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Coming Attractions: Beyond Jazz Week 2011—The Usual Suspects

May 11, 2011
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In the second of three articles inspired by Jazz Week 2011, the focus is on the full-time jazz venues that form the bedrock of the Boston scene.

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Fuse Dance Review: Walter Benjamin in Samoa

May 10, 2011
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Which suppests the quandary at the heart of choreographer Lemi Ponifasio’s work. Can sophisticated political critique be made outside the bounds of narrative? Can a poetic work without directionality enacted in a setting designed to be beyond specific time and place create an environment for redress, for action, for change?

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Classical Music Review: Maria Padilla and the indomitable Barbara Quintiliani

May 10, 2011
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The past week saw its New England premiere of “Maria Padilla,” and while it’s received mixed reviews in the press, no one could fault the singing. It’s just that it is a very strange opera, with all signs pointing towards a tragedy, but it all ends happily — for an opera, anyway.

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Visual Arts: Cleaning the Eighth Wonder of the World

May 10, 2011
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Before we hit the ground, I reversed my attitude and became a fan of the restoration of the Dutch royal palace on Dam Square, Amsterdam. I could not fault the decisions that had been taken.

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Short Fuse Movie Review: “Bill Cunningham’s New York”

May 8, 2011
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I, personally, don’t care much about clothes, and was only prevented from turning off to the film by photographer Bill Cunningham’s elemental enthusiasm. It can be tempting to write him off as simple in some way, what with his bright, ready laugh. If so, he’s simple in the best way.

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Theater Review: A Dreamy and Acrobatic Hedda Gabler

May 8, 2011
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Henrik Ibsen’s rejection of the everyday drives this compelling take on “Hedda Gabler” – the production generates a theatrical arena that is simultaneously acrobatic and surreal.

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Film Review: “13 Assassins” — A Blood-soaked Homage to Swordplay of Yesteryear

May 7, 2011
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“13 Assassins” is an affectionate salute to old-fashioned swordplay films, just as occasionally artful as it needs to be, and ultimately, it’s a highly-satisfying romp through and through. Is there really anything wrong with that?

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Poetry Commentary: Verse Into Verse — “Poetry” Awards Poetry a Prize

May 6, 2011
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In the future, when a literary historian looks at the long-forgotten Lilly Prize and wonders what did its selection panels get right, it will be recognized that it had been sensitive and intelligent enough to realize the beauty of David Ferry’s poetry, an oeuvre which is sure to grow in stature. By Daniel Bosch In…

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Visual Arts: Pythagoras Returns — Sound Sculpture at Kendall T Stop Chimes Again (Revised)

May 5, 2011
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What the artist didn’t count on was the popularity of the Kendall Band, coupled with its fragility relative to the strength and number of its users, would result in frequent breakdowns. The Kendall Band was the only interactive piece of public art in the MBTA’s “Arts on the Line” program, and the agency had no…

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Movie Review: Bobby Fischer Against the World

May 4, 2011
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The Bobby Fischer that the documentary portrays is both a creature of the Cold War era, shouldering that burden, and a peculiarly American hero. It airs this Monday, June 6, on HBO Bobby Fischer Against the World. Directed by Liz Garbus. By Harvey Blume ( Also in The Arts Fuse: Harvey Blume’s thoughts on Fischer’s…

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