Monster Mash: Iran cuts ties with British Museum; Olivier Award nominations; Vilar sentenced to jail

-- Diplomatic stand-off: Iran has cut ties with the British Museum following repeated delays surrounding the loan of the Cyrus Cylinder. (Agence France Presse)

-- Stage honors: The Olivier Award nominations in London have been announced. Actors up for awards include Jude Law, James Earl Jones and Rachel Weisz. (Playbill)

-- Jail time: Opera patron Alberto Vilar has been sentenced to nine years in prison for stealing from his investors. (Bloomberg)

-- Major gift: The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art has announced a promised gift of 29 works by impressionist masters from the collection of Henry and Marion Bloch. (Kansas City Star)

-- Cutting back: The Aspen Music Festival has shortened its 2010 program by one week. (Denver Post)

-- Familiar face: The Metropolitan Opera has brought back its former head Joseph Volpe to participate in union negotiations. (The New York Times)

-- Monetary gift: The Plains Art Museum in Fargo, N.D., has received an anonymous donation that will allow it to complete its commission of a $1.2-million mural by artist James Rosenquist. (Inforum via Art Forum)

-- And in the L.A. Times: A final curtain for the Pasadena Playhouse, for now; President Obama makes appointments to advisory committee on arts and humanities.

-- David Ng

Photo: the Cyrus Cylinder. Credit: British Museum / EPA

Comments

[Esther Haman]

Iran does NOT need to cooperate with the grave rubbing Anglo thieves. What is clearly Iranian and belongs to Iran will be returned to Iran in good time. Mean while they are doing the right thing by cutting relation with the Thieves of London. Shortly they shoudl cut their diplomatic relation as well, god willing.