Archive for the ‘Arts & Culture’ Category

Book Covers, Menu Covers

Arts & Culture | Posted by admin
Aug 18 2010

It’s not nearly as common today as it once was, but the art of leather binding isn’t lost at all. There are still many antiquarian booksellers and bookmakers who appreciate and continue the art of protecting their most precious books. Leather is one of the most durable materials, helping to protect anything from the elements. It’s also one of the most attractive ways of covering something, which is one of the reasons it’s such a valuable material.

People who know the skills necessary to work with leather usually fall out of the category of craftspeople and into the realm of the artisan . A century ago, it was common practice for the wealthy citizens of the world to have their most valuable books bound so that they could survive for generations. As such, a leather cover has a certain touch of antiquity, not to mention enormous class and style.

That’s the same effect that one can get with leather menu covers , where the touch is such a lovely one, the customers will certainly take note. Even if it doesn’t register consciously, the feel of a leather cover in one’s hands means that the object has a weight and value that is precious. The cover will also serve as an excellent protection, while providing style and sensibility that is hard to match.

Tags:
No Comments »

Florence Has David!

Arts & Culture | Posted by admin
Jun 29 2010

When in Florence, above all else, you must see Michelangelo’s David, located at The Accademia Gallery, Viz Ricasoli 60. The statue of David was housed in the Piazza Signoria for more than 4 centuries, but is now exhibited in a hall especially constructed just for this statue; designed by architect Emilio De Fabris. There are other works by Michelangelo that follow the sculptor’s artistic development, from his famous David to his ‘Slave’ series and his sculpture of San Matteo.

Accademia Gallery stands on a site formerly occupied by the ancient Monastery of San Matteo and Convent of San Niccolo di Cafaggio, whose grounds covered the entire area lying between Piazz Santissima Annunziata and Via Ricasoli. The Gallery also features an impressive collection of paintings ranging from the 13th century to the 16th century, and besides the highlight of the Statue of David, the Gallery includes important works by Taddeo Gaddi, a 24-panel representing scenes from the life of Christ, and St. Francis; the Sienese school Crucifix from the 13th century; and the Pieta by Giovanni da Milano.

No matter what great works are housed at Accademia, it’s still the Statue of David that everyone comes to see and so should you, even if you’re strapped for time, staying one night at a hotel Florence offers its tourist, you must fit this in your itinerary. The statue of David and the unfinished Michelangelo statues that lead the way to the main attraction, is worth the ticket price or even extending your stay. The perfection of the human body, down to the veins protruding from the hands, the stance of the body with muscles, and the determination seen in David’s eyes will take your breath away. This masterpiece is why Michelangelo is considered the greatest sculpture ever born.

Hours are Tuesday through Sunday: 8:15am to 6:50pm. Cost of a ticket is 6.50 Euros. European Union and regular state teachers receive a 50% discount. Free admission for groups of Italian and schools accompanied by their teachers, tourist guides with an official document, tourist interpreters accompanying a group with an official document, Members of ICOM and European citizens under 18 or over 65.

Tags:
No Comments »

Mexico City’s Sun and Moon Pyramids Still have Significance in Today’s World

Arts & Culture | Posted by admin
May 11 2010

The Teotihuacan Pyramids , located just outside of Mexico City, Mexico, is the largest pyramidal structures built during in the pre-Columbian Americas and have been considered worthy of being inhabited by Gods and by tourists alike. Teotihuacan pyramids, a monumental city, is a thousands of years old civilization and city with wide avenues projecting up to the cardinal points of the universe, a city patterned with dwelling places and with streets that have bore witness to vast activities of people and goods coming and going in this mythical city of the lofty realm of Gods. Many Mexico City area hotels offer tours to this site, visit this page to find out more. Visitors to the pyramids will find mural paintings of mythical figures and Gods, nocturnal beings, jaguars and liquid skies.

The archaeological remnants of the city itself, plus the vestiges of fine pottery from the people of Teotihuacan’s, which are on exhibit around the world, express the past generations of peoples who inhabited this ancient city. The central ceremonial area is laid out in symbolic axes: the Pyramid of the Moon and to its side, the immense, rising stone mass of the Pyramid of the Sun; two structures that represent the duality between the creation of nature and the people who built these limestone, volcanic rock walls. At the other axes, the north-south axis – the Avenue of the Dead is where the buildings, plazas, palaces, alters and the wings of the butterfly extends to either side.

The Pyramids were abandoned, which still perplex archaeologist even today as to why, but hundreds of years later, other people named the site ‘The City of Gods’, with good reason, it was steeped in deep religious convictions centered around cycles in nature that gave directions for sowing, reaping, draughts, rainfall and a cosmology with strict phenomenological relationships expressing astronomical and calendrical aspects that was reflected in the very construction of the city. So much so, the very patterns of life, the unprecedented levels of perfection, the cycles of production, urban designs, ceremonial objects, vases and the social structure of the Teotihuacan’s are currently reflected in today’s agricultural systems and the new movement for a better urban renewal paradigm.

