Arts in Brief: July 10

CNN drops Spitzer talk show; Hallelujah contest still accepting applicants; High times at the Philharmonic.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
CNN drops Spitzer talk show LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – CNN has canceled its television talk show hosted by former New York governor Eliot Spitzer, despite a major revamp less than six months ago.
Announcing its fall TV schedule on Wednesday, CNN said that starting August 8, Anderson Cooper’s nightly news program AC360 will air in the slot now occupied by Spitzer’s In the Arena.
Spitzer, who debuted his new show on CNN in October 2010 with Washington Post columnist Kathleen Parker, was not mentioned in the line-up. Parker left the show in February after disappointing ratings, and the show was revamped with Spitzer continuing as the main contributor.
Spitzer was forced to resign as New York governor in 2008 for hiring a high-priced prostitute. There has recently been speculation he might try to return to politics.
Hallelujah contest still accepting applicants
Hallelujah 2011, a newly-launched global song contest for Jewish young adults aged 16-26, has chosen its 30 finalists from around the globe who will be flown to Israel for three weeks in August. The contestants will travel around the country and experience a musical boot camp culminating in a live finale on August 25 from the Ramat Hasharon Tennis Center stadium which will be streamed online and on TV. The winner of the competition will receive $8,000, record a single with a leading Israeli artist, and tour Jewish communities around the world.
• David Brinn
High times at the Philharmonic
Not only is the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) celebrating its 75th anniversary and the 50th for its conductor, maestro Zubin Mehta, but the long-planned acoustic renovations to the IPO's home, the Mann Auditorium in Tel Aviv, get underway in September.
For some 14 months the IPO will present its concerts at Tel Aviv University's Smolarz Auditorium and at Hangar 11 at the Tel Aviv port.
Artists run the gamut from nine year old wunderkind pianist Maya Tamir to the great Kurt Masur, lifetime Honorary IPO Guest Conductor. Speaking on the season maestro Mehta said “We have achieved a good balance between young and upcoming artists and IPO favorites,” citing in particular such as young Israeli conductor Omer Wellber who’ll make his IPO debut in January or pianist Yuja Wang, appearing alongside such as conductors Michael Tilson Thomas or Ricardo Muti who will conduct the Verdi Requiem next July.
This season ends with a double bang. On July 11 and 13, maestro Mehta will conduct Arnold Schoenberg’s mighty Gurre-Lieder and on July 15, he and the IPO have been invited to play for President Peres in Jerusalem.
• Helen Kaye