Art Shorts:

Music - Gene Bertoncini

Oooh, this guy is soooo smooth. His playing is lyrical, classical, contempory, timeless. You don't have to be a jazz afficianado to enjoy what this man does to a classical guitar. He is a legend and has played with the legends. I saw Gene at a house concert and again, if you don't go to these you are missing out on a extraordinary experience. Every now and then, in the middle of a song, he would look out at the audience with an impish grin, to see if his musical seduction was a success. He also tells great jokes which, in themselves, are worth the price of admission.

 

Film - Great Performance: Leonard Berntein's Candide

You are right. There are a lot of awful movies out there and it is easy to get to the video store and end up going home with something you have already watched 3 times just because it is safe. Well, here is one which might not jump off the shelf into your arms, but is fantastic - Leonard Bernstein's "Candide" in concert. "But I don't like concert videos", you are saying to yourself. No, I repeat, this is terrific. It is a very funny adaptation on the original satire by Voltaire in the 1700's. Actors Kristin Cheneweth and Paul Groves, both with terrific voices and wonderful comedic presences, give beautifully nuanced performances that you will find you must watch again. I won't tell you the story because it will unfold for you in a delightful way.

So even if you have fear of opera or disdain for musical theater, find some way to view this.

I think you will enjoy it

Gene Bertoncini photo by Michael G. Stewart