Returning Classical Music to Its Roots
Classical music has long been perceived as a domain of quiet, formal concert halls, where hushed reverence and stiff seating dominate the experience. But a groundbreaking approach in Austin is…
The Best of All Possible Worlds
To live in the 17th century, it was still possible to be an expert in everything. The phrase used to describe Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz is “universal genius.” He lived from…
A Dazzling Star Banned in Texas
Photo: Primo Levi In January 2025, the PM of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, announced a revamping the school curriculum by introducing Latin studies. The education minister, Giuseppe Valditara, also wants to…
Rome’s second Emperor: Tiberius
Augustus was a hard act to follow. Rome’s first Emperor is widely considered to be one of the finest absolute rulers of all time. Quite literally, no one could measure…
Early American History: NOT the Disney version
The mid-1990s was an era where the Disney corporation decided to release a couple of films to teach Americans about their early history. Pocahantas, in 1995, was a fairly successful…
President Carter appealed to the best in us
Famed American journalist Jonathan Alter contrasted President Jimmy Carter with the current incumbent (DT), during an appearance at the LBJ Library a few days ago. “DT appeals to the worst…
SXSW 2025: Keynote Speakers
South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals has announced the addition of new Keynotes and the third round of Featured Speakers for the 39th edition of its annual Conference, which…
The Rear View Mirror (4)
As today marks the failure of the Great American Experiment, the entire world faces a dark abyss.
Orchestral Exotica: Tucson Symphony
Tucson Symphony Orchestra last week offered a concert of mostly 19th-century music composed in France, but the standout piece with guest soloist Jing Xia (pictured) was from China. Xia, who…
Embracing Complexity: Roi James’ Critical Journey Through Pain, Art, and Self-Acceptance
Roi, in French, means king. Roi James Burgess changed his birth name from Roy to Roi to escape his tormented childhood. Little did he suspect he’d grow into a man…