Tag: Entertainment

Ann and Gordon Getty’s Collection of 1,500 Items Achieved $150 Million Across 10 Auctions

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Ann and Gordon Getty’s collection achieved more than US$150 million across four live and six online auctions at Christie’s.


Courtesy of Christie’s

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Ann and
Gordon Getty’s
collection achieved more than US$150 million across four live and six online auctions at Christie’s that concluded Tuesday, making it one of the top three collections of both decorative and fine arts ever sold at Christie’s.

Each of the 10 auctions met or exceeded their presale estimates, each with a 100% sell-through rate, the auction house said. 

Proceeds will benefit the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation for the Arts, which supports a range of California-based arts and science charities. 

The nearly 1,500 works in the collection were drawn from Getty’s townhouse in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood. Gordon Getty, 88, a son of oil tycoon
J. Paul Getty,
led the sale of his family’s oil business to Texaco for US$10.1 billion in 1984. Since then, he has focused on his interests in classical music composing, and philanthropy. His wife, Ann, died in 2020 at the age of 81.

At the evening auction on Thursday at Christie’s New York saleroom, 60 lots fetched a combined US$79.4 million, which didn’t include the expected sale of Venice, the Grand Canal looking East with Santa Maria della Salute by Italian Venetian-school painter
Giovanni Antonio Canal,
commonly known as Canaletto. The painting sold privately hours before the live auction to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco through a donation by
Diane B. Wilsey,
a former chair of the museum, according to Christie’s. The painting was valued between US$6 million and US$10 million. 

Mary Cassatt’s
Young Lady in a Loge Gazing to Right became the top lot, selling for US$7.5 million, setting a record at auction for the 82-year-old American painter and printmaker. The work, with a presale estimate between US$3 million and US$5 million, was acquired by the Pola Museum of Art in Hakone in Japan.

An early George III walnut and parcel-gilt side chair


Courtesy of Christie’s

“As the momentum built over 10 auctions, Christie’s was thrilled to see the funding of the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation for the Arts increasing sale by sale,”
Marc Porter,
chairman of Christie’s Americas, said in a news release. “It is also important to note that museums purchased the two highest value paintings for public display.”

The other three live auctions took place from Friday to Sunday, featuring paintings, English and European furniture and silverware, as well as Chinese works of art. In total, the four live auctions achieved nearly US$140 million, against a presale estimate of US$125 million.

In addition to Cassatt, three other artists saw their auction records reset, according to Christie’s.
Jacques-Émile Blanche’s
Vaslav Nijinsky in “Danse Siamoise” sold for US$2.7 million;
Jules Bastien-Lepage’s
Portrait de Sarah Bernhardt achieved US$2.28 million, and
Jean-Antoine Watteau’s
Three Head Studies Of A Girl Wearing A Hat, fetched US$3.42 million.

The Getty Collection became the third most valuable collection of both decorative and fine arts sold at Christie’s, following the collection of Yves Saint Laurent and
Pierre Bergé
in 2009 for €373.9 million (US$483.8 million), and the collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller for US$832.6 million in 2018.



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Nebraska woman fulfilling lifelong dream of country music album

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Nebraska woman Darcia Ann will have her lifelong dream come true this month with the release of her country music album.

Darcia Ann, who grew up in the Nebraska Sandhills, has lived all over the state and resides in and has family in the Northeast Nebraska area. She’s had a 30-year career in the music industry.

“I had always just wanted to sing since I was really little,” Darcia Ann said. “I got my first guitar, real guitar I should say, at 9 and I started singing right away for the Ainsworth country music festival.”

Darcia Ann, who’s in the Nebraska and Colorado halls of fame, has opened for quite a few famous acts in the early days of her career, including Reba McEntire, Keith Urban, Patty Loveless, Neal McCoy and Lonestar.

Approximately nine weeks ago, Darcia Ann had been visiting Nashville, Tennessee, when she got her big break.

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“I went to Nashville to be with my friends and we went to a local place. I got up and sang and jam with the band and he [a music producer at Red Ridge Entertainment] was filling in for a man that was sick,” Darcia Ann said.

Since then, it’s been a whirlwind and Darcia Ann recently recorded her album. She said she recorded at Studio 19 in Nashville and musicians that played with her on the album have played for such artists as Tim McGraw, Wynonna, Garth Brooks, Blake Shelton and other well-known names.