Tags:
No Comments »

The Shakespeare Garden of New York City

Arts & Culture, Travel | Posted by admin
Feb 20 2010

Central Park is huge.  Unless one takes the time to wonder through slowly, or unless one is lucky enough to have a knowledgeable guide, there are many smaller sections of the park that may get missed.  One such section of the garden is the Shakespeare Garden, known to be one of the best spots in the city to stop and literally smell the roses.  One of the things about New York that so surprised me the first time I visited, was the gardens.  The gardens located in the abandoned spaces between the high rise skyscrapers, and the gardens that hung off of the fire escapes throughout the city.

This was not the concrete jungle I was expecting, it was a bunch of people living in a very small area, who valued beauty, even if was just a pot of geraniums outside the kitchen window.  Many of the parks in New York went through times of neglect and disrepair, be it whether the country was consumed with the happenings of the Second World War, or whether the people were to distracted trying to survive during the Great Depression.  By the middle of the 1970′s however, many parks got renovated, such as Washington Square Park in the East Village, and Prospect Park in Brooklyn.

So too, did the Shakespeare Garden of Central Park, start to be tended and cleaned up.  William Shakespeare wrote about many aspects of life in his prose and his plays, and this garden in the park, is dedicated to him.  Only plants and flowers that he had made mention of in his writings, are located within the garden.  Hotels are plentiful on the Upper East side, and if you are traveling to the city in the spring time, look here for those that will ensure you close access to the park, as this is a blooming time that you really do not want to miss.  Who knows, you may be able to time it in order to see a play, Shakespeare in the Park, in Shakespeare’s Garden…what a better way to celebrate the life of the beloved Bard?

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Santa Rosa Symphony Inspires Violinist

Arts & Culture, Employment, Travel | Posted by admin
Feb 17 2010

Okay, I’m only 21 but I think after last summer I have much of the rest of my life planned out. No one takes me seriously when I tell them this so I’m confiding it to you though I express my plans to manifest these elements in a more relaxed fashion. It all started when I spent a week in Santa Rosa last summer with my parents. I almost didn’t even go with them because it was an incredibly busy summer for me and I had some important performance dates coming up. I’m a music performance major and will graduate next year with a degree in violin performance. I have played the violin since I was seven and don’t remember ever not loving it in the last fourteen years. Okay, that’s a lie, I have actually hated it a few times but it’s one of those love hate relationship things.

Anyway, they really wanted me to go and I was able to rearrange my schedule and I don’t think I could have done anything greater for myself that summer. We spent a week in one of the Santa Rosa hotels that was in an older section of town. It was really cool and had a nice historic feel. I absolutely fell in love with the city almost from the moment I arrived there and am one hundred percent sure that this is where I want to move when I finish school. We attended a performance of the Santa Rosa Symphony and I really enjoyed it and respect the company. Of course I would love to audition for them and earn a spot but I’ll just do some freelance performance until that happens. This is where people tell me I’m naive, but I feel like I’ll be able to make a living, at least pay my bills by doing some private teaching and also working freelance performance jobs. Meanwhile, I definitely plan to move to Santa Rosa and maybe live there for the rest of my life, who knows. It’s a beautiful city and I love it and I also believe that things will just work out fine with continued hard work and commitment.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Karen Finley Presented New Work in New York

Arts & Culture, Travel | Posted by admin
Nov 09 2009

New York City is known for a lot of great cultural landmarks and elements and its theatre and performance scene are one of, if not the most prominent. Guests who may have stayed in one of the top New York hotels in September and/or October may have been lucky enough to attend the limited run of Karen Finley’s new work Karen Finley: The Jackie Look. The show was scheduled to open September 19th at the Off Off Broadway space The Country Club and closed late last month on on October 24th. Finley is well known, and sometimes feared, for her bold depictions of society, private life and her sometimes controversial methods of performance. In The Jackie Look Finley applies her perspective to the iconic look of Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis and analyzes concepts of femininity and the demands being the First Lady can place on a person.

Finley has a long history of solo performance and a somewhat controversial career. She has been hailed as some as a healing social element that exposes archetypal myths and hypocrisies, and others have condemned her as inappropriate and deviant. What an amazing ability to balance between the two and maintain her perspective and performance intentions, without being sucked into the dangers of labels and warped self belief.

One of her most remembered historic moments by the mainstream population is the notorious NEA grant dilemma of 1990. During this year, complaints by Senator Jesse Helms and other political and religious conservatives put pressure on the government supported arts endowment agency. Four active NEA grant receiving artists were declared as creating works that were indecent, and Finley was one of these. The other three artists were Holly Hughes, Tim Miller and John Fleck. Due to the political and social moral pressure, the artists had their grants revoked and have since become known as the NEA four.

