Sheldon Brown's Journal
March-April 2003
Current
| Books | Films | Music | Plays | Travels |
|---|
March-April 2003
| Books | Films | Music | Plays | Travels |
|---|
I've figured it out!
There isnt going to be a war with Iraq, and our alliances are not actually in disarray! Rather, Bush and all of our allies are playing an elaborate "good cop/bad cop" routine on Saddam, and it just might work!Moving all of the troops and weapons to the gulf was necessary to provide the credible threat, but that doesn't mean they're actually going to be used--it is much cheaper and less risky to merely brandish them than to actually wield them.
Opera: (DVD) Tristan und Isolde Richard Wagner
George and I watched this DVD from a live, outdoor performance in 1973, with Jon Vickers and Birgit Nilsson in the title roles. Neither of us had seen this nor heard it in it's entirety before. Unfortunately, the technical quality of the DVD was so very poor that we didn't much enjoy it. Not sure how much I would have enjoyed a better procuction, better recorded, it's mostly a major downer.This production had one of those execrable minimalists sets, if you can even call it that. Just a couple of curved stairways that got shoved around into slightly different orientations for different scenes. Bleagh!
Concert: Arlo Guthrie
This concert at Northeastern University's Blackman Auditorium was a lot of fun, after a slow start. Arlo was accompanied by his daughter and son-in-law on guitars/backup vocals, and one of his sons on keyboards. He sang some newer stuff, some old favorites, and some of his father's songs, but the best part of the show was his stories.
Took delivery on my new Rambouillet frame today, and transferred the parts from my plastic Trek, building it up as a fixed/free rig. Only got a brief ride coming home from the shop, and didn't want to ride too fast because the roads are wet from snowmelt, and I haven't yet installed fenders. I haven't got the position dialed in (need a shorter stem) but my initial reaction is very favorable indeed.Concert: Boston Symphony Orchestra Beethoven and Harbison
Bernard Haitink conducted Beethoven's 4th Symphony and the world premiere of John Harbison's Requiem.It has been a while since I listened to the Beethoven 4th. It is a bit of an anomaly: Bracketed by the Eroica and the Fifth, arguably the two most important orchestral works of the 19th century, the 4th harkens back to a more 18th century feeling. I get the feeling this is something Haydn could have written if he had lived a few years longer...not that there's anything wrong with that!
The Harbison seemed OK on first hearing, but it didn't knock my socks off. Partly, I couldn'g help comparing with with the Britten War Requiem, which isn't very fair, since the latter is among my half-dozen favorite compositions.
Film: (DVD) 61* Billy Crystal 2001
I don't know quite what it is about baseball that makes it so cinematic. There are lots of fine baseball films, far more, proportionally than any other sport. I suspect part of it is because of the anything-can-happen-in-the-9th-inning factor, part to the unique mix of idividuality and teamwork. This one followed Mickey Maris and Roger Maris throught the '61 season and the pursuit of Ruth's home run record.
Film: (DVD) Lulu on the Bridge Paul Auster, 1998
Harvey Keitel is a jazz musician struck down by a stray bullet, Mira Sorvino is a waitress/actress. Fate brings them together in a somewhat bizarre film. Keitel can act, and Sorvino is cute as a button with a radiant smile.
Film: (DVD) The Other Side of Sunday Berit Nesheim, 1998
Coming-of-age tale, set in Norway in the 1950s. The protagonist is the teenaged daughter of a very strict minister, tempted by evil worldly things like earrings, lipstick, rock 'n' roll and Coca Cola...It's quite a charming film if you like this sort of thing.
Film: (DVD) The Bourne Identity Doug Liman, 2002
A spy thriller mostly set in France, good fun with Matt Damon as an amnesiac CIA hit man and Franka Potente (of Run Lola Run fame) as his partner in flight.
I am quite disgusted with the current French-bashing mood that is abroad in the land. People are saying terrible things about Chirac, who is, after all, the leader of a democracy where an overwhelming majority is opposed to an invasion.
Film: (DVD) Kissing Jessica Stein Charles Herman-Wurmfeld, 2001
This was a pleasant comedy with a lesbian theme.
Film: (DVD) Band of Brothers
This HBO miniseries is clearly an offspring of Saving Private Ryan. Produced by Stephen Spielberg, directed by Tom Hanks, it has much the same look, including the high shutter speed action sequences.This follows a company of the 101st Airborne from training, through D-Day, Market Garden, Bastogne, the Ardennes and on to final victory. It's quite a fine piece of work.
Got the fenders on the Rambouillet, went for a brief ride on it. Feels very nice, but will benefit from some wider tires.Film: (DVD) La Sentinelle
I found this post Cold War spy thriller very hard to follow. No redeeming socaial importance. Not recommended.
April Fools dayNew domain: EnglishBike.com
Film: (DVD) TITLE
I woke this morning to the news of the rescue of Jessica Lynch. What a story! I have to say, as for myself, at least, the emotional response is all out of proportion to the objective facts.The story of the captured soldier freed by daring comrades is compelling enough, but there's something primal in the overlying story of gallant warriors rescuing a beautiful damsel in distress. I cried when I heard the news.
