‘No Strings Attached’ – at Least at First

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 […]

George N. Gianopoulos: A Young Composer On The Rise

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 […]

Having Friends Can Sometimes Create “The Dilemma”

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 […]

Glendale Philharmonic Postpones Forthcoming Concert

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 […]

Filling big shoes takes “True Grit”

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, […]

Reflections on the music of 2010

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. […]

“Cavalia” is an experience without compare

By Brandon HENSLEY In 2003, Normand Latourelle and his show “Cavalia” set out to give audiences a dream-like experience – a spectacle where horses and humans unite. Latourelle hoped it would last two or three years. As it turns out, the show is still going strong, and since its original production in Quebec, Canada, more […]

It’s finally here – TRON: Legacy

By Charly SHELTON The wait is finally over. The culmination of almost 30 years of waiting and hoping (for those old enough to remember 30 years ago) is upon us. “TRON: Legacy” was released Friday at midnight screenings across America. The local United Artists theater was not exactly packed, but there was at least one […]

“Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” – A magic trick without a rabbit

By Susan JAMES Fast-paced and gorgeously photographed in 3D, director Michael Apted’s new chapter in The Chronicles of Narnia, “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” works hard to seduce audiences into believing that the C.S. Lewis fantasy franchise is at the peak of its powers. Easily the best of the three Narnia films, “Dawn Treader” […]