English Blog

Cirque du Soleil “Iris” 8/28/11 September 4, 2011

I have been interested in seeing “Cirque du Soleil”, and finally got a chance to experience. The group is in LA now. The show was very imaginative, creative, beautiful, thrilling, funny, and colorful. And of course, the level of the acrobats was just amazing and the combination of music, film and action was just perfect, […]

Sunday Afternoon with Charles Ives 8/23/11 August 23, 2011

I was enjoying slow and relaxing Sunday afternoon doing my favorite puzzles on paper. It was a perfect So-Cal weather. And I suddenly noticed I was in the world of Charles Ives. So many birds were singing their songs and possible gossiping in my backyard. New neighbor was playing Armenian Rap Music. It was already […]

An Article on Vladimir Horowitz in Grove Dictionary (1980) 8/22/11 August 22, 2011

I was reading the book “the Danger of Music and Other Anti-Utopian Essays” by Richard Taruskin, and found a very interesting essay about Horowitz and Tchaikovsky. In this essay, he quotes an article on Horowitz in Grove Dictionary from 1980. I am lucky to still own this old version of Grove Dictionary (Paper Copy!!). 20 […]

A Movie – Rise of the Planet of the Apes 8/20/11 August 22, 2011

I was actually surprised that the story of this movie is from the movie I just saw a few weeks ago. “Project Nim” was a documentary film, and it is no doubt that “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” is based on Nim’s story. Please see my review on this movie in the past […]

LA Phil: Beethoven Night at Hollywood Bowl 8/19/11 August 22, 2011

This was another beautiful evening at Hollywood Bowl with friends. The program was Choral Fantasy and 9th Symphony conducted by Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos. I believe Choral Fantasy was Beethoven’s study to prepare for 9th symphony so it was a nice programing to hear them back to back. I had a very nice experience besides music and picnic. There was a Hispanic […]

A Movie – The Whistleblower 8/11/11 August 12, 2011

It is a real serious movie. Inspired by true events, Kathryn Bolkovac (Rachel Weisz) is an American police officer, divorced with a daughter, who takes a job working as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia. Her sincere expectations of helping to rebuild a devastated country are dashed when she reveals dangerous reality of corruption, cover-up and intrigue amid […]

A Positive and Encouraging Quote by Gregor Piatigorsky from “Hitler’s Emigres and Exiles in Southern California: A Windfall of Musicians” by Dorothy Lamb Crawford 8/9/11 August 9, 2011

I have been reading a book ” “Hitler’s Emigres and Exiles in Southern California: A Windfall of Musicians” by Dorothy Lamb Crawford, and found a wonderful quote from a great cellist, Piatigorsky. This is from P. 64 to P. 65 in this book. -You don’t have to be a genius to know your shortcomings, because […]

“Art in the Street” at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA 8/1/11 August 1, 2011

I have been meaning to visit this exhibition for a while, and finally I found the time to go! And I must admit I was very lucky. Mondays are free admission so there was a line to enter the museum. The group of visitors approached me and offered the special VIP admission. So I saved […]

A Movie “Point Blank” 8/1/11 August 1, 2011

If you want to have breathless 90 minutes, you should watch this movie. It is non stop action and thriller movie with great casts. Since it is a French movie, I could not recognize any actor and actress, but everyone did an excellent job. I would say casting is actually too good (?).  Bad guys look […]

4 months after Tsunami Disaster in Japan 7/26/11 July 26, 2011

It has been more than 4 months since the devastating earthquake happened in Japan. It has been a very slow recovery and it will take for many many more years. 4 pianos have been donated to one of the school districts in Iwate prefecture. One of the small cities in Iwate is Ohtsuchi-machi, and I will […]