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Category Archives: Reviews
Histories
As I revised the outline for “The Most Popular Operas” (a course I teach here at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies, beginning September 18th), I was asked as usual to recommend books. I used to suggest Roger … Continue reading
Adam Klein – Winterreise
On his Vimeo webpage Eric Solstein says “This amazing performance by Adam Klein & Craig Ketter of the Schubert song cycle will be the soundtrack to a film I’m just finishing. It’s too powerful not to be available on its … Continue reading
Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews
Tagged Adam Klein, Cornelius Reid, Craig Ketter, Eric Solstein, Franz Schubert, Schubertiade, Winterreise
3 Comments
Dark Blue Jasmine
I went into a theatre expecting brilliance from Cate Blanchett, and was blind-sided by Woody Allen’s politics. But maybe that was to be expected. I keep finding politics everywhere I turn. Maybe it’s me (and the political focus of what … Continue reading
Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Reviews
Tagged Alec Baldwin, Andrew Dice Clay, Bernie Madoff, Cate Blanchett, Louis CK, Sally Hawkins, Woody Allen
1 Comment
Jobs
Jobs is Steve Jobs, one of the founders of Apple. While Steve Wozniak may have been the better programmer/designer, Jobs was a visionary. I can’t help recalling The Social Network, the film that told us about Mark Zuckerberg’s brainchild Facebook. … Continue reading
Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Reviews
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Elysium
Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 (2009) is the most original film I’ve seen in a long time, a mash-up of science fiction tropes and some very political elements. I wrote about it in passing in a long rambling essay (long even … Continue reading
Ai Weiwei According to What?
Shortly after entering “According to What,” Ai Weiwei’s exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario, I experienced a magic moment, in my encounter with “Tea House”, a deceptively simple installation by the artist. Here’s what this piece usually looks like. … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Reviews
Tagged Ai Weiwei, Art Gallery of Ontario, Matthew Teitelbaum
1 Comment
Political Beethoven: time for truth
Do modern times sometimes upset you? seeking to escape? It’s a nerdy question naturally. If you’re alive, you’re in modern times, no matter how preoccupied you allow yourself to become, lost in a video-game, biography, opera DVD, soap opera… (you … Continue reading
Whose dream?
We’re in the summer of Wagner’s Bicentennial. Frank Castorf’s new Ring cycle has opened at Bayreuth, which led to the inevitable boos from the audience. Inevitable? Two of the greatest Bayreuth productions of the past few decades were booed at … Continue reading
Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Reviews
Tagged Bayreuth, Beethoven Marathon, Chereau, Frank Castorf, Kupfer, Richard Wagner, Robert Lepage, Stewart Goodyear
6 Comments
What a concert is supposed to do
Too much fun in church means that at least one person will guiltily look over their shoulder. The church was Koerner Hall, and the fun was The Minimalist Dream House Project from Toronto Summer Music, Katia and Marielle Labèque plus … Continue reading
