ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS FROM THE TIMES, NEWS SERVICES AND THE NATION’S PRESS.

THE ARTS / Museum-Goers Flock to Tate Modern

The Tate Modern art gallery in London celebrated its first birthday Friday with good news: It has become the most popular modern art museum in the world. The gallery attracted 5.25 million visitors, twice the number that was expected in its first year. The power-station-turned-gallery, which is free, was the third most popular tourist attraction in Britain, behind the British Museum and the Millennium Dome. Speaking at a press conference, Culture Secretary Chris Smith said the success of Tate Modern in drawing a new audience to look at modern art was “one of the great achievements of the past year.” The gallery and Southwark Council are now working on a five- to 10-year plan to develop the public spaces around the museum.

Wagner Controversy Continues

Organizers of an Israeli arts festival said Friday they would ask world-renowned pianist Daniel Barenboim to consider dropping plans to stage an opera by Adolf Hitler’s favorite composer, Richard Wagner. The Israel Festival’s board of directors said in a statement it would ask Barenboim, tenor Placido Domingo and the Berlin Staatskapelle to “jointly consider an alternative program for the July 7 concert” in Jerusalem. Earlier this month, Israel’s parliament called for festival organizers to cancel the performance of “Die Walkure” (The Valkyries). Barenboim, who is Jewish, said early in May that he was outraged by what he called an attempt to suppress the work of a composer who had a major impact on the history of music.

TELEVISION / Emmy Recipients Honored Today

The television academy has named four artists to receive Emmys for outstanding individual achievement in animation at today’s non-televised portion of the Daytime Emmy Awards. The honorees are Rossen Varbanov, storyboard artist for ABC’s “Disney’s Mickey MouseWorks”; Dave Dunnet, layout artist for “MouseWorks”; and Jane Howell and Jonny Belt, both art directors for Nickelodeon’s “Little Bill.”

POP / ROCK / Manson Promises Biblical Excerpts

Responding to protests from Denver religious groups, controversial rocker Marilyn Manson has promised to pepper his upcoming show with Bible verses, rather than stay away from Colorado as the groups had hoped. “This way, fans will not only hear my so-called ‘violent’ point of view, but we can also examine the virtues of wonderful ‘Christian’ stories of disease, murder, adultery, suicide and child sacrifice,” he said in a statement posted Thursday on his Web site. The church-affiliated group Citizens for Peace and Respect has asked Manson to cancel his June 21 appearance in Denver as part of the Ozzfest tour. The group includes teens and victims’ families of the Columbine High School shootings, who say Manson’s music glorifies hate and violence. Citizens for Peace and Respect has planned meetings, rallies and a protest in the weeks before the show. Manson has not performed in Denver for two years. He canceled a Red Rocks Amphitheater concert scheduled a few days after the April 20, 1999, Columbine High School shootings after reports surfaced that shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were fans.

PEOPLE / Flatley Recounts Being Stalked

Popular Irish dance star Michael Flatley spoke Friday of his terror at being confronted by a stalker who broke into his Monte Carlo home as he slept. Flatley told the Irish Mirror how he chased an intruder from his mansion after being awoken in the early hours of the morning. “It’s no exaggeration that what happened now feels like rape,” the 42-year-old dancer told the paper. “He was standing there waiting for me.” The Irish American star, who has stepped up security at his French Riviera home, said police had told him they believe the intruder was an obsessed fan rather than a thief. The man escaped after the incident last week, the paper said. Flatley’s latest production, “Feet of Flames,” will stop at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim on July 17 and the Staples Center on July 19.

QUICK TAKES

Anne Archer is pulling out of “The Vagina Monologues” early to play Mrs. Robinson in the hit London stage adaptation of “The Graduate.” Archer follows Kathleen Turner and Jerry Hall in the role, which features a brief nude scene. Archer’s final “Monologues” appearance at the Canon Theatre in Beverly Hills is Sunday. . . . Loretta Lynn’s concert at Irvine’s Crazy Horse Steak House--postponed last month when she was hospitalized with pneumonia--has been rescheduled for Sept. 10. . . . The Stereophonics have postponed their U.S. tour, including an L.A. date Wednesday at the Palace, because singer Kelly Jones is ill. . . . Robin Williams and John Williams will join in honoring the 2001 Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame inductees June 29 at the Bowl.