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The Afghanistan of war and music!

School members poor and homeless children

Culture is a balm in hard times to people who have been through hardships, they say. This seems to be the opinion of the leaders of the music Academy in Afghanistan, who try through music to ease or at least ease the pain of young children, who witnessed a fierce war.
The notes follow one another, in the two-story building in the center of Kabul and the classical piano blends perfectly with the violins and flute. Young students are taught music, in the hope as the teachers say, to forget the gruesome details of the war they lived through and the poverty they endure.
The head of the National Music Institute of Afghanistan, Ahmad Sarmast, in an interview with the Reuters agency he said, among other things, that "we are committed to building the lives of these troubled children through music, given its healing power."
School counts 140 students, with most members being orphans and homeless children, which according to Ahmad, they are passionate about music.
"This country is thirsty for music and art in general, as for the change", concluded the teacher. While then he underlined that the college also gives scholarships to schools abroad, such as Britain and Denmark, which already finance the school.
Source : protothema.gr
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The Almodovar Archive

Almodovar's cinematic style, his scripts, his characters have evolved at the same time as his iconography. Bright colors are always there along with strong passions, but the language of his cinematography is no longer the pretentious kitsch of his early films. Let's say Volver and The Skin I Inhabit are two good examples of this. The first has images from the working class, from the city and the road the second from the upper urban, from the living room and the designer furniture. But both are elegant, his photography and art direction are now far from kitsch.
Such photos have been collected in the Taschen book The Pedro Almodóvar Archives and they are above 600, from the personal archive of the Spanish director. They start from 87, from the time of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown to now the 2011. The captions are also his.
Source : tovima.gr
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BOOK : History of cinema: Kristin Thompson and David Bordwell

Pataki Publications: “History of cinema” of Kristin Thompsonand hisDavid Bordwell.


 In this book the authors tell the history of cinema as they conceived it, it was written and taught by the most important theorists and historians of the seventh art. With the help of hundreds of examples and photos, the reader can gain a thorough and comprehensive picture of the evolution of cinema, from the first attempts to project moving images with the kinetoscope to the blockbusters of the 21st century.
Film historians often say that there is not one "Film History" but many. For some, this means that it is not possible to include all genres in a single narrative, the schools, trends and events. But for others, a "Cinema History" is called upon to make use of a variety of perspectives and to combine various methodological tools, interests and goals. The present volume adopts the second approach and invites the reader to know the art of cinema through contemporary aesthetic and ideological perceptions.
The book does not require special knowledge of film aesthetics or theory, and is mentioned in both fiction and documentary films, in experimental or avant-garde cinema and animated films. It is an essential textbook for those attending film studies programs, but also a rich source of information for all movie lovers.
THECHRISTIAN THOMPSONis an honorary doctorate in the Department of Arts and Communication at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He holds an MA in film from the University of Iowa and a PhD from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
THE DAVID BORDWELLis Professor of Cinema Studies at the Jacques Ledoux Chair in the Department of Arts and Communication, as well as a Hilldale Chair in the Humanities Department at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
 Source : culturenow.gr
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An international spiral has vandalized Picasso's paintings

Among the questions raised by yesterday's theft of Picasso's work from the National Gallery, the possible involvement of robbers with an international network that "specializes" in specific thefts are also reasonable.

Since the theft of important works of art has increased worldwide—as has the demand for specific paintings and signatures—it is only natural that suspicions turn to the international milieu.. Suffice it to say that just last summer the thief of the famous "Woman's Head" - by tragic coincidence the painting stolen from the Gallery is titled "Woman's Head" - that was stolen from a San Francisco gallery was arrested.

It should be noted that the perpetrator who was released after his arrest posted bail 5 millions of dollars without anyone ever questioning their origin! Equally paradoxical was the attempt made to disassociate the name of the robber in question from an international network of art smugglers.

