Cultural Cocktail fans– Another reason to stroll through a museum, listen to some jazz, or attend a theatrical production filled with witty barbs. It’s good for your health!! Koenraad Cuypers of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology Cuypers researched the…

Last week, the prestigious Cambridge Union Debating Society at Cambridge University held a debate concerning the relevance of classical music to today’s youth. BBC Radio 1 DJ Kissy Sell Out debated comedian and writer Stephen Fry. The idea that classical music is…

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Metropolitan Museum of Art will loan Vermeer‘s “Woman with a Lute” to the Norton Simon Museum this summer.  No West Coast museum currently owns a work by the celebrated Dutch Master. For a full report, please read:…

The J. Paul Getty Trust has named as its new Chief Executive Officer, James Cuno, the Director of the Art Institute of Chicago. Dr. Cuno has an M.A. and PhD in art history from Harvard, where he served as director of the Harvard…

Spanish Police have discovered two missing masterpieces, El Greco’s ”La Anunciacion,” and Goya’s ”La Aparicion de la Virgen del Pilar.” The paintings had been missing for more than two decades and were recovered after a tip led them to a private home…

Unfortunately, Daniel Cátan, a prolific opera composer, died this week at the age of 62. Mr. Cátan composed the music for LA Opera’s “Il Postino,” which had its premiere in Los Angeles only a few months ago. His other operas included: “Florencia en el…

The La Times reports the real reason why Gustavo Dudamel was unable to conduct last Tuesday’s concert with the Los Angeles Philharmonic: he and his wife Eloisa were having a baby boy. For more, please read: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2011/04/gustavo-dudamel-and-wife-welcome-baby-boy-martin-in-la.html

Illegal Smuggling? Organized Crime? After much controversy, the Getty’s Villa’s Aphrodite goes home. Ciao bella! Buon Viaggio! For the full report, read: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-return-of-aphrodite-20110323,0,6998689.story