By Ted AYALA Georges Bizet’s jewel-like Jeux des enfants (Children’s Games) made up the major work on the first half of Calico Winds’ concert on Saturday night, June 4 at Boston Court in Pasadena. Calico Winds – comprising of flautist Eileen Hold Helwig, clarinetist Kathryn Nevin, oboist David Kossoff, bassoonist Therese Treuenfels, and French hornist […]
By Ted Ayala In 1945, the great American composer Bernard Herrmann–whose compositions graced the films of Orson Welles, Alfred Hitchcock, Brian de Palma, and Martin Scorsese, among others–wrote an impassioned defense of film music’s stature as an art form in the New York Times in response to a scathing critique by conductor Erich Leinsdorf published […]
By Charly SHELTON Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls: This week, the Happiest Place on Earth gets a little bit happier with the addition of two new rides and a new parade. The classic film, “The Little Mermaid” will come to life like never before in an all new attraction at Disney’s California Adventure Park. […]
By Ted AYALA Amid the din of the ecstatically raucous coda of Revueltas’ La Noche de los Mayas (The Night of the Mayas) – reverberating thunderously through Occidental College’s Thorne Hall after the last blazing chord cut forth – and with the audience at the Santa Cecilia Orchestra’s (SCO) end of season concert erupting into […]
By Ted AYALA Amid the din of the ecstatically raucous coda of Revueltas’ La Noche de los Mayas (The Night of the Mayas) – reverberating thunderously through Occidental College’s Thorne Hall after the last blazing chord cut forth – and with the audience at the Santa Cecilia Orchestra’s (SCO) end of season concert erupting into […]
By Charly SHELTON For those of you who eagerly awaited the release of “Pirates” 2 and 3 only to be disappointed: Rejoice! For a “Pirates” movie worth watching has been found again. Captain Jack is back in full glory without any whiny sidekicks in love or be-tentacled digital villains trying to find a jar of […]
By Susan JAMES Comedy walks a fine line between hilarity and hysteria, guffaws and gross-outs and in director Todd Phillips’ eagerly awaited sequel to the 2009 megahit “The Hangover,” hysteria and gross-outs win. What was fresh, outrageous and unexpected in the original, and side-splittingly funny as well, here is forced, predictable and increasingly desperate. Two […]
Photo by Ted AYALA By Ted AYALA When thinking about attending a performance of youth orchestras, one can’t help but groan inwardly. How to put up with it? Yes, you want to mean well and you understand that kids are kids, not fully professional musicians. But unless you’re the parent or family member of one […]
By Michael WORKMAN Rockstar Games titles are some of the most anticipated game releases and “L.A. Noire” is no exception. Though Rockstar Games are famous for the controversial “Grand Theft Auto” franchise, L.A. Noire takes a departure from the mindless mayhem and creates a game that is more story-driven and emphasizes puzzle solving. Set in […]
By Susan JAMES The Paley Center in Beverly Hills is offering a series of all-star panels focusing on popular television shows. Several, like “Bones” and “Fringe” (Fox) are just completing their seasons and are scheduled to return in the fall. Others like “Southland” (TNT) are currently on hiatus. The panels are open to the public […]