Two years before the San Francisco robbery there had also been a major robbery at the Picasso Museum, noon day, by two armed robbers. The robbers had then escaped with two large ones, expensive and valuable Picasso works under dispute, the: “The painter and the model” (1963) and “Minotaur, drinker and women” (1933) as well as a pad with drawings by the Spanish painter. Suffice it to note that the Picasso Museum is located in the bustling Marais area of ​​Paris, in narrow and difficult alleys - which are not suitable for such escapes.

However, the biggest heist of Picasso's works, had noted the 1993 from the Stockholm Museum of Modern Art,  where they had, among others, eight are stolen (;) works by Picasso and one by the French cubist Georges Braque, value 40 million dollars. Some of them were found, some others remain unclaimed, like so many others bearing the signature of the famous Spanish artist. Be that as it may, in times of crisis, Picasso's name remains high on the international art market, and it is natural that it is at the center of experienced - and not only - art robbers.

The scenarios that the Police are considering

From their side, the security police have come up with two possible scenarios for what really happened in the early hours of yesterday at the National Gallery. Given that the perpetrators "struck" in just seven minutes, they knew details and possibly even had insider information about the big job, these lead to the conclusion that they are professional burglars who have been planning the trick for a long time.

Absolutely valid information states that the first scenario wants:

–    The perpetrators are members of an international ring, "bad works of art", who after stealing the paintings, they dump them on the black market. After all, all over the world and especially in Russia, China and America there are avid collectors who would pay a lot of money to acquire a Picasso, even through underground black market connections.

"We have already informed the international security authorities about this particular one and the other two that took flight", stresses to protothema.gr a ​​police officer dealing with the case and adds: “Indeed, we are trying through informants to find out if there is specific information on the specific paintings in the black markets of art".

–    The theft was made to order. That is, a collector made a deal with mice for a large sum to enter the National Gallery and disappear the works. In this case, the work of the Police is more difficult, as the three stolen paintings and especially the only Picasso that existed in Greece will not go under the hammer.

Either scenario is ultimately verified, The work of the Police is particularly difficult, as the perpetrators left little traces behind them…

Source : protothema.gr
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Harlem Swing – Aint’ Misbehavin: Musical at the Badminton Theatre

TheBadminton Theatretransforms intoCotton Club and everyone swing dances to his heartHarlem! TheAin’t Misbehavin’is aMusical in a scriptMurray Horwitzand Richard Maltby Jr. andmusic by Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller. From the famous song he wrote himself 1929, after all, got the work and its name. It is a tribute to the African-American musicians of the 20s and 30s who were part of the so-called Harlem Renaissance (Harlem Renaissance), a time of growing creativity, cultural awareness and national pride.
It was a time when Manhattan's legendary nightclubs, such as the Cotton Club and Savoy Ballroom,  and Lenox Avenue set the tone for high society entertainment, filled with pianists who were rocking the town with a 'new' beat, she was teaching the city her first steps in swing. Five performers present a noisy, "lewd" night, with humorous songs, a night that makes the audience feel like they've booked a table at the Cotton Club and just handed the wardrobe their hat and gloves.
TheAin’t Misbehavin’ premiered on February 1st 1978 in a small New York cabaret and until 5 June of the same year had won several awards in the musical category (Tony, New York Drama Critics, Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk Award, Obie), while Richard Maltby Jr. (Is, Song and Dance, Baby, Miss Saigon) wins a Tony Award for Best Director and Nell Carter a Tony Award for her performance and the show's original music album received a Grammy Award. A year later, five troupes were already formed that toured the United States, while London and Paris soon surrendered to his magic. So did the rest of the world on all six world tours that have taken place to date, while now it seems completely normal that there isn't a day that Ain't Misbehavin' isn't being played somewhere in the world.
When it was first presented at the Manhattan Theater Club cabaret, one could discover the young singer Irene Cara in its cast (years later he would "shine" through the soundtrack of the hit Fame. Soon the Broadway production under the direction of Maltby, directed and choreographed by Arthur Faria, uploaded on 9 of May 1978 at the Longacre Theatre, while later he was in Plymouth and Belasco filling in at 21 of February 1982 1604 representations. The original cast included Nell Carter, Andre DeShields, Armelia McQueen, Ken Page to Charlayne Woodard.
Luther Henderson adapted Waller's score and was also the pianist for the production. Some of the replacements in the later shows were Debbie Allen, Yvette Freeman, Adriane Lenox and Alan Weeks. The West End production of the play in London premiered on 22 March of 1979 at Her Majesty's Theatre, while his revival the 1995. A Broadway revival with the same director, the same choreographer and the same cast as the first production ten years ago, premiered on 15 August 1988, at the Ambassador Theater in New York where it remained for 176 representations. The 2009 Aint Misbehavin turned thirty (30) years and the anniversary performance featured American Idol winner Ruben Studdard and contestants Frenchie Davis and Trenyce Cobbins.
In this particular performance that will be hosted at the Badminton Theater, American stars star, like Yvette Monique Clark who had excelled in Hairspray, Crowns, Chicago et al., Grammy Award nominee Patricia Covington, o Milton Nealy (Dreamgirls, The Full Monty, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Cage Aux Folles), η Rebecca Covington (Oh mama, Thoroughly Modern Millie) and TV star Wayne Pretlow (The Good Wife, Law & Order),  flanked by a talented cast of singers and dancers.
The musical direction is signed byWilliam Foster McDaniel, while the direction of Richard E. Maltby, Jr. and the choreography oArthur Faria.
• The first Broadway musical about the work and life of a songwriter/artist, by Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller.
• The first musical of its kind to win a Tony Award.
• The first musical of its kind to become a worldwide success.
• The first musical of its kind to win any kind of New York theater award.
• The first "biography" musical to which all others are compared.
 Source: culturenow.gr
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Charles Gounod – Faust from the Lyric Stage at the Athens Concert Hall

