Anita Rachvelishvili, a renowned mezzo soprano, had her remaining opera performances cancelled in January 2023 due to concerns over vocal deterioration, specifically a limitation in her highest vocal range, which she claimed was temporary and did not affect her work.
https://nypost.com/2025/04/05/us-news/best-mezzo-soprano-singer-on-the-planet-fired-by-metropolitan-opera-after-she-struggled-to-hit-her-high-notes-suit/Experts say that classic plays are expected to make a comeback in the National Theater Company of Korea's 2025 schedule, with innovative productions debuting at leading opera venues. The company has already showcased its commitment to this trend with the international premiere of "Lear" at the Barbican Theatre last October, directed by Jung and starring Kim Jun-su as King Lear. This year, Hwang Su-mi will take on dual roles in Korea's top opera houses, while Jung is set to compete for the Outstanding Achievement in Opera award alongside Aigul Akhmetshina from "Carmen" and Allan Clayton from "Festen".
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-04-06/entertainment/musicPerformance/Director-Jung-Youngdoo-nominated-for-Laurence-Olivier-Awards-for-traditional-Korean-remake-of-Lear/2278668Mary Finsterer's "The Rising World: Spirit of Water" is a unique fusion of Eastern and Western music, blending traditional Korean instruments like the geomungo zither with pansori vocal styles and jeongga songs, showcasing her innovative approach to creating a new genre known as "K-opera."
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-04-06/entertainment/musicPerformance/Hwang-Sumi-in-dual-roles-as-Koreas-leading-opera-venues-debut-innovative-productions/2278605Blackpink has made history by becoming the first K-pop group to headline a major act at Coachella. The group performed on the main stage at the festival, which was previously documented in their Netflix documentary "Light Up the Sky".
https://www.lokmattimes.com/entertainment/blackpink-tops-the-bill-at-coachella-mainstage-makes-history-with-headline-act/Several filmmakers have had their work acquired or premiered at notable festivals. Elizabeth Lo's documentary Mistress Dispeller was picked up by Oscilloscope Laboratories. Isabel Castro's Selena y Los Dinos made its debut at Sundance, with Netflix reportedly interested in acquiring it. Oscar nominees Garrett Bradley and Bing Liu also saw success, with Bradley's Time and Liu's Minding the Gap receiving recognition. Smriti Mundhra, a two-time Oscar nominee, had her films I Am Ready and Warden screened at festivals, while Christine Turner's The Barber of Little Rock earned an Oscar nomination. Dominque Ulloa, editor of We Need to Talk about Cosby and Surviving R. Kelly, has also been recognized for her work in documentary filmmaking.
https://deadline.com/2025/04/2025-concordio-studio-documentary-filmmaker-fellowships-1236360335/George Clooney made his Broadway debut in the stage adaptation of his Oscar-nominated film Good Night, and Good Luck, where fellow Cook County General alumni Julianna Margulies, Anthony Edwards, and Noah Wyle were in attendance.
https://deadline.com/2025/04/er-reunion-george-clooney-broadway-debut-1236360356/Lahore's Mela Baharan 2025 celebrates the city's timeless traditions with a community-driven effort to preserve cultural heritage. The festival features traditional puppet shows, folk music, and pottery workshops, drawing an enthusiastic crowd. Paint company representatives contributed to the initiative, honoring Lahore's artistic legacy and beautifying the city.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1298028-mela-baharan-2025-kicks-offFive Arts Centre is launching Straddle 2005 at the GMBB creative mall in Kuala Lumpur, a new initiative to foster connections between artists globally. The event features performances and events by Montreal-based artist Dana Michel, Malaysian dancer-choreographers Lee Ren Xin and January Low, and others. It aims to build artistic relationships with curiosity and care, inviting KL's arts community to engage with ideas shaping dance beyond borders.
https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/culture/2025/04/05/weekend-for-the-arts-039laguku-30039-mpo039s-039classical-treasures039-straddle-2025Chancellor Rishi Sunak's office at Number 11 has undergone significant changes, with several artworks removed or replaced by new pieces. A portrait of James II in armor has been sent to storage due to his alleged links to the slave trade, while a maquette of suffragist Millicent Fawcett now hangs on the wall. In contrast, Chancellor Rishi Sunak's office features works by artists such as Gillian Wearing, Donna Coleman, and Lisa Fielding-Smith, including a squiggle in red ink and a collage of magazine cut-outs. Other notable changes include the removal of a portrait of Nigel Lawson and the installation of a photograph of "Red Ellen" Wilkinson, a lifelong Marxist and ultra-Left Labour minister. Deputy PM Angela Rayner's office features an image of the Durham Miners Gala, while Science Secretary Peter Kyle has chosen a rusting metal structure over water for his wall decoration.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14573343/Toppling-giants-Rachel-Reeves-launched-purge-Whitehall-portraits-great-historical-figures-replaced-works-female-empowerment-Communist.html