Film: (DVD) My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Very funny film, highly recommended.
Dream: I have arranged to have 5 Poems of e.e. cummings by my late friend Peter Young performed. The performance is to take place at 3 in the afternoon. I somehow manage to oversleep and miss the performance...Music: Jazz at Brandeis
A fine concert, George had a couple of fine solos, but I ran out of videotape, so I didn't get it.Film: (DVD) Chloé in the Afternoon
Film: (DVD) Groundhog Day
I've seen this before, but it's worth seeing more than once, more than once, more than once...
Steve Grimes 1943-2003 Very sad news, my good friend and former employer died of a heart attack. He will be sorely missed.I put up a tribute page to his memory.
New PDA: Sony Clié
This is so cool!
| Books reviewed on this page: | ||
|---|---|---|
| War and Peace | Leo Tolstoy | 5/26/03 |
| Films reviewed on this page: |
|---|
Music: Date Performers Works
March 8, 2003 B.S.O., Bernard Haitink Beethoven, Harbison
March 7, 2003 Arlo Guthrie Northeastern University
February 21-March 1, 2003 Gilbert & Sullivan: Patience Sudbury Savoyards
January 18, 2003 B.S.O., Ton Koopman, Andreas Scholl Bach, Haydn
December 7, 2002 B.S.O., Marek Janowski Bartok, Strauss
November 29, 2002 New York Philharmonic, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Pierre Laurent-Aimard Janacek: Cappriccio; R.Strauss: Burleske; Brahms: Sym. #2
November 2, 2002 B.S.O., Marek Janowski Bartok, Strauss
September 22, 2002 Boston Folk Festival Barachois, Bill Staines, Cheryl Wheeler, Richard Thompson
July 21, 2002 London Philharmonic, Rostropovich Shostakovich, Lady MacBeth of Mtsensk
July 3, 2002 Stan Rogers Folk Festival Oysterband, Fairport Convention, others.
May 3, 2002 The Australian Opera Wagner, Die Meistersinger
April 18, 2002 B.S.O., Seiji Ozawa Mahler, Sym. # 9
April 13, 2002 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert & Sullivan, The Gondoliers
March 7, 2002 B.S.O., Hans Graf, M. Piccinini, A.Häfliger Colgrass, Schubert
February 21, 2002 B.S.O., James Levine Dvorak, Wuoronen, Mozart, Ligeti,Schumann
January 10, 2002 B.S.O., Bernard Haitink Bruckner: Symphony #7
December 9, 2001 Brandeis University Symphony Orchestra Beethoven: Piano Concerto #3; Dvorak: Symphony #6
December 8, 2001 Brandeis University Early Music Society Various works
November 17, 2001 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert & Sullivan, H.M.S. Pinafore
November 3, 2001 B.S.O., Federico Cortese Ives: Ragtime Dances, Mozart Pf Conc #9 k271, Kurtäg: Grabstein für Stephan; Schubert, Sym. #4
Novembr 2, 2001 Blue Man Group, Seiji Ozawa Brahms: Symphony #1
October 6, 2001 B.S.O., Seiji Ozawa Brahms: Symphony #1
May 3-6, 2001 M.I.Tl G & S Players Gilbert & Sullivan: The Grand Duke
April 13, 2001 Harvard-Radcliffe G & S Gilbert & Sullivan: Utopia, Limited
March 4, 2001 Newton North High School Chorus
and Orchestra Haydn: Missa in Tempore Belli; Symphony #49 "La Pasione"
March 3, 2001 B.S.O., David Robertson Janácek Sinfonietta,
February 18, 2001 Theatre de Chatelet (DVD) Janácek, The Cunning Little Vixen
February 4, 2001 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Rowe
& Sullivan, The Zoo
February 3, 2001 B.S.O., James Levine Mahler Symphony #3
February 3, 2001 George and his band at
Harvey Finstein School of Music
December 27, 2000 The Christmas Revels,
Cambridge Appalchian/African-American Revels
December 23, 2000 San Carlo Opera
(DVD) Wagner, Tannhäuser
November 18,
2000 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert & Sullivan, The Sorceror
November 16, 2000 Harvestfest, Newton North High
School
November 2, 2000 B.S.O., Christoph Eschenbach Mozart: Piano
Concerto #23; Mahler Symphony #5
October 24, 2000 Leon
Rosselson Johnny D's
October 7, 2000 The
Savoy-Aires Gilbert & Sullivan: The Mikado
June 18, 2000 George and his band at Harvey Finstein School of Music
May 21, 2000 Small Ensemble
Concert--Newton North
April 29, 2000 Spring Revels
April 22, 2000 B.S.O., André Previn, Pamela
Frank Previn: Diversions; Barber: Violin Concerto; Mozart: Symphony
#39
March 10, 2000 Revels, Inc/Shakespeare & Co. The Mysteries
February 26, 2000 B.S.O.,Seiji Ozawa, Christine Goerke, Ian
Bostridge, Thomas Quasthoff Britten: War Requiem
February 19, 2000 B.S.O., Bernard Haitink Mahler: Symphony
#7
February 12, 2000 George and his band at
Harvey Finstein School of Music
January 29, 2000 B.S.O., Sir Simon Rattle
Peter Donohoe,
PianoDvorák: The Golden Spinning Wheel,
Bartók:
Piano Concerto #1, Brahms: Symphony #2
January 8, 2000 George on
Trombone N.E. Regional Senior District Festival
December 19, 1999 The Christmas Revels,
Cambridge Italian Renaissance Revels
December 12, 1999 Pierre Boulez, Met
Opera (video) Wagner: Siegfried
November 19, 1999 Matapat, Lexington
November 18, 1999 Harvestfest, Newton
North High School St. Sæns Danse Macabre
November 7, 1999 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert &
Sullivan, Iolanthe
November 4, 1999 George and his band at
Ryles, Cambridge
October 2, 1999 B.S.O., Seiji Ozawa
Florence Quivar, Mezzo;
Paula Delligatti, Sop.Mahler, Symphony #2
September 29, 1999 B.S.O., Seiji Ozawa,
Hildegarde Behrens,
SopranoWagner: Tannhäuser, Götterdämmerung
excerpts;
Strauss: Electra excerpt.
