Mostly Mozart also presented two
works by Mozart and Tchaikovsky. Symphony
No. 36 in C major, K. 425 ("Linz"), by Mozart, opened
the program. It was composed in five days, and apparently Mozart
himself did not seem to regard it with enthusiasm. I agree with
the composer. The
Violin Concerto in D major, by Tchaikovsky, with Joshua
Bell, was performed after the intermission. Bell gave a
dazzling performance. His dexterity, especially in the rapid
third movement was astounding, and he received a well deserved
tumultuous applause. Louis
Langree conducted
the orchestra.
A Meet & Greet was held for the
Broadway revival of The
Glass Menagerie, starring Cherry
Jones, opening September 26. I can hardly wait.
A Meet & Greet was held for the popular
singer Luis
Fonsi in Forever
Tango. He will appear from August 20 - September 1. He sang two
songs, which delighted those in attendance.
Kristine Nielsen of Vanya
and Sonia and Marsha and Spike was
surprised (she had no idea that she was receiving the honor) when
she received her caricature at Sardi's. The cast and playwright Christopher
Durang were present
to congratulate her.
Film Society of Lincoln Center presented
four press screenings of the 25th
Annual NewFest,
New York's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
and Transgender Film Festival September 6-11. Test, by Chris
Mason Johnson, USA, 2013, takes place in 1985 in San Francisco,
when the AIDS epidemic was recognized. A young dancer in a modern
dance company is enjoying his homosexual life, and decides to take a
blood test. The film has many scenes of rehearsals and performances
of modern dance which will delight its fans. Otherwise, the young
man, while likable, really is not very interesting. Who's
Afraid of Vagina Wolf?, by Anna
Margarita Albelo, USA, 2013, is an unfunny comedy about an
overweight 40-year lesbian filmmaker, living in a friend's garage,
who decides to make a film. The director who plays the heroine is a
pathetic character, and the film seems like an ego trip, a vanity
production. Geography
Club, by Gary
Entin, USA, 2012, is like a television after school special to
encourage teenagers to respect gay and lesbian students. The
photography is excellent and the depiction of a typical American
suburban high school would make students want to attend. The story
is another matter. A confused teenager does not know if he should
admit his sexual attraction for another boy. The so-called Geography
Club is a group of students who are homosexual and help him make his
decision. Most scenes are quite unbelievable, but painless. Pit
Stop, by Yen
Tan, USA, 2013, is about two men, blue-collar workers, in a
small town in Texas, who meet at a gasoline station and have an
affair. Both lead frustrated, boring daily lives, which we are
forced to watch, and find love with one another. It is slow moving
and dull.
Opera in Cinema from Emerging
Pictures presented La
Traviata, by Verdi,
from Teatro alla Scala, from a live performance in July 2007. It was
a traditional performance, with a sumptuous set design by Dante
Ferretti and
beautiful costume design by Gabriella
Pescucci. What a pleasure to watch a normal production, directed
on stage byLiliana Cavani! Lorin
Maazel conducted the
orchestra, that played one of the finest scores of the great
composer magnificently.
The cast rose to the occasion, with a brilliantAngela
Gheorghiu in the
title role. Her acting and singing were a joy to behold. Ramon
Vargas sang the role
Alfredo and Roberto
Frontali sang the
role of Germont, both in fine voice. The chorus was superb in the
first act and in the second scene of the second act. It was a
performance to treasure.