Monster Mash: Gustavo Dudamel goes to the movies; ‘Mona Lisa’ background mystery may be solved

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Public appeal: An overview of Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s first concert broadcast to cinemas. (Los Angeles Times)

Enigmatic: An art scholar claims that the background depicted in the ‘Mona Lisa’ is the town of Bobbio in northern Italy. (The Guardian)

Controversial: Artist Damien Hirst is causing a stir with a new work of art featuring an infant’s skull cast in platinum and studded with pink and white diamonds. (Telegraph)

Larger than life: The English National Opera is planning a 3-D broadcast of Donizetti’s ‘Lucrezia Borgia’ on television and to a handful of cinemas in Britain on Feb. 23. (The Guardian)

Iconic monument: The Egyptian government is threatening to take back the famous obelisk in Central Park unless New York City takes steps to restore it. (Reuters)

All smiles: The ‘Spider-Man’ actor who suffered multiple injuries after falling nearly 30 feet during a performance attended a showing of the Broadway musical on Friday and said he will return to his role. (Newsday)

Bouncing back: The former artistic director of the Virginia Opera, who was publicly ousted in November, has announced that he is starting a new opera company. (Richmond Post-Dispatch)

Spring in their step: New York City Ballet is creating a small touring ensemble that is intended to broaden the company’s popular appeal. (New York Times)

More cancellations: The Detroit Symphony Orchestra has axed a series of pops concerts as its musicians strike drags on. (Detroit Free Press)

Date night: Tom Brady, the quarterback for the New England Patriots, took his supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen to see the sports-themed Broadway play ‘Lombardi.’ (MassLive.com)

Also in the Los Angeles Times: Theater critic Charles McNulty reviews ‘Hair’ at the Pantages.

-- David Ng