thirty works by the late artist, mostly portraits of men on paper and canvas made between 1980 and 1984, serve as a memorial to the victims of the AIDS April 5, closed Sundays and Mondays. CLEARING Los Angeles, 530 N. Western Ave. WEDNESDAYTopdog/Underdog Brandon Gill and Brandon Micheal Hall star in Suzan-Lori Parks' Pulitzer Prize-winning play, directed by Gregg T. March 23. Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. THURSDAYJean Arthur Double Bill The popular star's four-decade career included this pair of classic Depression-era screwball comedies, 'Easy Living' (1937) and 'If You Could Only Cook' (1935).7:30 p.m. Thursday and 6:30 p.m. Friday. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd. Juilliard String Quartet The virtuoso foursome performs works by Bach, Beethoven and Michelle Barzel Ross.7:30 p.m. Chapman University, Musco Center for the Arts, One University Drive, Orange. Dudamel Conducts Mahler's Seventh The L.A. Phil's Mahler Grooves Festival continues with Gustavo Dudamel conducting the composer's 'symphony of everything.'8 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. 'Macbeth' is an immensely difficult play to effectively pull off, writes Times theater critic Charles McNulty in a column examining Shakespeare's immortal tragedy. McNulty recently took in two vastly different shows, one at the cinema and one onstage — each with its own strengths. An acclaimed London production starring David Tennant and Cush Jumbo, filmed live at the Donmar Warehouse, recently had a limited onscreen run. 'Not having attended the Donmar Warehouse production in person, I can't say it's the best stage version I've ever seen,' wrote McNulty. 'But if I were to ever see anything remotely approaching this level in the theater, I could end my career a contented critic.' McNulty also dove into the specifics of a 'less lofty' production currently playing at A Noise Within, and with both shows, found himself considering the play's parallels to contemporary politics. The Vienna Philharmonic is heading to Southern California for the first time since 2014. The orchestra is set to play two concerts at Segerstrom Center for the Arts led by Grammy Award-winning conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin. The first program features pianist Yefim Bronfman playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3, followed by Richard Strauss' Ein Heldenleben. The second is a performance of Schubert's Symphony No. 4 and Dvořák's Symphony No. 9, 'From the New World.' Artists are stepping up to protest the Trump administration's vision for the National Endowment for the Arts, which has manifested in new rules about what kinds of art can qualify for grants. Hint: no programming that promotes diversity of 'gender ideology.' Last week, 463 artists, writers, dancers and others signed a letter to the NEA asking that the new rules be rolled back. A massive art-forgery operation was busted by Italy's art crime squad, which raided a workshop outside Rome that housed 71 fake paintings attributed to artists including Rembrandt, Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol. — Jessica Gelt A joke for word nerds: Knock, knock. Who's there? To. To Who? To Whom.
