Music

I added a 'music list' to the blog, it's at the bottom of the page after books before movies.
Like books & movies, this is a list that will also expand over time.
I am listening to Chopin's L'Adieu -which he wrote for Maria or Marie Wodzińska- while writing this. And if I ever get to name more cats, I will call them Earl Grey, Crosby (after the street not the musician) & Chopin. The holy trinity ;)

Keef & Annie

I am a sucker for Keith Richards. " Before They Make Me Run" and "Little T & A" are two of my favorite Stone songs, because Mr. Richards performs the lead vocals.
And no matter what you think of Annie Leibovitz, I think you must recognize her contribution to rock imagery.
Horses Think has a link to a video of the two long time collaborators and legends working together for the Louis Vuitton campaign.
The simplicity of it is indeed beautiful!

Bob Marley vs. Lee Scratch Perry

"Bob Marley vs. Lee "Scratch" Perry: The Best of the Upsetters 1970-1971" is one of my favorite recordings ever.

The String Orchestra of Brooklyn

Check out Eli Spindel's -Brother of Molly- Orchestra ©The SOB

The String Orchestra of Brooklyn’s
WINTER CONCERT
Saturday, December 15th, 2007 at 8:00PM

St. Ann + the Holy Trinity Church
157 Montague Street, Brooklyn Heights, NY

Kimberly Sogioka, alto
Adam Forman, timpani

Bach: Erbarme dich, mein Gott from the St. Matthew's Passion
Torelli: Christmas Concerto
Vaughn Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Mozart: Serenata Notturna, k239

Suggested donation: $10
More info here: www.thesob.org

La Traviata

Last night's production of Verdi's "La Traviata" with Renee Fleming as Violetta at The Met was an outstanding experience. Besides the obvious attractions (the acclaimed Renee Flemming, the Met's orchestra, Verdi's music, exquisite sets, etc) what made the evening flawless for me was the price of my ticket: $26!
(Which I didn't pay as my friend Rita treated me --thank you Rita!)


Opera Ticket © The Metropolitan Opera NY

$26 for a seat at a world class performance in an extraordinary city. A great reminder what a metropolis (no pun intended) New York truly is. Much has been said about how much New York has changed over the last two decades, but fundamentally, much has stayed constant, like New York's tenacity & complexity and most of all New York's constant quest for the best.
Admiring the Met's concert hall, I was reminded of a much older New York, as portrayed in one my favorite movies (and books): "The Age of Innocence" .
A film about New York (society) in the 1870's directed by New Yorker Martin Scorsese based upon the Pulitzer price winning novel by another New Yorker, Edith Wharton.

Three Soundtracks

I just bought the Soundtrack for "The Darjeeling Limited" and as previous soundtracks to Mr. Anderson movies this is an eclectic compilation of music that is great to have and lets you wonder back into to the world of Mr. Anderson. Included in this soundtrack is music from films by Satyajit Ray, a very emotive rendition of Debussy's "Clair de Lune" by Alex Weissenberg (Steven Soderbergh used a different interpretation of "Clair de Lune" for Ocean's 11 - Soderbergh being another director with a great ear) and more.
Another favorite soundtrack of mine is the one for "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou", with the fantastic interpretations of some of David Bowie's best songs by Brazilian talent Seu Jorge and quirky original melodies by Mark Mothersbaugh. If you only want the Seu Jorge songs you can purchase "The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions", which concludes with a funny ode to Team Zissou.
Soundtrack number three is "Nowhere in Africa" with music composed by Niki Reiser. "Reginas Melodie" is my favorite and I wish Reiser would have decided to extend the length of this piece.
All three movies are also worth seeing.