Tags: , , ,
No Comments »

Singapore Hiphop Buskers

Arts & Culture, Restaurant, Travel | Posted by admin
Oct 05 2009

It’s always interesting to come to know a place through its food, and in Singapore the cuisine can tell many stories from its many histories.  As a major port for centuries, there have been many cultural influences here that have worked their way in through the food.  In Singapore, restaurant living is an illustration of its enormously cosmopolitan tastes, which are a reflection of its fascinating history.  You might forget about history altogether, however, when you taste the splendid offerings from our fine selection of restaurants, which contain a fabulous array of tastes and culinary traditions that you can only find in Singapore.

The selections can be very specific to a certain kind of food, such as Italian, or very eclectic, offering local traditions served with a contemporary flair.  Our chefs are some of the finest in the world, and are studied in both classical and state of the art cooking techniques, all designed to dazzle and enchant your taste buds, and offering a culinary glimpse into what Singapore is all about.  And after a splendid meal, you’ll have more opportunities to enjoy the cultural life in Singapore.  There are many exceptional venues to see live performance, such as dance, theatre, and opera, and loads of galleries and museums to keep your hunger for local culture satiated.  There is also a fairly impressive tradition for street performance, or busking, here, and you may find yourself watching b-boys like Amsyar Bin Ramlee.

The 18-year old breakdancer is working currently with Styles from Beyond, and his work is really something to behold.  He was a second runner up at the Pulse Hip Hop Knockout, and his stylings on dance floors and sidewalks are worth watching, as his career is starting to make some spectacular moves.  He performed with his group at the Singapore Street Festival, an event which showcases some of the hottest urban talents in Singapore.  The tradition of street performance in the world is fascinating, and its engagement with the locals and international visitors makes visible another kind of art that happens every day, and in unexpected places.

Tags: , , , ,
No Comments »

Alvaro Rodríguez Fominaya, Hong Kong’s New Curator

Arts & Culture, Travel | Posted by admin
Sep 03 2009

For all the necessary considerations for your travel arrangements in Hong Kong, hotel accommodations are perhaps the most important.  The hotel is the center of the journey, the place where you lay your hat and your head.  Hong Kong is a beautiful place to be spending any amount of time.  It’s one of the most metropolitan places in the word, with a wide diversity of culture and ideas.  Our hotels put you in the center of the city, making it possible to see all the things you’re interested in, as well as providing a luxurious calm to your stay.  We specially select our hotels to offer the best of the old and the new, with a rich tradition of hospitality blended with the best of contemporary furnishings and technologies.

After a delicious sleep in our exquisitely decorated rooms, and a fantastic meal served up by top chefs who specialize in all the intricacies of international cuisine, we recommend spending time getting to know Hong Kong.  There are countless possibilities for distraction here, with an exciting urban landscape with some of the best people watching in the region.  Fashion is worn like art, and gives a great way of looking into the local culture.  There are also excellent clubs for live music, and fantastic performing arts work here.  One of the most exciting changes to the local scene recently has been the appointment of Alvaro Rodríguez Fominaya as the curator for Hong Kong’s Para/Site art space.

He began a three-year term in January, 2009, and will be an interesting figure to watch, in a very lively cultural space.  Para/Site has a great history in its short existence, presenting local and international work that is challenging and exciting.  Alvaro Rodríguez Fominaya will bring an impressive list of credentials, and art world contacts, with him.  He has done projects all over the world, in Spain, the U.S., Latin America, as well as Hong Kong, and it will be interesting to watch the work develop here.  He sees the art space as an active participant in the cultural landscape, and this will benefit everyone who lives here or comes to visit.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Excited to be going to the Met

Arts & Culture, Travel | Posted by admin
Sep 02 2009

I first head opera in the Loony Tunes cartoons I watched as a child growing up. Not knowing the songs were just tiny pieces from giant works and not really caring. The tunes would stick in my head and run through my brain over and over again. I would hum them as i played and went about my business. Hearing an live from the Met broadcast one Saturday I heard the Barber of Seville. Early on the Figaro song is sung and I realize I know this from the cartoons I watched as a kid. I listened to the rest of the opera surprised at the number of songs and melodies I recognized. i had heard these tunes in movies, TV shows, commercials and who knows where else.  Now in my best New York City hotel I am excited to be getting ready to see my first live opera performance at the Metropolitan Opera in New York city. I have viewed excellent opera in man y other locations like Santa Fe new Mexico where the magical summer opera has gone on for more than 60 years. Today a state of the art open air theater greets guests from all over the world from July to August to see operas designed, directed and preformed by hand picked apprentices world wide. The audiences come from all over the world too. The breathtaking views from the opera house at sunset set the perfect mood for an evening of opera viewing. Some productions are done with open backdrops, this leaves no back to the stage and the view goes out for 100 miles looking over the Sange de Cristo Mts. When darkness falls and the opera begins some evenings there are distant showers roaming the deserts and the flashes of lightening and rumbles of thunder become part of the magic of the Santa Fe experience. My experience at the Met tonight cannot compare to the open air festival of Santa Fe in many ways but seeing the opera performed by a company that has been in existence for more than 150 years.

