Review

Book Review: “Here We Are” — Philip Roth’s Boswell

May 25, 2020
Posted in , ,

This glimpse into the relationship of two American Jewish writers makes for good reading during the pandemic: an intelligent, gracefully written memoir of friendship.

Read More

Classical CD Reviews: James MacMillan’s Viola Concerto, Magnus Lindberg’s “Accused,” and Richard Rodney Bennett Orchestral Works

May 25, 2020
Posted in , , ,

James MacMillan’s Viola Concert is a magnificent addition to the repertoire; the debut recording of Magnus Lindberg’s song cycle Accused leaves a bit to be desired; a fetching, brilliant gathering of orchestral music by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett.

Read More

Theater Interview: Anthony Clarvoe on “The Living” — Surviving Plague Time

May 24, 2020
Posted in , ,

The Living “is about the impulse to draw back, to lie, to conceal, and to retreat versus the impulse to gather, to commune, to cooperate, to find common ground. Those two conflicting impulses seem to inform our response to every disaster.”

Read More

Poetry Review: “I Aint Yo Earthmama” — Poets Susan Barba and Wanda Coleman

May 24, 2020
Posted in , ,

The two books reviewed here represent the launch of the reborn Black Sparrow Press under the auspices of David R. Godine, Publisher. Very exciting. Let’s give them a big warm Boston welcome!

Read More

Film Review: “The Ghost of Peter Sellers” — A Riveting Postmortem

May 24, 2020
Posted in , ,

The documentary has a “why me?” element to it, with a dark comic edge, but it isn’t a pity party.

Read More

Podcast Review: “Team Deakins” — For Film Geeks Only (and That’s not a Bad Thing)

May 23, 2020
Posted in , ,

The podcast Team Deakins has quite a bit to teach us about the art and craft of cinematography.

Read More

Classical CD Reviews: “Whither Must I Wander,” “Death and the Maiden,” and Caroline Shaw’s “Is a Rose” & “The Listeners”

May 23, 2020
Posted in , , ,

Whither Must I Wander, the debut recording from baritone Will Liverman and pianist Jonathan King, is one of 2020’s finest classical releases; 12 ensemble provides a kinetically-played example of a large-ensemble arrangement of chamber music.

Read More

Book Review: Art Critic Peter Schjeldahl — Connecting Readers to the World in a New Way

May 22, 2020
Posted in , , ,

Good essays about art help us learn to see. Wonderful essays about the artists in our lives — which means all the artists through history, because, as Peter Schjeldahl so eloquently puts it, “all art is contemporary” —- help us learn how to live.

Read More

Film Commentary: Drive-Ins May Save Our Sanity this Summer

May 22, 2020
Posted in , ,

The sensory delights of drive-ins have been pretty well forgotten in an age when watching movies has meant never leaving the comfort of your living room.

Read More

Book Review: “Marking Time” — Documenting the Visual Arts in American Prisons

May 22, 2020
Posted in , ,

Marking Time explores how the creation of art in prison can disrupt institutionalized patterns of dehumanization. The book’s larger narrative comes with an overt political aim: “to envision and help create a world without human caging.”

Read More

Recent Posts

Popular Posts

Categories

Archives