Newton composer bowls over Bowie
If classical music has an "it" composer, Newton's Osvaldo Golijov is "it." Not only was his work the subject of a month long festival at New York's Lincoln Center recently, but now he's been blessed by David Bowie. That's right, the Thin White Duke sings the composer's praises in the new Q magazine: "An Argentine Jew, Golijov has strong influences of liturgy, klezmer and tango -- if you can imagine -- and is truly brilliant and exciting." We figured Osvaldo doesn't subscribe to Q, so we called and told him about Bowie's approbation. "Wow," he replied. "The pop guys are much more open and smart." Turns out Bowie had attended one of the Lincoln Center shows, and then went backstage afterward, which obviously impressed some of Golijov's Argentine buddies. "They said to me, 'Man, that's David Bowie,' " he said, laughing. "David is somebody I have a lot of respect and admiration for, so for him to say those things is a huge compliment." In the same issue of Q, Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour is asked to name one song he wishes he wrote. " ' My Drug Buddy' by the Lemonheads," he says. "I really liked Evan Dando. 'It's a Shame About Ray' is a great album."'
Weisman lambastes Limbaugh
Add director Sam Weisman to the long list of people condemning conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh for his comments about Michael J. Fox. To refresh, the right-wing radio host this week claimed that the "Family Ties" star exaggerated the symptoms of Parkinson's disease while filming a TV spot for Democratic Senate candidate Claire McCaskill. In the 30-second ad, Fox twitches and sways as he urges Missouri voters to support McCaskill and stem-cell research. (Even after many Republicans called Limbaugh's comments revolting, he didn't back down, saying: "I take back none of what I said. I wouldn't rephrase it any differently. It is what I believe. It is what I think. It is what I have found to be true.") Weisman, who directed some 70 episodes of "Family Ties," told us yesterday he's sickened by Limbaugh's statements. "Michael has devoted his whole life to curing this disease, raising millions of dollars for research," said Weisman. "It's just so horrible that he would be attacked this way." A Newton resident, Weisman is featured prominently in E!'s new "True Hollywood Story" about Fox. "If Michael wants to stand up and advocate for a candidate based on an interest he has -- whether it's hunger, the war, or stem-cell research -- he should be able to do that without being attacked."
The Huntington goes Broadway
The Huntington Theatre was well represented at the Broadway opening of the company's production of "Butley" this week. Attendees from Boston included Huntington board chair David Wimberly; trustee Gerry Cohen and wife Sherry; Abbey Group CEO and trustee David Epstein and wife Betsy; trustee Bob Walters; Mintz Levin lawyer and trustee Steve Weiner; trustee Jim Dillon; overseers Linda Thomas and Janice Hunt; and the theater's managing director, Michael Maso. A post-performance cast party at Cipriani 23 attracted more than a few boldfaced names, including cast members Nathan Lane, Dana Ivey, and Pamela Gray, as well as actors Hope Davis, James Naughton, Andrea Martin, Donna Murphy, Marian Seldes, Justin Theroux, Stoneham's Mario Cantone, "The Producers" director Susan Strohman, and Leigh Silverman, who'll direct the Broadway production of "Well," which will be at the Huntington in February. By the way, the reviews of "Butley," directed by the Huntington's Nicholas Martin, were mixed.
Orr jersey nets nearly $84,000
A Bruins jersey worn by No. 4 Bobby Orr during the 1968-69 season has sold for a staggering $83,544 -- that's $93,971 Canadian -- in an Internet auction. The Vancouver Sun reports that the white road jersey surfaced in March at a sports memorabilia show at the Croatian Cultural Centre in Vancouver.
Sox CEO Larry Lucchino took stepson Davis to see a special screening of "Borat" the other night and emerged from the theater with a mask of the Kazakhstani TV talking head. . . . For a big Bosox fan like Oliver Platt, playing Yankees bigwig George Steinbrenner won't be easy. But Platt told reporters that playing the bombastic boss in the ESPN miniseries "The Bronx is Burning" has given him a newfound respect for Steinbrenner. "[He] makes it easy to do a caricature," said the Tufts alum, who trained at Shakespeare & Co mpany . "But I'm profoundly impressed by what he has accomplished." Based on Jonathan Mahler's book about the '77 Yanks, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx is Burning," the series is slated to air next summer.
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