The Week in Light & Sound
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She said she hadn't been planning any more shows after her current Las Vegas residency and two London shows in 2022. But the star said she had been tempted by the offer of "a one off, bespoke pop-up stadium designed around whatever show I want to put on", which was "pretty much slap bang in the middle of Europe".
Grammy Awards - Taylor Swift stole the show at this year's Grammy Awards, becoming the first performer to win the prize for album of the year four times. The superstar had previously been tied on three best album wins with Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon and Frank Sinatra. She received the prize from Celine Dion, who made an unexpected appearance amid health fears. Swift also used the event to reveal a surprise new album. Miley Cyrus and Billie Eilish took the other top awards at Sunday's ceremony.
The Los Angeles show was dominated by women, with R&B stars SZA and Victoria Monét and all-female indie supergroup Boygenius picking up multiple awards, and music icons Tracy Chapman and Joni Mitchell giving rare and poignant performances. Killer Mike was the top male winner, taking three rap trophies. But his success was overshadowed by an apparent altercation backstage, which led to him being booked on a misdemeanour charge. Kylie Minogue won her second ever Grammy Award, two decades after her first.
Fawlty Towers - A stage show based on the 1970s sitcom Fawlty Towers is to launch in London's West End later this year. The play has been adapted by writer and creator John Cleese using material from three episodes of the BBC series - The Hotel Inspectors, The Germans and Communication Problems.
Cleese said it was a "thrill" to be bringing Fawlty Towers to the West End for the first time. "We've been involved in the casting process for some time, being constantly reminded of what a wealth of acting talent we have in Britain - sorting the very, very, very good from the merely very, very good. Finally, we assembled a top-class group of comedy actors." The show will premiere at London's Apollo Theatre on 4 May.
String Driven - Guitars and amplifiers belonging to Dire Straits star Mark Knopfler have sold for more than £8m at auction - much higher than had been estimated. Knopfler sold more than 120 of his guitars and amps, with 25% of the proceeds going to charity. The sale was led by Knopfler's 1959 Vintage Gibson Les Paul Standard, which sold for £693,000, setting a new world auction record for the model.
The musician said the auction had been "an incredible journey". He added, "I am so pleased that these much-loved instruments will find new players and new songs as well as raising money for charities that mean a lot to me. It has been heart-warming to witness how much these guitars mean to so many people and I am also pleased that they will continue to give joy to many through the songs recorded over the years with me. To you fellow players, enthusiasts and collectors, I wish you all good things." The London auction saw registered bidders and buyers from 61 countries, with a final total including buyer's premium, confirmed at £8,840,160.
(Jim Evans)
6 February 2024