One of the most popularFrench operas, which is based on the first part of his well-known tragedyGoethite, presents the NationalLyric Stageat20 January 2012and foronly eight performances, in theAthens Concert Hall– HallAlexandra Trianti. The masterpiece of French romanticism with the famous arias, the great choral and ballet performances of Walpurgis Night, is presented under the musical direction of Myron Michaelidis and directed by Renato Tzanella.
It is one of the world's favorite grands opéras, which has been presented in Greece since the 90s. It is based on Goethe's famous tragedy, where the aged scientist Faust sells his soul to Mephistopheles, in exchange for youth and love. At the heart of the opera is not so much Faust himself as Margarita, who is transformed by love and ultimately pays dearly for her choices.
He conducts the orchestra of the National Opera for the first time after assuming his duties as the artistic director of the Greek National Opera, the chief musician Myron Michaelidis, who has conducted some of the most important symphony orchestras, as among others, the Berlin Symphony Orchestras, of Rome, of Jerusalem and Mexico, the Philharmonic of Bucharest and Bratislava, the Prague Radio Orchestra, as well as all Greek orchestras.
The director and director of the ELS Ballet, Renato Zanellawith many years of service in the direction of the ballet of the Vienna State Opera, sets the case in an old empty classroom. There, in front of blackboards full of knowledge, Faust alone, tormented by the fundamental questions of life, of death, love, of happiness. Inside his clouded mind he meets Mephistopheles, who enticed Margarita, convinces him to sign the deal with the devil.
Zanella notes: "My approach moves away from both the supernatural and the religious element and places man and his weaknesses at the heart of the matter. Faust really becomes young again, or simply Mephistopheles shows him what he wants to see; They really leave the room to travel to other places and have the most amazing adventures, or maybe they never leave the classroom; Is this hall Faust's head?, filled with so much information that it cannot tell the real from the imaginary; My work moved in this direction thanks to the help and amazing, unique capture of Alessandro Camera (scenery), Carla Ricotti(suits) and Vinicio Kelly(illuminations)».
A multitude of leading Greek and foreign performers participate in the production. The role of Faust will be performed by American tenor Eric Cutler, who has appeared in the last years in the biggest Lyric Theaters of the world, such as New York's Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera of London and the Paris Opera, while his appearance with Anna Netrebko the MET, in Bellini's Puritans is considered one of the high lights of his career.
Margarita is performed by Alexia Voulgaridou, the leading Greek soprano who carries out an extremely important career abroad, with appearances at leading theaters such as the Royal Opera, the Scala of Milan, and the Berlin State Opera, while he has collaborated with Riccardo Muti, among others, Ronaldo Villazon, Sir Colin Davies, Andrea Bocelli, but also Isabelle Hyper in the film "Deux" by Werner Schroeter. Voulgaridou has sung with great success the role of Margarita in Rome, Basel as well as the Ravenna festival.
Mephistopheles is performed by Paata Boursoulatze, the famous Georgian bass, extremely popular with opera audiences in Greece as well. Boursoulage has performed leading roles at the Metropolitan in New York, in Milan's Scala, in the Vienna Opera and in many other theaters around the world. Last summer the Athenian audience applauded him in Verdi's Nabucco, in the Conservatory of Herod Atticus.
The distribution is completed by leading Greek soloists such as Dimitris Platanias, who was warmly applauded at Verdi's Masquerade Dance presented at the ELLS, in December, Dimitris Kasioumis, Irini Karayanni and Ines Zikou. In the second distribution we find among others, the recently awarded with the Grand Prize of the Greek music critics Tselia Kostea, Askar Abdrajakov and many other famous singers.