Tags: ,
No Comments »

Spanish Surrealism

Arts & Culture, Travel | Posted by admin
Aug 24 2009

If you are looking for a vacation centered in five-star hotels, Spain is one of Europe’s more splendid and interesting countries.  With an enormously complicated and fascinating history, Spain has been at the center of some of the world’s greatest turning points. Our hotel accommodations puts you in the heart of Spain’s great cities, where you can live in the extremes of luxury and prepare yourself to have new adventures in a country deeply connected in cosmopolitan culture while remaining fiercely connected to local identities.  We offer amenities that meet the highest standards in the industry, in service, cuisine, facilities, technological connectivity, and hospitality, plus we offer loads of extras to distinguish your stay here and make for memories that will last a lifetime.

Some of the best minds in the world are drawn to Spain, for its achievements in science, philosophy, architecture, and art.  In the art world, Spain has always played a major role, living at the center of most world art movements, and often creating movements of its own.  IN the 20th century, one of the most influential movements in art was surrealism, and Spanish Surrealism contributed in a very important way, and continues to influence contemporary art through the surrealist touches from its artists.  Surrealism is an art movement that came from the remains of Dadaism, taking its chaotic and playful spirit, and combining it with the new developments of Freudian psychoanalysis.  Taking the language of dreams as the most visible way that the subconscious speaks to the conscious mind, the visual art became a representation of dreamscapes interrupting the flow of waking life.

Two obvious Spanish artists working with Surrealist techniques are Joan Miró and Salvador Dalí.  Both have left legacies that are immeasurable, and their work can be seen all over the world, but Spain offers some excellent museums where their original works can be observed.  Dali’s Theatre Museum in Figueres is one of the best opportunities to dig in to the history of surrealism first-hand.  There are also the films of Luis Buñuel, who collaborated with Dalí at one time, and who has redefined cinematic language.    For Spanish-descended artists who contributed to the school of Surrealism and who have created a new artistic language that falls outside of formal Surrealism, we can look at the iconic Frida Kahlo and Remedios Varos in México, to find roots for the next waves of contemporary dream language in visual art.  These artists offer contributions to world art that are still evolving, but certainly have roots in the tenets of classical Surrealism, and carry Spain’s artistic genius in the diaspora.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Buddhist Temples Thailand

Arts & Culture, Travel | Posted by admin
Aug 21 2009

There are hundreds of Buddhist temples in Thailand. Every town, every village and every city has temples. They sit on hillsides over looking the valleys below. The temples are an important part of Thai life. In the mornings the monks leave the temples doing their rounds for alms. People come out to give the monk food, drink and other offerings. For many Thai people this is a very important part of their day. The temple are generally a complex. The temple area with the Buddha shrine, monk quarters, eating quarters, areas for public teaching and gardens of vegetables and flowers. Life in the temples is peaceful and quiet generally when the quiet isn’t being interrupted by the monks chanting. There is a program at one temple called Monk for a Month. At this temple people from anywhere can come to the temple and take the vows (temporally) of a monk and live and learn as a monk for a fairly short period of time. People come from all over the world to participate in the program. They offer short stays from 2 to 4 days and longer stays from 2 to 4 weeks. The longer stays include ordination as a monk and teachings over the time period you are there. The main temple in Bangkok receives much of its funding via the sale of a popular Thai beer Singha proceeds from the sale of this beer benefits this temple. There is no other situation I know of in the world like this one. Any where you are in Thailand you won;t be far from a Buddhist temple, weather in a guest house in a small village or town or in a a Bangkok business hotels a Buddhist temple is a short distance away.

Tags: , , ,
No Comments »

Pitlochry Festival Theatre

Arts & Culture, Travel | Posted by admin
Aug 11 2009

Pitlochry, Scotland is situated along the River Tummel in the heart of the country. The town if full of beautiful scenery and old brick Victorian houses. It is a small town, with an estimated population of three thousand three hundred people. And though it may be small it has the largest theatre ensemble in the country. It is also surrounded by mountains and hills, which makes it a popular destination for what is commonly known as hill hiking. The Pitlochry hotels, bed and breakfasts and luxury resorts are usually full of adventure and beauty seeking guests, who also have the privilege of attending a play Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

The Festival Theatre was founded by John Stewart who had made a promise to himself that he would establish a theatre after the Second World War ended. It was an ambitious project for the former college director, but his passion and faith saw it through. The theatre has seen many transformations in ensembles, locations and venue structures and has emerged as one of the most prominent companies in Scotland.

