The Heartbeat opera company is known for its innovative adaptations of classical works, reimagining them for modern audiences. Director Sara Holdren praises their approach, saying it feels "extremely of our world and about our world" without being too on-the-nose. For example, in Beethoven's "Fidelio," the company recorded the voices of incarcerated people to create a powerful performance. In Strauss' "Salome," the casting was deliberate and focused on storytelling, with baritone Nathaniel Sullivan noting that his audition process involved straight acting rather than just vocal ability. Soprano Summer Hassan also praised the company's approach, saying they gave her the tools to bring confidence to her role as Salome. The company's re-orchestration of "Salome" by Schlosberg was another notable aspect, using a reduced ensemble of eight clarinetists and two percussionists instead of the original 100 players.
https://apnews.com/article/opera-heartbeat-small-performances-26194cba45dec032050456301c13c73bThe Mark Morris Dance Group will perform "Pepperland," a piece originally commissioned by the city of Liverpool in 2017, as part of its upcoming performances at The Wallis in Beverly Hills from May 16-18, 2023. The dance was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' iconic album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."
https://www.ocregister.com/2025/05/08/choreographer-mark-morris-brings-the-beatles-inspired-pepperland-to-beverly-hills/Nikon's Mobile Tour will visit four key locations over the next year, starting in Chicago from May 18-24, featuring guided photo walks and product trials. The tour will also include stops in Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, and Houston, with a 10-day Creator Experience Hub event to be announced later this year. Nikon Ambassadors Audrey Woulard and Lauren Ashley Grenda will participate in the Chicago leg of the tour.
https://petapixel.com/2025/05/08/nikon-is-driving-a-custom-bright-yellow-land-cruiser-across-the-us/The Calling of Saint Matthew and The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew are two paintings by Caravaggio, installed a year apart in the Contarelli Chapel within the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome. The first painting, depicting the calling of Saint Matthew, shows Jesus Christ reaching out to Matthew, a tax collector, while the second, The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew, portrays the apostle's execution by beheading.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/05/07/world/americas-emea/why-caravaggios-the-calling-of-saint-matthew-was-pope-francis-favorite-painting-art-historian-explains/2107386Several high-profile art fairs are taking place in New York this May, despite a cloudy economic forecast. Christie's is hosting a collection of Leonard and Louise Riggio with eight-figure estimates for works by Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Claude Monet. Sotheby's will offer works from the personal collections of influential dealers Daniella Luxembourg and the late Barbara Gladstone. The Frieze New York fair will feature over 60 galleries, including local artists and galleries, with a focus on creating momentum in the market.
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/05/06/frieze-new-york-shows-signs-of-stability-in-challenging-us-art-marketThe Met Gala 2025, New York's most fashionable event, featured a diverse range of outfits, including pearls, patchwork, and power suits. Dua Lipa stunned in a custom-made Chanel chiffon dress, showcasing the designer's expertise in creating stunning evening wear. The event highlighted the intersection of fashion and art, with attendees pushing the boundaries of style and creativity.
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/tabloid/hyderabad-chronicle/outfit-parade-at-met-gala-2025-1877341The Met Gala 2025 was co-chaired by Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Colman Domingo, Pharrell Williams, and Anna Wintour, with Lebron James as the honorary chair. The event focused on menswear, 22 years after its first solo men's theme in 2003. Notable absentees included Sarah Jessica Parker, Blake Lively, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Ariana Grande, Naomi Campbell, Katy Perry, Selena Gomez, Bella Hadid, and Gisele Bundchen.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14685217/Sarah-Snook-2025-Met-Gala-photo-breach-strict-rules.htmlPhotographer van Agtmael's work has been swiped by Kanye West, who has used his image without permission and has espoused increasingly racist views, including self-identifying as a Nazi and denying the Holocaust. West has also co-opted Nazi symbols, such as the swastika, in his visual album cover and proposed choir logo. This is not the first time West has been accused of using someone's work without permission, with a photographer suing him in 2023 for a similar offense and failing to pay $110,000 for a photoshoot in 2022.
https://petapixel.com/2025/05/06/photographer-says-kanye-west-stole-his-kkk-photo-for-album-cover/Mary Heilmann's installation at the Whitney Museum of American Art offers a serene escape from the world's increasing inhospitable nature, allowing viewers to slow down and observe the waves. The exhibit features multiple relationships with water, evoking feelings of being both on top of and submerged in them. Located in New York City, the installation is part of the museum's Long Line exhibition, set to run until January 19, 2026.
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/05/06/whitney-museum-of-american-art-invites-visitors-to-take-in-the-river-view