Nikos Vassiliou conducts the ELLS choir. The ELS Ballet participates, choreographed by Renato Zanella.
Faust at a Glance
The composer / Charles Gounod was born in Paris in 1818 and took his first piano lessons from his mother. He studied at the Paris Conservatory and the 1839 won the famous Prize of Rome for the cantata of Ferdinand. In Italy he studied the works of Palestrina and other compositions of church music. Later, thanks to Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn he came into contact with the music of JS Bach. The 1851 composed his first opera, Sappho. The 1859 Faust made the composer known throughout the world. They were followed by the French themed Mireille (1864), which has recently come to the fore again, and the opera Romeo and Juliet (1867), based on Shakespeare. In addition to lyrical works, Gounod also composed symphonies, while during the last years of his life he was particularly involved in works of religious music, oratorios, functions, motet. He died of cerebral congestion on 1893.
The project / Opera in five acts, Faust is based on a poetic text by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, who drew their material from Carré's play Faust and Margarita (1850), as also from Part I of Faust, by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1808) in its French translation by Gerard de Nerval (1828). A typical sample of French grand opera - grand opéra- and the first of its kind to be so successful worldwide, Faust remained the most popular lyric work until about World War II. It began as an opéra comique with nonsensical dialogues and was gradually transformed, during a decade, to suit the tastes of the global audience. The term opéra comique - comic opera- does not hint at comic elements, but it concerns structural and aesthetic features, one of which is prose dialogues. From Goethe Faust keeps only the narrative and skips the philosophical background: the aged scientist Faust sells his soul to Mephistopheles, in exchange for youth and love. At the heart of the opera is not so much Faust himself as Margarita, who is transformed by love and ultimately pays dearly for her choices.
Premieres / As a comic opera, with prose dialogues, Faust premiered at the Paris Lyric Theater on 19 Of March 1859. In its majestic version, with dialogues set to music and ballet, given by the Paris Opera on 3 Of March 1869. The play opened at the New York Metropolitan Opera on 22 October 1883.
From the National Opera, which started operating the 1939/40 as part of the National – then Royal- Theater, Faust first appeared on 12 November 1959 starring Nikos Hatzinikolaou (Faust), Zoe Vlachopoulos (Daisy) and Nikos Moschonas (Mephistopheles). The orchestra and choir were conducted by Antiochos Evangeliatos, while the direction was by Leo Nedomanski.
Summary
Act I / Germany, 16the century. In his workshop, Faust, an elderly scientist, he reasons that his investigations have yielded nothing, while on the contrary, they made him bypass life and love. He tries to kill himself, he curses science and faith and asks for help from dark forces. Mephistopheles appears, who tempts him with an image of the innocent Margarita and proposes the following agreement: he will serve Faust on earth in return for Faust serving him in Hell. The poison in Faust's cup turns into an elixir of youth, the old scientist transforms into a charming young man and together with Mephistopheles sets out to conquer the world.
Act II / At the gates of the city students, soldiers and villagers rejoice. Valentine leaves for the war with his friend Wagner and entrusts his sister Margarita to his young friend Zibel. Mephistopheles treats the crowd to wine and sings a hymn to the "golden calf". He speaks badly of Margarita and when Valentine defends her honor, his sword breaks in the air. Valentine and company recognize dark supernatural forces and resist the sign of the cross. Mephistopheles, Faust and the villagers dance a waltz. Margarita appears to whom Faust expresses his admiration.