One of the unique aspects of the Festival Theatre is that it has a summer season, which is particularly attractive to tourists. This year they’ve made an adjustment in the seating structure, which has added over one hundred seats to the lowest priced section. This makes it even easier to attend one of their great productions. The 2009 summer season includes a premier production of the musical Whiskey Galore. Also included in the schedule is The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, The Life of Stuff and What Every Woman Knows. There is also a schedule of professional talks and lectures and tours are available for visitors. The theatre also hosts music concerts and has various arts presentations. Tickets for the productions are now available online and can be purchased in advance.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

The Chinese Garden of Singapore

Arts & Culture, Entertainment, Travel | Posted by admin
Jul 14 2009

Located close to many of the downtown Singapore hotels is the Chinese Garden.  This garden has been open to the public since 1975, and along with the plants, and the beautiful array of colors, there are many monuments and works of architectural and sculptural art, a common thread in traditional gardens of China.  From the archways to the fish ponds, to the tea house this garden is meant to provide solace and serenity from the chaos of city life, and is a great way to experience the culture of Singapore that has been so influenced by her Chinese immigrants.  While walking through the garden one may learn a bit of the history of the eras of the Chinese civilization, just by simply crossing the bridges, as the design for each one was taken from those different eras.  Or perhaps one may learn the art of trimming the Bonsai tree, as the gardens have a section dedicated to just those trees, of which contains more than one thousand of the little trees, and offer classes in that art, taught by experts in the field and the practice.

There is the Pagoda, artistry at work in architecture, and the Garden of Abundance.  In this area grows a pomegranate tree, more the one hundred years old that was originally imported from the city of Shantung in China.  And of course, a sculpture garden is located here as well, of the twelve signs in the Chinese zodiac calender.  According to the tradition of gardening in China, to plant seeds and to care for the plants that grew connects to the ideas of abundance, fulfilment and longevity of life.  And as the earth is tended, so the sky is watched.  In 2003, an observatory was built in the garden upon request of Au Man Choo.  He is an architect, who has a passion for the scientific nature of astronomy and wanted to expose the citizens of Singapore to that passion.  His outlook is not only concerned with educational purposes, but of the therapeutic value one gains from simply looking at the stars and the planets of this night sky.  In all, the Chinese Garden in Singapore is a wonderful place, for the mind and for the body.

Tags: , , , ,
No Comments »

Sydney Opera House

Arts & Culture, Travel | Posted by admin
May 16 2009

The Sydney Opera House is more than the city’s premiere multi-venue performing arts complex. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 and stands as a major cultural icon. It is one of the most famous performance arts venues in the world, and also is distinctive in its design of 20th Century architecture. It is located in Sydney Harbour on Bennelong Point. It is close to other major landmarks including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Royal Botanic Gardens. This is not only a local cultural center but serves as one of the main attractions for tourists. Guests staying in luxury hotel Australia make it a point to not only tour the site and the surrounding neighborhood, but also see one of the world class performances hosted there.

In addition to its main opera theatre, the House has many separate performance spaces. The Opera Hall and Concert Hall are easily identified and defined by the largest of exterior shells that compose the building. Three of the other venues, smaller though also popular, are the Drama Theatre, the Studio and the Playhouse. The Drama Theatre is a proscenium stage and has a seating capacity of 544 people. It is the home of the Sydney Theatre Company and also hosts various other dance and theatre performances. The Studio is a small flexible space that seats a maximum of 400. It is perfect for more experimental works. The Playhouse is a small end-stage theatre and has a seating capacity of 398. There is also an open air venue that uses the Memorial Steps for audience seating. There is a recording studio, souvenir shops and a small multi-purpose room.

Some of the more famous companies that perform in this multi-facility venue include Opera Sydney, the Australian Ballet and the Sydney Symphony, in addition to the Sydney Theatre Company that was mentioned earlier. The Bennelong Restaurant is also located in the complex, along with four other restaurants. This guarantees that the audience members have a diverse selection of pre and post show dining, drink and appetizer options.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Mauritius is Inspiration to Writers

Arts & Culture, Travel | Posted by admin
May 11 2009

The island of Mauritius is well known for its beautiful beaches and scenery, and it has an extremely interesting cultural history and social dynamic. While it has many interesting natural heritage aspects, its association to literature and the arts is representative of its great and wondrous beauty. The writer Mark Twain refers to the island in Following the Equator, and Nobel Prize winner Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio lives there for part of the year. Tourists appreciate the beauty and historical significance of the island. The best hotels Mauritius are typically found in the city centers, though many visitors seek out the unique country inns, which offer a major contrast to the urban setting.

Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio is an award winning French author. He was born in 1940 in the city of Nice on the French Riviera. When he was eight his family moved to Nigeria where he spent most of his childhood. Later he would draw on these early experiences for his writing, specifically with his semi-autobiographical novel Onitsha. He studied at both the University of Bristol in England and Nice’s Institut d’Etudes Litteraires. After he completed his education he came to the United States and worked as a teacher. He also spent a short period of time serving in the French military in Thailand, though he was expelled from the country due to his outspoken opposition to child prostitution.

Le Clezio has written at least 40 works and has won numerous awards. These include the 1963 prix Renaudot for the novel Le Proces-Verbal and the 2008 Nobel Prize for literature. The Swedish Academy recognized his work as poetic and sensual. It is often characterized by a focus on the environment. His style of writing underwent major changes in the late 1970s. He let go of his tormented struggle themes and a lot of his work began to deal with travel. The desert is a regular focus in his writing.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

A Busy Year for the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra

Arts & Culture, Travel | Posted by admin
Apr 26 2009

The three maestros of the Cape Town Symphony are all talented and accomplished violinists, and they are all women. Concert master, Alla Shubinsky has recently become the part-time master. Instead of finding someone to completely replace her, the Symphony added two more part-time masters, Suzanne Martens andFarida Bacharova. Both women are professors with Martens the leading lecturer on violin at the University of Stellenbosch’s Conservatory of Music, and Bacharova the head of the strings department and a professor at South Africa College of Music. All three will alternate leading the orchestra. These women are among the top violinists in South Africa and the symphony will benefit from their talent and abilities.

Having three different conductors sharing the performance schedule is a very good thing as this year is proving to be quite a busy one for the company. The company regular accompanies the opera and the ballet companies in South Africa, on top of their current schedule. Musical selections are eclectic as various composers and guest conductors collaborate with the symphony. This internationally respected company performs everything from Bach to the Beatles.

The past summer season was extremely successful, as it coincided with the Capetown Summer Music Festival, which is in its third year, every December. One of the most well known composers in the world, Krzysztof Penderecki premiered his new concertos for the cello and the piano, and he conducted as well. Many of the luxury hotels Cape Town offers were full as the city became alive with the tourists and travelers excited to see Penderecki and the Symphony perform. The 2009 Autumn season began the beginning of April and promises just as much excitement as guest conductors include Bjorn Bantok, Victor Yampolsky and Pieter Daniel, all the conducting this talented group of musicians. Many famous guest soloists will be performing through the Autumn and Winter seasons as well. It is advised for those making plans to visit, that tickets be purchased ahead of time as the seats go fast.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Outdoor Cinema at Singapore’s Fort Canning Green

Arts & Culture, Entertainment | Posted by admin
Apr 20 2009

Starlight Cinema is Singapore’s only outdoor cinema festival. It is held at the Fort Canning Green and is more than an experience in movie watching. The festival offers the opportunity to see new cinema, and it allows the audience to experience the beauty of the diverse weather evenings of Singapore. Because it is outdoors, it is exposed to environmental noise and aerial activity, such as the passing street traffic just outside. The theatre sound system works well, and the film is presented in surround sound. Adding the miscellaneous traffic noise from outside gives a new perspective to the concept of surround sound. This presents something of a sensational juxtaposition perspective, and combines the immediate environment with the viewing of the film.

Because there is no formal seating at the Starlight, patrons are encouraged to bring their own blankets and or pillows to settle into for the evening. This promotes an almost picnic like experience and the audience is invited to bring their own food and drinks. There are concessions available, though they are limited and primarily composed of hot dogs and popcorn. Many people come in groups of friends, and bring entire meals for the occasion. This can make watching the film a fun project by having each person bring their favorite food from one of the best Singapore restaurants. And every responsible audience member knows to bring an umbrella in the event of rain. All of these ingredients combine to provide more than just a film watching experience, the evening can become quite a unique adventure.

Fort Canning is a beautiful though not very large park near the central business district of Singapore. Other attractions the in the park include the Spice Garden. It was designed after a model of an experimental botanical garden. Sir Stamford Raffles created the garden and had spices like nutmeg and cloves shipped in to be planted there. Gothic Gates is another notable element, greeting visitors as they arrive at the park. These somewhat imposing Gates were built 1846 and mark the location of what was once a Christian Cemetery. Across the world, Fort Canning might be compared to Central Park in New York City.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Chinese Lantern Festival

Arts & Culture | Posted by admin
Apr 06 2009

A grand occasion every year for the community of Chinese living in Singapore is the Lantern Festival, the traditional fall festival that runs from the beginning of September through the beginning of October. Many travel to the region each season for a taste and the experience of five star Singapore at its best. It is a mix of rich cultural heritage combined with the modern world. During the celebration, activities and events take place throughout Chinatown, the Chinese garden and along the river of Singapore. Draped along the river is a dragon shaped lantern stretching more than 3,500 feet. Art installations are displayed at the museums, narrating the legends and myths of China. Lanterns from other countries such as Nepal and Vietnam are included in the festivals as well. Lights and lanterns from around the world are the focus of the festival. The director for the Tourism Board of Singapore states that this is a great time for those visiting to experience the rich cultural and traditional aspects of the Asian culture.

