Around The Arts

British 'Mirror' hires NBC-reporter\nLONDON -- A British tabloid said Tuesday it has hired reporter Peter Arnett shortly after he was fired by NBC-TV for saying on Iraqi television that the U.S.-led war effort had failed.\n"Fired by America for telling the truth," the Daily Mirror said in a Page One headline.\n"I am still in shock and awe at being fired," Arnett wrote for the newspaper, which is vehemently opposed to the war. "I report the truth of what is happening here in Baghdad and will not apologize for it."\nNBC fired Arnett on Monday, angered that he had given an unauthorized interview with state-run Iraqi TV saying the American-led war effort initially failed because of Iraq's resistance.\nThe network said it got thousands of e-mails and phone calls protesting his remarks. \nArnett, speaking Monday on NBC's "Today," said he wanted to apologize to the American people.\n"I gave some personal observations, some analytical observations, which I don't think are out of line with what experts think," he said. "But clearly I misjudged the firestorm."\nArnett, who won a Pulitzer Prize reporting for The Associated Press in the Vietnam War, gained much of his prominence from covering the 1991 Gulf War for CNN.\nNew conductor selected to lead Buffalo Orchestra\nBUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra has selected Marvin Hamlisch as its principal pops conductor.\nHamlisch -- an Oscar, Grammy and Tony Award winner -- fills a position that's been vacant since Doc Severinsen resigned in May 1999.\n"Marvin is a musical superstar who will charm and delight every audience member," said JoAnn Falletta, the Buffalo Philharmonic's music director, when the announcement was made last week.\nAs principal pops conductor, Hamlisch will conduct three concert series during the 2003-04 season, in October, December and April.\n"For many years I have enjoyed performing with the BPO, and I am looking forward to an exciting future here in Buffalo," Hamlisch said.\nEarly Potter watercolors sell for $64G \nLONDON -- Two early watercolors by children's author and illustrator Beatrix Potter have been auctioned for a total of more than $64,000.\nBonhams' Auctioneers said Tuesday that the snow scenes featuring rabbits wearing blue and red jackets -- created around 1892 but never published -- were probably intended as Christmas cards.\nOne painting, in which the two rabbits build a snowman, fetched $34,000 at the Tuesday auction. The other, featuring the two figures about to start a snowball fight, sold for $30,200.\nBoth were bought by book dealership Jonkers of Henley-Upon-Thames, which specializes in Potter's work.\nThe paintings were created about 10 years before Potter published her first book, "The Tale of Peter Rabbit," in 1902. \n"They are very early illustrations, and the characters seem very similar to the famous Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny," said Melanie Way, a book specialist at Bonhams. "Having an original illustration is a collector's dream."\nPotter published more than 20 well-loved children's tales involving animals. "Peter Rabbit," the story of a naughty bunny who creates havoc when he steals into Mr. McGregor's vegetable garden, has been reprinted more than 250 times since 1902.