Act III / Zibel, in love, leaves a bouquet in Margarita's garden. Faust asks Mephistopheles to find him a gift as well, and he leaves a jewelry box and a mirror on the girl's doorstep. Margaret reflecting on her encounter with Faust, he sees the gifts: in a few minutes the demure girl has transformed into a flirtatious young woman, who together with Martha's neighbor welcome Faust and Mephistopheles in the garden. She leaves Faust alone to kiss her, but after he leaves, alone, at her window, wishes to return. This is indeed what happens, and with the help of Mephistopheles it is certain that the young Faust will dissuade her.
Act D / Faust abandoned Margaret pregnant. She gave birth to the child and lives as an outcast from society. He prays in the church, but she is stopped by Mephistopheles and a chorus of demons. She finishes her prayer, όμως τρομοκρατείται όταν ο Μεφιστοφελής την καταριέται. As Valentine returns from the war, Zibel asks him to forgive his sister. As Valentine enters her residence, Faust and Mephistopheles arrive, who carelessly sings an ironic serenade to Margarita. Valentine comes out, he sees the two of them, he understands what has happened and attacks Faust. Mephistopheles intervenes in the sword fight, resulting in Faust killing Valentine, who before he cools off manages to curse his sister.
Act V / Witches have surrounded Faust and Mephistopheles. In a cave Faust meets queens and courtesans of other times. Mephistopheles promises him the love of the most important and beautiful women in history. The orgy night lasts until it blows. At dawn Faust sees Margaret as a vision and calls her. Mephistopheles helps him enter the prison where the girl is being held after killing her child. Only a mortal hand can save Margaret from her fate, and Faust intends to give her his, but she has put her faith in God. In his delirium he sees Faust's hands stained with blood, she pushes him away and passes out. Mephistopheles shouts that Margarita has been judged: She is protected because of her faith and penance. It is enough for him to drag Faust with him to Hell. Margaret ascends into the heavens as angels sing that she is saved.
In the context of its social pricing policy, ELLS has reduced ticket prices for the Faust production, which are now configured as follows: €22, €40, €60, €80 / childish, student €13.
Music directionMyron Michaelidis
Direction – Choreography – KinesiologyRenato Zanella
SceneryAlessandro Camera
SuitsCarla Ricotti
LightingVinicio Kelly
Choir DirectionNikos Vassiliou
Distribution
Faust Eric Cutler (20,22,24,27,29/1)
WILL. (21,25,28/1)
Margarita Alexia Voulgaridou (20,22,24,27,29/1)
Tselia Costea (21,25,28/1)
Mephistopheles Paata Bourjulatze (20,22,29/1) Tasos Apostolou (21,25,28/1)
Askar Abdrajakov (24, 27/1)
Valentine Dimitris Platanias (20,22,24,27/1)
Dionysis Sourbis (21,25,28,29/1)
Wagner Dimitris Kasioumis (20,22,24,27,29/1)
Dionysis Tsantinis (21,25,28/1)
Zibel Irini Karayanni (20,24,27/1)
 Georgia Iliopoulou (21,22,25,28,29/1)
Martha Ines Zikou (20,22,24,27/1)
Angeliki Kathariou (21,25,28,29/1)
The Orchestra participates, the Choir and Ballet of the National Opera
Info
Location
Athens Concert Hall, Vasilissis Sofias and Kokkalis 1, Athena
Date
Premiere Friday 20 January 2011. Performance dates: 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29 January 2012. Start time 20.00
Ticket prices
€22, €40, €60, €80. Children's, student €13
Ticket sales
From the coffers of the Athens Concert Hall, Bas. Sophia & Boney
Monday-Friday 10 am-6 pm. and Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m
during the days of the performances: Monday-Friday 10 a.m.- 8.30 p.m. /
Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. & 6 Creation "regarding the modern administration and the European ones- 8.30 p.m. Sunday 6 p.m.-8.30 p.m
Homer 8 operating hours: Monday-Friday 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Telephone Purchase of Tickets – 210 7282333
& from the Funds of the OLYMPIA THEATER, Academy 59-61, Athena
Daily 9.00–21.00. Tel. sales 210 3662 100, 210 3612 461, 210 3643 725, Electronic pre-sale: www.megaron.gr – GROUP TICKETS Tel. 210 3711 342, SUBSCRIBER SERVICE Tel. 210 3711 381
 Source : culturenow.gr
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Jonathan Meese: Exhibition at Bernier-Eliades