Darcia Ann said her album, which consists of six songs, can be described as a combination of country ballad and classic rock. The name of the album has yet to be officially decided, but she said it will most likely be titled “Cowboy Up.” Some of the tunes are what she called “good two-steppin’ country” songs.

Notably, some of the songs have nods to Nebraska.

“One of the songs is called ‘Mama’s Mockingbird’ and it actually talks about the Nebraska Sandhills,” Darcia Ann said.

The song is also a tribute to her mother, who has passed away.

“In my world of music I always hear her voice saying ‘sing, fly baby fly. Just go sing for me, fly baby fly.’ And that’s what I put in my mockingbird song, just fly baby fly,” she said.

Another song is what she calls a homage to the rodeo community.

The album is set to be released in October.

“It is now being mixed and mastered in Nashville as we speak. And hopefully it will be ready for downloads to all the [platforms] Spotify, Pandora, by Halloween,” Darcia Ann said.

With her album soon coming out, Darcia Ann is opening for T Graham Brown. She will also be performing a concert in November in Nashville that will also be streamed.

“I’ve had such good support from friends and family and people that I’ve known around here for years and years,” Darcia Ann said.

Max Davis is a close friend of Darcia Ann’s. He said his wife, Margaret, and Darcia Ann were childhood friends. Davis noted that Darcia Ann is talented.

“She’s been really putting her heart and soul into this music thing. And we are proud of her and we support her,” Davis said.

“We’re ecstatic. This is a big deal for her.”



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Music@Bethel to host ‘A Cole Porter Celebration’ Nov. 20

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Bethel United Church of Christ is presenting “A Cole Porter Celebration” on Sunday, Nov. 20, as part of the Music@Bethel concert series.

Four outstanding vocalists will perform songs showcasing the music of the iconic American composer and songwriter Cole Porter, with selections including “Night and Day,” “You’re the Top,” “Wunderbar,” and “It’s De-Lovely.”

Artists include soprano Felicia Burkovskiy, mezzo-soprano Lara Filip, tenor Alex Newkirk, and baritone Nathan Rago.

Fall in love all over again with some of the cleverest, funniest and most romantic songs ever written in the 20th century. They will perform tunes from Broadway musicals such as “Kiss Me Kate,” “Anything Goes,” “The Gay Divorcee” and “Paris,” as well as well-known classics from Tin Pan Alley.

Felicia Burkovskiy and Lara Filip are both regular contributors to the concert series, but this will be a first time appearance for tenor Alex Newkirk. Nate Rago has served as the church worship leader since the start of the pandemic.

The concert will begin at at 3 p.m.at Bethel United Church of Christ, 315 E. St. Charles Road in Elmhurst.

Tickets are available on Eventbrite.com or at the door.

All tickets are $20 and students are free.

For more information call Bethel Church at (630) 279-4040 or visit www.musicatbethel.com.


        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        

 

The church is accessible and parking is free. Enter through Sandburg Middle School from St. Charles Road, or from Huntington off Poplar Street.

In the spring, Music@Bethel welocmes the return of Guitarra Azul, one of its most popular bands, performing live and in person from the sanctuary at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 25. Enjoy an exciting mix of rumba, flamenco and Latin jazz with intoxicating percussion and fiery Spanish guitars. With breathtaking technique, unforgettable melodies and spirited dance, Guitarra Azul promises to transport you to the warmth of a fragrant summer evening. This will be Guitarra Azul’s sixth appearance in the concert series, which will feature songs from their newest CD “Café Bolero.”


New this season is the “Rising Star Series” showcasing up-and-coming musical talent.

On Sunday, April 30, at 3 p.m., pianist Zarin Mehta will bring his virtuosity and musical passion to the Music at Bethel audience in a program featuring music of Bach, Schubert, Lizst, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, and his own prize-winning composition, “Glimpes.”

Mehta recently tied for second place at the International Young Artist Concerto Competition a Chicago-based competition in which 76 musicians from around the world age 18 and younger submitted video auditions of concerti. A student at Chicago’s Francis Parker School, he has been studying piano for 10 years and currently is coached by Winston Choi and Jeff Panko, and has previously worked with Mary Sauer. He also has appeared in performances with WFMT Classical Radio, the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, and at Grant Park in Chicago. He also performs in a piano trio coached by Desiree Ruhstrat and David Cunliffe of the Lincoln Trio, and studies composition under Matthew Hagle of the Music Institute of Chicago. Zarin has performed with the Chicago Arts Orchestra twice under conductors Vladimir Kulenovic and Conner Gray Covington.

For information, visit www.musicatbethel.com.

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        





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