Not all is traditional as the modern world collides with the traditional, as many of the exhibits are attempting to attract the younger visitors as well. Disney characters are lit lanterns adorning the streets and bazaars. With something for all to enjoy, contemporary interpretations are becoming fast, a draw for a wider audience. The streets of Chinatown as well as the walkways of the Chinese garden are lit with ceremony and celebration. The tourism offices of Singapore regularly promote the festival in Taiwan, Indonesian and Australia, and the past few years have been offering discounts and rebates to those still wishing to travel in the economical challenging times. Aside from the main venues and festivities, various fringe sites have begun to pop up around the area, at various parks and malls, offering more of an off the beaten track, and off beat experience that still remains traditionally Chinese. Many corporate sponsors and private donors have dedicated their energy, their time and their financial support to ensure that the festival continues year after year.

Tags: , ,
1 Comment »

Singapore Artist, Cheong Soo Pieng

Arts & Culture, Travel | Posted by admin
Mar 30 2009

Cheong Soo Pieng was another Singaporean artist that had been born in China. He was born, the last of seven children, in 1917 and began his study at the Xiamen Academy when he was only sixteen. His family was not against his pursuit of art, though they also did not encourage it. However, he was extremely self-determined and finished his studies at the Academy in three years. He continued his education in Shanghai, though his study there ended during the Sino-Japanese war, during which the Academy had been destroyed. Pieng returned home and began teaching at the same school he had attended in his youth. He was also focused on his own work. He quickly gained a reputation as an inspirational instructor and it was his own passion for his work that drove him. He presented his first individual show at the school in 1942 with his work in watercolor. Oil paints were a luxury and difficult to acquire in China during this time.

He moved to Kong Kong in 1945 and spent time there before he moved on to Singapore. He was instrumental to the founding of the Nanyang Fine Art Academy and taught there. His teaching career spanned more than twenty years and he was highly esteemed for his inspiration to his students. Pieng loved teaching though his true passion lied in is own work. He retired in his late forties and devoted his time to his art. He remains one of Singapore’s most influential artists and educators and is known for his part in developing the Nan Yang style of painting. He continued to work in water color though he used oil paints once they became available to him. He also worked in sculpture. His works hang on the walls in businesses and some of the best Singapore hotels, offering beauty and inspiration to those who view him. He’s also strongly influential to young students of art. His life work was presented in a show by the National Museum in 1983, though unfortunately Pieng died four months before the exhibit opened. He remains respected today and proves to be an inspiration to young artists for generations to come.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Cape Town Now a Top Jazz Festival

Arts & Culture, Travel | Posted by admin
Mar 27 2009

The Cape Town International Jazz Festival, which is about to celebrate it’s 10th Anniversary, received a wonderful present: Melodytrip, a website devoted to musical festivals all over the world, has ranked the Cape Town event above both the Montreaux Festival in Switzerland and the North Sea Jazz Festival which is held in Holland.

Event organizers credit the high ranking to the wide variety of musical styles heard in Cape Town. They also believe that the unique mixture of both local and international musicians adds to their event’s success.

When the event was first conceived a decade ago, many critics expected the festival to fail, as previous attempts to found an African jazz fest did. However, through by planning, partnerships, and the development of a winning formula, the event has gone from 9,000 visitors to 33,500 expected next weekend.

The event has evolved beyond a local music fest. In 2007 (the most recent study), over half the audience came from outside South Africa and oer 15% from countries outside Africa. The city’s tourist industry has benefitted greatly from the event. The best Cape Town hotels, restaurants, and shops see immediate increases in revenue and the entire city benefits from the improved global profile provided by the event.

This year’s festival will feature forty musical acts on five stages over the two-day event. In addition to some of the world’s best jazz music, the festival also showcases jazz-related genres as well as workshops and a free concert. This year’s free concert will be held on April 1st while the festival itself runs April 3-4 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Tags: , , , , ,
No Comments »

From the Perspective of Local Artists

Arts & Culture, Travel | Posted by admin
Mar 22 2009

The city-state of Singapore has long desired to been seen as a viable participate in the world of art. The organizers of various shows and festivals have looked towards other cities in hopes of discovering ‘the way’ they achieved such acclaim and the reputations that cities such as Manhattan, or Paris, or Florence. The government of Singapore has created objectives towards this goal, the goal of a more Renaissance, culturally and artistically, society. Artists that live in Singapore contend that what happens culturally and becomes phenomenons in those other cities is something that must be created from within the city itself, not created by copying what the others have done, but by the originality and quality existing already within Singapore’s artistic, and local, communities. One artist stated that it is necessary to consider that the artistic culture nurtures the city, and that that can not be forced. That it must happen naturally.