The Bernier-Eliades gallery presents the first solo exhibition in Greece of the German artist Jonathan Meese. The artist will attend the opening, on Thursday 12 January, 2012, 20:00-22:00

 Jonathan Meese (Gen. 1970, Tokyo) appeared on the international art scene the 1998 and today he is considered one of the most successful proponents of contemporary art. He is known for his versatile work, which includes exuberant tables (which confuse personal hieroglyphs and collages), facilities, ecstatic performances, sculptures, designs and sets for theatrical performances.
In this exhibition the artist will present a series of new sculptures and paintings.
At the core of Meese's work remains an unrelenting sense of history,from which figures emerge, symbols and objects that later become a mythological universe that completes his work and pulls the viewer into it by force.
Meese unfolds his materials on large surfaces and places mythological figures on them, collage, colors and quotes in a powerful and expressive way. In his work one can see a special look towards the most aggressive or tragic figures of history. Personalities like Nero, Imhotep, Caligula, Stalin, Mussolini, Hitler, they have appeared in his works and may coexist with Meese's own self-portraits, but also references from literary passages of history or ideological and political statements.
His new paintings, it is the fruit of a new phase of exploration of the medium. The paintings overflow with collages, slogans and graffiti, balancing somewhere between humor and violence. The artist orchestrates a clash between varnishes and impastos, dynamic strokes and fine lines.
His sculptures emerge from a personal mythological universe that combines the forces of good and evil with references to antiquity, history and contemporary popular culture.
 Works by Jonathan Meese are in many public and private collections, such as: MOMA-New York, Center Pompidou-Paris, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art-New Zealand, Saatchi Collection. He has taken part in important exhibitions such as: Berlin Biennale, 1998, “Generation Z“, PS1-New York, 1999, “New Blood“, Saatchi Collection-London, 2004, “Dionysiac“, Center Pompidou-Paris, 2005. In December 2010 the MOCA-North Miami museum, hosted a large solo exhibition of the artist.
He has made important performances, among which: the improvisation for Wagner's Parsifal at the Staatsoper;, Berlin, 2005, and Noël Coward is Back, at Tate Modern, 2006.
The 2010 designed the scenery for the world premiere of the opera "Dionysus", a new opera by Wolfgang Rihm based on Nietzsche's last cycle of poems "Dionysus-Dithyrambs".
Jonathan Meese lives and works in Berlin.
Info
Bernier-Eliades site, Heptachalkou 11, Thisio, Athena
Opening date Thursday 12 January, 20:00-22:00. Duration: 12 January – 1 Of March 2012. Hours of operation: Tr- Fri. 10:30-18:30, Sat 12:00-16:00
Information Tel.: 210 3413 937
Source : culturenow.gr