Monster Mash: Gilbert’s debut with N.Y. Phil; art stolen from Madoff home; Obama’s cultural appointments

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-- Taking his bow: Times music critic Mark Swed had the first review of Alan Gilbert’s debut with the New York Philharmonic as music director.

-- Payback: A rusted steel sculpture has apparently been stolen from the Long Island home of convicted financier Bernard Madoff.

-- Over the rainbow: Andrew Lloyd Webber says he is writing six new songs for the upcoming London stage production of ‘The Wizard of Oz.’

-- Budget crunch: Long Beach has cut $400,000 in funding for the Long Beach Museum of Art.

-- New cultural venue: The August Wilson Center for African American Culture is set to open today in the playwright’s hometown of Pittsburgh.

-- Up in smoke: A house fire in the Hollywood Hills claims a Stradivarius violin, a Faberge egg and other artwork.

-- Economic boon: Boston art galleries are benefiting from the influx of movie production crews.

-- Forging ahead: London’s Tate Modern will move ahead with a building extension designed by Herzog & de Meuron even though only a third of the costs have been raised.

-- Heading to Washington: President Obama has made three appointments to his Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

-- Upswing: The value of artwork by Damien Hirst appears to be rebounding to levels comparable to those seen during the art boom.

-- Surprise: Gustavo Dudamel tops a list published by The Daily Beast titled ‘Young Rock Stars of the Conducting World.’

-- David Ng