By Charly SHELTON Cavalia was like a dream. We were in the Roman Colosseum, floating through space, but space was tie-dyed. Horses were running around everywhere while chiseled men and beautiful women shouted orders to them from the backs of other horses and then, in a flipping jump, landing in the center of the arena. […]
The 83rd Academy Awards Oscar nominations have been announced. There are cowboys and kings, fighters and fathers nominated. The Oscars will be handed out on Feb. 27. A family favorite shines with the nomination of “Toy Story 3” in the category of Best Animation and Best Picture. The field this year is very competitive from […]
By Ted AYALA Franz Schubert (1797-1828) and George N. Gianopoulos (born 1984). Seeing their names paired up, some music lovers may ask what these composers have in common and why their work should sit side-by-side on a concert program. After all, between Schubert and Gianopoulos lies nearly two centuries and a gaping chasm of musical […]
By Ted AYALA Spring in January? The weather certainly seems to think so, bringing in some much needed warmth and sun after a month that soaked our state in deluge after deluge. Did the musicians of the Santa Cecilia Orchestra (SCO) somehow know something we don’t? Their mixed program of chamber and solo piano works […]
By Charly SHELTON We have all thought about this. Many of us have even tried this – a relationship that is strictly physical. No feelings, no jealousy, no strings attached. Despite the ground rules laid out and the assurances that this is the farthest it is going to go, it always leads elsewhere. Maybe not […]
By Ted AYALA It may come as something of a surprise to many that, pace Norman Lebrecht, classical music refuses to die. That the flames of its popularity have decreased in the past few decades there is no doubt. But through it all, the fire of creation and music-making is still there – a flickering […]
By Charly SHELTON “The Dilemma” is a problem that all of us have dealt with at some point. We all have friends, and we know their problems – sometimes more so than they. But the question is: do we tell them? Ronny (Vince Vaughn) and Nick (Kevin James) have been best friends since college. They […]
By Ted AYALA Is the Glendale Philharmonic Orchestra (GPO) feeling the pain of the sour economy? After a thrilling season premiere concert last November, lauded by yours truly in these pages, GPO patrons were getting ready to experience another evening of glowing and vibrant musicianship. The Jan. 8 concert, which would have paired an orchestral […]
By Charlie SHELTON So this far, Jeff Bridges has been a computer genius in the world of TRON, fought with King Kong, been an alien (TRON again), The Dude, and now he’s a cowboy. Jeff Bridges is officially the most awesome man of all time. In “True Grit,” Bridges hits the big screen once again, […]
By Ted AYALA Looking back over the past year, I’m amazed at the unforgettable musical experiences I’ve been able to enjoy in the area. Great music making doesn’t only exist on recordings or in far-off places. The last year has proven that world-class music-making exist right here in our area – practically in our neighborhood. […]