Featured Articles
Fuse Movie News: Boston Society of Film Critics — 2013 Awards
The big BSFC winner was “12 Years a Slave,” which beat “The Wolf of Wall Street” for Best Picture, Best Director (Steve McQueen), and Best Actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor).
Fuse Concert Review: Mistral — A Welcome Act of Musical Chutzpah
Mistral’s Artistic Director and flutist Julie Scolnik knows, after 17 successful years, how to run a terrific series – hire the best people, present a unifying theme, and program excellent music.
Fuse Book Review: Jim Harrison’s “Brown Dog” — A Shakespearian Spirit in Michigan
Think of these novellas as variations on a common theme: a complicated world is scrutinized through the elemental viewpoint of one of the most memorable characters in American fiction over the past quarter-century.
Fuse Concert Review: Boston Early Music Festival’s Glorious Highlights
The more I hear performed by the BEMF, especially their operas, the more deeply impressed – and thankful – I am.
Fuse Theater Review: “Becky’s New Car” — A Song of the Open Road
“Becky’s New Car” turns out to be a ride worth taking, especially if we suspend our disbelief long enough to embrace the notion that malice is not necessarily aforethought even though our actions might be construed to suggest otherwise.
Fuse Film Review: Not Enough Joy in Director Chris Marker’s “Le Joli Mai”
“Le Joli Mai” is serious and sober, a bit of a downer, climaxing in a lengthy interview with a dullard union official about why he supports the French Communist Party.
Fuse Coming Attractions: What Will Light Your Fire This Week
[updated] Arts Fuse critics select the best in music, theater, film, and dance for the weekend and beyond.
Fuse Book Review: “My Mistake: A Memoir” — Notes from a Reticent Memoirist
There will be readers who appreciate Daniel Menaker’s brevity and lack of emotional engagement, but for me, much of “My Mistake” reads like notes for a memoir.
In Brief
- Fuse Movie News: Boston Society of Film Critics — 2013 Awards
The big BSFC winner was “12 Years a Slave,” which beat “The Wolf of Wall Street” for Best Picture, Best Director (Steve McQueen), and Best Actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor).
- Fuse Music Review: Boston Pops Orchestra and the Holiday Pops — Some Makeover Ideas
Would it be all that nervy to ask if, in the coming years, there might be more, not less, musical experimentation? Couldn’t the Boston Pops commission a new seasonal work and showcase it?
- Fuse Coming Attractions: What Will Light Your Fire This Week
[updated] Arts Fuse critics select the best in music, theater, film, and dance for the weekend and beyond.
- Arts Fuse Year-End Fundraiser: Once More unto the Breach, Dear Friends, Once More
Please send tax deductible dollars to “The Arts Fuse” so the magazine can continue to serve its mission — we need funds to pay our writers, to continue to grow our readership, and to raise our visibility around the region.
Music
Fuse Concert Review: Mistral — A Welcome Act of Musical Chutzpah
Mistral’s Artistic Director and flutist Julie Scolnik knows, after 17 successful years, how to run a terrific series – hire the best people, present a unifying theme, and program excellent music.
Theater
Fuse Theater Review: “Becky’s New Car” — A Song of the Open Road
“Becky’s New Car” turns out to be a ride worth taking, especially if we suspend our disbelief long enough to embrace the notion that malice is not necessarily aforethought even though our actions might be construed to suggest otherwise.
Film
Fuse Movie News: Boston Society of Film Critics — 2013 Awards
The big BSFC winner was “12 Years a Slave,” which beat “The Wolf of Wall Street” for Best Picture, Best Director (Steve McQueen), and Best Actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor).
Literature
Fuse Book Review: Jim Harrison’s “Brown Dog” — A Shakespearian Spirit in Michigan
Think of these novellas as variations on a common theme: a complicated world is scrutinized through the elemental viewpoint of one of the most memorable characters in American fiction over the past quarter-century.
Visual Arts
Fuse Visual Arts Review: “Maus” and More — Art Spiegelman at the Jewish Museum
Art Spiegelman believes that “MAD” magazine was more subversive for his generation of protesters than either marijuana or LSD. It certainly radicalized him.
Dance
Fuse Dance Review: The Stephen Petronio Company — Creating Fascinating Structures of Dance
I was mesmerized by the coherence of the shifting patterns, their ideas so clearly presented, even though the work by no means provided more than a suggestion of a story.
Television
Fuse TV Review: “Breaking Bad” Ends Well — “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue”
Over the past five years of Breaking Bad, the chemistry of fate has run its course.
Video Games
Arts Fuse Year-End Fundraiser: Once More unto the Breach, Dear Friends, Once More
Please send tax deductible dollars to “The Arts Fuse” so the magazine can continue to serve its mission — we need funds to pay our writers, to continue to grow our readership, and to raise our visibility around the region.
Judicial Review
REVISED: Judicial Review #11: “The Great Gatsby” — A Great Opera?
This Judicial Review deals with the Boston premiere of John Harbison’s opera version of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby. Read the reactions and join the conversation.
Commentary
Arts Fuse Film Commentary: A Contrarian View of “12 Years a Slave”
Why haven’t more movies been made about American slavery? Hollywood studio racism is certainly a prime factor; but even for determined anti-racists, there’s also the aesthetic problem of creating a compelling film drama.
Interview
Fuse Music Interview: A Talk with Singer Luciana Souza
“I like singing live; I try to sing well live, I try to prepare myself for the audience, for that room. And I care a great deal about singing live, because I think that’s the experience of jazz. Even if I’m singing Brazilian music.”
Preview
Fuse Coming Attractions: What Will Light Your Fire This Week
[updated] Arts Fuse critics select the best in music, theater, film, and dance for the weekend and beyond.
Review
Fuse Concert Review: Mistral — A Welcome Act of Musical Chutzpah
Mistral’s Artistic Director and flutist Julie Scolnik knows, after 17 successful years, how to run a terrific series – hire the best people, present a unifying theme, and program excellent music.
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