COLUMBIA, SC – It’s been said that modern art moves to the rhythm of jazz. Anyone who’s appreciated the work of painters like Picasso, Dali, and Jackson Pollock, all inveterate fans of the genre, will readily agree with that. The influence of jazz is felt everywhere on their canvases, from the fearless, unconventional spacing, to […]
BARCELONA – The Elton John- Lee Hall coming of age musical Billy Elliot is the stuff of dreams, not just how they uplift, inspire and define an individual, but also how they run up against (and sometimes prevail over) harsh realities. Winner of multiple Tony and Olivier Awards, the story brilliantly juxtaposes divergent forces, such […]
LOS ANGELES – At its best, art manages to thread a needle, exposing dark and harsh realities, while still maintaining an ephemeral reassuring sense of light and hope. The producers of Can’t Cancel Pride achieved this equanimous balance in their recent livestream fundraiser for the LGBTQ+ community, creating powerful, but graceful, moving moments that drew […]
VANDERGRIFT, PA – “Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.” So wrote the American humorist Charles Addams, whose penchant for poking fun at all things conventional, inspired him to create a series of cartoons that ultimately led to the iconic TV program The Addams Family. Robert John […]
BUDAPEST – Named after Sándor Petőfi, the Petőfi Literary Museum is located in the neoclassical Károlyi Palace. Inside, it houses an extensive collection of national art and literature in addition to hosting a wide range of programs including lectures, dramatic readings, and musical performances in its ceremonial hall. Helping the museum meet the diverse demands […]
LONDON – “Time is very long for those who wait,” wrote Shakespeare. The great bard penned these words more than four centuries (and a couple of pandemics) ago. But those deprived of the joy of live theatre during the coronavirus lockdown, know all too well the excruciating anguish of which he wrote. Among this group […]
VENTURA, CA – Outside, the modern world of 21st century Los Angeles County may hurry along on nearby highway 101, but once visitors enter Mission Basilica San Buenaventura, with its tranquil palm-tree-lined gardens, they’re soon transported to a different state of mind and spirit. Inside the basilica itself, the essence of its rich past seems […]
LONDON – Although immensely rewarding, putting light to music is never an easy undertaking. There are some artists, though, whose work unfolds so seamlessly that it opens windows for a lighting design to leap forth and join it in flight. With its naturally fluid rhythms and frictionless interlocking movements, the genre hopping music of cellist […]
BREMEN, GERMANY – Critics rarely review a concert at Die Glocke without commenting on the exquisite acoustics of the historic venue. The meticulously detailed space inside the Walter Görig-designed building reflects sound with such clarity and purity that leading artists have sought it out for their performances. Even the legendary conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic […]
GENK, BELGIUM – In the world of television, where success can vanish in the blink of any eye, Wheel of Fortune stands out as a paradigm of longevity. Debuting in Hollywood 46 years ago, the word puzzle quiz show, is the longest running syndicated series in US history. The Belgian edition Het Rad van Fortuin, […]
WILTSHIRE, UK – Surrounded by 9,000 acres of exquisitely landscaped gardens, thick woodlands and neatly tended farms, the three-story Longleat mansion glistens beneath an ornate roof adorned with domes and decorative chimneys. Each of the stately windows that line the exterior facade of the 128 room Tudor structure beckon visitors to look into a world […]
TOLUCA, MEXICO – At the start of 2020, Ana Casillas released “Tú a tu vida y yo a la mía,” which roughly translates in English to “You To Your Life, Me To Mine.” It is an apt title for the Baja California born singer at this point in her career, as she sets out on […]