Review: Symphony roars under Masur’s control
The News Review:
- Review: Symphony roars under Masur’s control
- ur correspondent was on Benazir Bhutto’s bus when it was bombed…
- Art’s on their sleeve
- Motorhead are still loud dirty and mean
Review: Symphony roars under Masur’s control
San Francisco Chronicle – Oct 20, 2007
Certainly it was entertaining to hear Lortie romp through Liszt’s series of razzle-dazzle variations on the “Dies Irae” that gloomy snippet of Gregorian chant that composers from Berlioz to Stephen Sondheim have used as a musical sign of the Grim Reaper. For 15 punishing minutes Liszt sends the pianist scampering up and down the keyboard in a breathless volley of chords octave runs glissandos and more all designed to prove that the soloist – originally Liszt himself – is the baddest piano player around. It’s all hugely enjoyable even if the invocation of the death theme feels like the same sort of pasteboard bravado that heavy metal bands indulged in more than a century later. And Lortie acquitted himself admirably although a listener couldn’t help feeling that the work’s few lyrical episodes brought out his truest self. “Nevsky” is a choral cantata based on Prokofiev’s soundtrack for Sergei Eisenstein’s 1938 film celebrating the 13th century Russian hero and his successive military victories over invading Swedes and Germans and there’s an air of bluster and bombast encoded in its DNA. Masur simply took that quality as a given particularly in the patriotic choruses that begin the work and with the help of the lusty contributions of the Symphony Chorus delivered it at full strength. But at midpoint the music grows deeper and more interesting and here Masur rose powerfully to the challenge.
ur correspondent was on Benazir Bhutto’s bus when it was bombed…
Times nline – Oct 21, 2007
A low ominous bang like the sound of a large metaldoor clanging shut. I was standing in the middle of Benazir Bhutto’s open-top bus talking toAitzaz Ahsan her long-time legal adviser. We stared at each other inhorror. This was what we had all feared but somehow crazily dared to hopewouldn’t happen. Someone shouted: “Down!” But there was no need… Someone shouted: “Down!” But there was no need. A wall of orange flame cameover the left side of the bus and blasted us all to the floor. The twanging music that for nine hours had been blaring out welcoming Bhuttohome after eight years in exile stopped. For a moment there was ghastlysilence. “It’s okay it’s okay – it’s a burst tyre” said Agha Siraj Dur-rani anamiable giant of a man who as the closest friend of Bhutto’s husband hadspent the whole journey scanning the crowds for potential threats. But weall knew what it really was. Then the sirens and screams started.
Art’s on their sleeve
NEWS.com.au – Oct 20, 2007
Especially since the first time these were set up bedsheets pillows and all it rained so they had to be all pulled down and set back up again when Thorgerson returned in sunshine two weeks later. "Who but the Floyd would be crazy enough to endorse shooting a vast number of empty hospital beds on the sea shore?" Thorgerson wonders. In the same way a band’s box set offers insights into the music via treasures from the vaults and alternate takes Taken By Storm offers fresh perspectives on Thorgerson’s vision and the hard work that helps bring it to life. The original Division Bell CD features metal statues. The book reveals the lesser-known stone statues used in a design for cassette. When seen in the full-page reproduction there is a remarkable effect a "third" face staring back at the observer suggesting an absent person. Could it be Syd Barrett the old Cambridge schoolmate of the man who co-founded Pink Floyd with him Roger Waters? Likely since both were also schoolmates of the man who would go on to design Floyd’s covers for 40 years Thorgerson… "Who but the Floyd would be crazy enough to endorse shooting a vast number of empty hospital beds on the sea shore?" Thorgerson wonders. In the same way a band’s box set offers insights into the music via treasures from the vaults and alternate takes Taken By Storm offers fresh perspectives on Thorgerson’s vision and the hard work that helps bring it to life. The original Division Bell CD features metal statues. The book reveals the lesser-known stone statues used in a design for cassette. When seen in the full-page reproduction there is a remarkable effect a "third" face staring back at the observer suggesting an absent person. Could it be Syd Barrett the old Cambridge schoolmate of the man who co-founded Pink Floyd with him Roger Waters? Likely since both were also schoolmates of the man who would go on to design Floyd’s covers for 40 years Thorgerson. "It’s good if you come across things later when you’ve given it a second or third look" Thorgerson says.
Motorhead are still loud dirty and mean
stuff.co.nz – Oct 21, 2007
“We drove down from Auckland and listened to Motorhead the whole way. ” “The motto shouldn’t be No Sleep Til Hammersmith – it should be No Sleep Til New Plymouth” Canadian Dave Mardell said referring to Motorhead’s 1981 live album. Supported by New Zealand heavy metal acts including 8 Foot Sativa and Taranaki’s own Sticky Filth Motorhead took the stage at 9. It didn’t take long for the testosterone to flow once 62-year-old Lemmy introduced his band to the 2500 screaming fans. We are Motorhead and we play rock n’ roll!” The band then belted out a series of hits both old and new while the crowd revelled in the presence of the self-proclaimed “dirtiest rock band in the world”… “This is just like when I was 17″ Mili Purpil said. “We should do this more often – it’s like a family reunion. ” The British rockers are in New Plymouth as part of their Kiss of Death tour. The two New Plymouth shows are their only New Zealand appearances of the tour.