August 14,
1999 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert & Sullivan, Crichton
July 24, 1999 David Mallett
June 19, 1999 The
Publick Theatre Gilbert & Sullivan The Yeomen of the Guard
April 13, 1999 Harvey Finstein School of Music
student groups George and Tova at Watch City
Brewery
March 7, 1999 Newton North High School Chorus
and Orchestra Mozart: Requiem, Symphony #38 ("Prague").
March 5, 1999 Harvey Finstein School of Music student
groups George and Tova in Jazz recital at Newton Congregational Church.
March 4, 1999 Newton North High School various
groups.
February 6, 1999 B.S.O.,Seiji Ozawa,
Jacques Zoon
(flute)Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande "Symphony"
Mozart: Flute
Concerto #1 in G, K.313
Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps.
January 30, 1999 B.S.O., Robert Spano,
Andreas Haefliger
(piano)Lindberg: Arena
Beethoven: Piano Concerto #2
Sibelius: The Swan of
Tuonela, Symphony #3
January 16, 1999 B.S.O., Sir Simon Rattle,
Dawn Upshaw
(sop.)Knussen Flourish with Fireworks
Weir Natural History
Mahler Symphony
#4
Schumann Piano Concerto
December 23,
1998 The
Christmas Revels, Sanders Theatre, Cambridge
December 12, 1998 Caroling with Nym
Cooke, Hardwick, Mass.
November 28,
1998 B.S.O., Roberto Abbado,
Lief
Ove Andsnes (piano)Mahler Symphony #1
Schumann Piano Concerto
November 8, 1998 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert &
Sullivan, The Mikado
Plays:
November 29, 2002 Lorraine Bracco The Graduate
November 23, 2001 Helen Mirren, Ian McKelln The Dance of Death-August Strindberg
September 30, 2000 Tova/Black Box Theatre, Cornell
University The Maids-Jean Genet
May 30,
2000 Kelsey Grammer/Colonial Theatre Macbeth
May 26, 2000 The Huntington Theatre Co. King
Hedley II
September 3, 1999 The Publick
Theatre Nine
August 21, 1999 Orange
Tree Theatre, Ithaca, N.Y. Sonata
August 13,
1999 Firehouse Theatre, Ithaca, N.Y. Sister Mary Ignatius Explains it All For
You
May 22-29 Newton South/North High
Schools Richard III
December 18,
1998 Newton North High School The Bone Violin, May Flies
November 12, 1998 Newton North High School To
Kill a Mockingbird
052999
Travels:
November 27-30, 2002 New York, N.Y.
October 8-13, 2002 Evanston, Illinois
October 4-8, 2002 Las Vegas, Nevada
July 3-9, 2002 Canso, Nova Scotia
May 24-27, 2002 Long Island, New York
November 21-24, 2001 New York City
October 16-19, 2001 Cape Cod, Massachusetts
September 29-October 3, 2001 Las Vegas, Nevada (Interbike Show)
June 16-23, 2001 Nags Head, North Carolina
October 5-14, 2000 Evanston, Illinois
September 30-October 2, 2000 Ithaca, New York
June 22-25, 2000 Urbanna, Virginia
October 7-13, 1999 Chicago/Evanston,
Illinois
August 19-28, 1999 Ithaca, New
York
August 12-13, 1999 Ithaca, New York
July 23-25, 1999 Bridgeton, Maine
November 25-28, 1998 Fort Lauderdale,
Florida
1988-89 France, England
1980 Yucatan, Mexico
1975 England,
Belgium, Yugoslavia, Turkey
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