So much of Singapore’s ideas and society is fostered by the economic successes in the business world, the technological world. Tourism is a growing industry based on the achievements of the business world, and the best of Singapore’s hotels and restaurants and convention centers. Artists of Singapore fear that the driving force of business, of making money, is altering and diluting the purpose and the pure of the art world. Singapore has many art festivals throughout the year, the Biennale and the Showcase Singapore being two main, and very large exhibitions. But the local artists are quite happy when the festivals leave town, as the commercialism that has over-whelmed the shows in the last few years takes away from the beauty and the meaning, or rather, the meaning art has to the artist themselves. They view these festivals as spectacles, and the wish is to bring back the local artist, the creative soul.

Tags: , , ,
No Comments »

The Attraction to the Balearic Islands

Arts & Culture, Entertainment, Travel | Posted by admin
Mar 04 2009

The Balearic Islands offer much more than other destinations around the world. In the Mediterranean Sea and just of the coast of Spain, four main islands have become popular locations for travelers. There is a rich culture history in this region, that continues to grow and expand. From the excellent and varied cuisine, to the scenic views, to the history to the fun, the best Balearic hotels, restaurants, museums and beaches offer much to the rest of the world. Aside from the tranquil relaxation or the night-time parties, the islands are well known for their attention to the environment. To protecting it as well as caring for it. Off the coast of any of the islands, Mallorca, Ibiza, Formentera, or Cabrera one may witness the appearance of an endangered species, or horse back ride across the white sand beaches at sunset, or participate in any one of the many festivals.

Long known for flavor, not the flavor found in the many dance clubs…but the flavor of the cuisine of the Mediterranean, Spain has gained quite the reputation. One may find curious to note that mayonnaise comes from Menorca. Mayo and bologna, common lunch fare in the States, who would have thought. Most of the diet and dishes of which there are more than six hundred variations, often includes fresh vegetables and seafood. Eggs and lamb are often cooked in the fat produced by the cooking of the famous spicy sausage dishes. Soups make up for the nutritional deficit of the fat, as they are usually clear broth with again, fish and vegetables and fruit. Red sauce and pasta are staples, as well as pomegranate stuffed chicken and almond crusted roasted turkeys. The variation of flavor is one aspect that brings people from the world to this area.

Combine the food and the sunshine and what you come up with are festivals that occur weekly. Outdoor markets and celebrations are part of the draw. Every religiously or historically significant event is not overlooked but celebrated in the fine fashion of food, music, dance and a love of life that happens in too few locations around the world these days. It has been said that should you vacation on one of the islands and you don’t end up buying property, you are of the minority. People visiting just don’t want to leave, and when they do, they can’t wait to come back.

Tags: , , ,
No Comments »

Raj Ghat Memorial in Delhi

Arts & Culture, History, Travel | Posted by admin
Jan 18 2009

One of the jewels of India is the city of Delhi which is the country’s capital and its second largest metropolis by population. The city is famous for its incredible spiritual and historical sites as well as its amazing food and spectacular architecture. Every year, visitors ponder the contrast of this city that possesses both ancient landmarks and modern skyscrapers and absorb the unique energy and atmosphere provided by this vibrant and bustling global capital.

One of the more modern attractions in Delhi is the Raj Ghat. This memorial to the life and work of Mahatma Ghandi is also the leader’s final resting place. Located on the spot where Ghandi was cremated in 1948, it is one of the more peaceful, green spots in the city. Situated on the bankd os the Yamuna river, the memorial is a simple, raised black marble platform with a perpetual flame on one end. The memorial bears the phrase “Hē Ram” which are believed to by Gandhi’s last words. It literally translates to “O’ Ram” or “O God.”

The name “Raj Ghat” translates loosely to mean “King Court” which is a reference to the importance of the place, not an indication of royalty. There is a stone footpath that leads to the memorial. The footpath is flanked by lawns. There are also two nearby museums dedicated to Gandhi‘s life and historical impact. The cremation spots or samadhis of other famous Indian leaders are located on the river banks and easily reachable from Raj Ghat.

Visitors to the memorial must remove their shoes before nearing the shrine. Special prayer sessions are conducted at the shrine on the anniversaries of Gandhi’s birth and death and weekly ceremonies are held every Friday. The custom has developed in recent years for Foreign dignitaries to lay wreaths and flowers at the Raj Ghat on state visits to India.

The city has numerous other attractions such as the Red Fort, the Qutub Complex, and the India Gate. Visitors will also find numerous Delhi five star hotels, top restaurants, and great shopping in the many malls and bazaars. The city also offers museums, temples, and parks to keep tourists occupied during the day and dance performances, concerts, theater, bars, and clubs to keep them happy all night.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »