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Recent Posts
- MARTIN CARTHY, EWAN MACCOLL, PEER GYNT (OR WAS THAT GNIT?), BAREND SCHIPPER, MOZART, AND MY BOOK ON CREATIVITY IS FINALLY WRITTEN….JAMES STRECKER REVIEWS THE ARTS
- TRIPPING A THIRD TIME ON GNIT AT THE SHAW FESTIVAL ………JAMES STRECKER REVIEWS THE ARTS
- GNIT AT THE SHAW FESTIVAL: THE ELEMENTS SO MIXED IN IT THAT WE MIGHT SAY TO ALL THE WORLD “THIS IS BRILLIANT THEATRE” ….JAMES STRECKER REVIEWS THE ARTS
- PINTER AT SOULPEPPER AND SHAW (WITH MRS PAT) AT THE SHAW FESTIVAL, JAMES STRECKER REVIEWS THE ARTS
- MERRILY OVER THE SPEED LIMIT IN “TONS OF MONEY” AT THE SHAW FESTIVAL
Recent Comments
- What an Album Release! - Frank Horvat on FRANK HORVAT: “FOR THOSE WHO DIED TRYING” – COMPOSER’S NEW CD ON ATMA, WHICH WAS INSPIRED BY “THE MURDER OR DISAPPEARANCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS IN THAILAND,” EXPLAINS, “THE 35-MOVEMENT STRING QUARTET HONOURS EACH VICTIM”…..A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS
- Christos Hatzis on TIM CORLIS: COMPOSER OF SOUNDING THUNDER: THE SONG OF FRANCIS PEGAHMAGABOW, AT TORONTO SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL ON JULY 23, REMEMBERS, “THE BIGGEST TURNING POINT IN MY LIFE WAS WHEN I MADE A DECISION TO MEDITATE REGULARLY AND DEVOTE MY ARTISTIC TIME TO WRITING MUSIC THAT SPEAKS FROM THE HEART” … A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS
- catherine thompson: canadian long rider, instrument maker, musician, composer, performer, visual and material artist, now in the mountains of northern thailand, declares “it’s important to not get too too comfortable and, in that, whenever possible, i on CATHERINE THOMPSON: CANADIAN LONG RIDER, INSTRUMENT MAKER, MUSICIAN, COMPOSER, PERFORMER, VISUAL AND MATERIAL ARTIST, NOW IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN THAILAND, DECLARES “IT’S IMPORTANT TO NOT GET TOO TOO COMFORTABLE AND, IN THAT, WHENEVER POSSIBLE, IT IS VALUABLE TO REMEMBER WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE DIMINISHED, TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE, TO BE IN DANGER.” … A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS
- Tafel Fan on Contact
- Dudlow on ABIGAIL RICHARDSON-SCHULTE: AWARD-WINNING COMPOSER-IN-RESIDENCE OF THE HAMILTON PHILHARMONIC DECLARES “WHAT CONCERNS ME IS POP CULTURE REPLACING THE ARTS AS CULTURE, THE DECLINE OF MUSIC EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS, AND THE AGING OF CLASSICAL MUSIC AUDIENCES…A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS
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NOTES ON THE ARTS: TOP THEATRE, BOOKS, DVDS, PLUS AN ASININE REMARK
1.Three Tall Women by Edward Albee at the Stratford Festival: At one point, as I watched Martha Henry playing A, I listened to her speak Edward Albee’s meticulously crafted lines and let my eyes wander into the deep darkness above … Continue reading
WELCOME BACK, SHAW FESTIVAL, AND THANKS FOR THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE
I think it was 1968 on one of my first trips to the Shaw Festival, situated at the time in the charmingly tiny Court House of Niagara-on-the Lake, when the announcement was made that Frances Hyland was too ill to … Continue reading
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Tagged Katherine Gauthier, Martin Happer, Peter Millard, Shaw Festival, The Devil's Disciple
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TWO NEW POEMS ON THE KILLING OF REGAN RUSSELL – JUNE 19, 2021
INTRODUCTION: Last June 2020, when animal activist – and friend for forty years – Regan Russell was killed or murdered at Fearman’s Slaughterhouse in Burlington, I wrote a cycle of five poems which was included in this blog later last … Continue reading
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Tagged animal rescue, animal rights, James Strecker, pig slaughter, Regan Russell
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CHRISTOPHER DARTON: FILMMAKER, WORKING ON HIS NEW DRACULA FEATURE FILM, SAYS, “I REALLY FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT WHATEVER I DO MAKE WILL COME OUT WELL ENOUGH TO ATTRACT AN AUDIENCE OR AT LEAST INTEREST SOMEONE ENOUGH TO SAY, “HEY, I WONDER WHAT THIS GUY COULD DO WITH A LITTLE MORE MONEY?” …. WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MY CREATIVE LIFE? – JAMES STRECKER REVIEWS THE ARTS
.JAMES STRECKER: Please tell us what you want the public to know about your recent project you are actively working on. What is it, why is it, and how is it done? CHRISTOPHER DARTON: Thanks James. Well, I’m working on … Continue reading
ESIE MENSAH – DORA-NOMINATED CHOREOGRAPHER, DANCE ARTIST, & DIRECTOR ON HER FILM TESSEL AND ITS WORLD PREMIERE ON JUNE 1…. A REVIEWER INTERVIEWS PEOPLE IN THE ARTS
Photo byMikka Gia Photo by Felix Russell-Saw, Design by Tony Tran JAMES STRECKER: Please tell us about one or more projects that you have been working on or have recently completed. Why exactly do they matter to you and why … Continue reading
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HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TIMES FIVE: A SERIES CALLED PUNK INCLUDING THE SLITS, A CENTENNIAL EDITION OF LADY IN SATIN, A MEDIEVAL FLORENTINE GARDEN WITH THE SOLLAZZO ENSEMBLE, VIOLINIST VILDE FRANG, AND MATHEO ROMERO’S ROMERICO FLORIDO
.1.I’ve watched many times the four-part film series “PUNK,” with its executive producer being Iggy Pop, partly because it’s a necessary release nowadays to vicariously bring down the shitty system in which we find we live by listening to the … Continue reading
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Tagged Cappella Mediterranea, Lady in Satin, Punk, Sollazzo Ensemble, Vilde Frang
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KALYA RAMU: JAZZ SINGER/SONGWRITER/MUSICIAN EXPLAINS, “CREATIVITY HAS ITS OWN EBB AND FLOW THAT IS NOT CONSISTENT. THIS CAN BE HARD TO DEAL WITH AND MANAGE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT’S YOUR CAREER. FINDING A BALANCE FOR YOURSELF BETWEEN CREATING ART AND KNOWING WHEN TO REST IS IMPORTANT.” …. A REVIEWER INTERVIEWS PEOPLE IN THE ARTS
JAMES STRECKER: Please tell us about one or more projects that you have been working on or have recently completed. Why exactly do they matter to you and why should they matter to us? KALYA RAMU: I wrote and recorded a … Continue reading
MUSIC AND MEMORIES: LATEST FAVORITE OR NEW CDS – WITH NOTES AND BORROWED QUOTES……PART THREE
1.Christmette by Praetorius and performed gloriously by the Gabrielli Singers led by Paul McCresh is one of my go-to CDs whenever I want to feel pure, uncluttered joy, although, ironically, I gave up on both Christianity and Christmas decades ago. … Continue reading
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SANDRA LARONDE: RED SKY FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF TORONTO’S INDIGENOUS INNOVATORS ON THEIR 20TH ANNIVERSARY AND UPCOMING CANADIAN PREMIERE OF NEW FILM….. A REVIEWER INTERVIEWS PEOPLE IN THE ARTS
JAMES STRECKER: If you were asked for 50 words for an encyclopedia to summarize what you do, or have done, in the arts, what would you say about your purpose and creations? SANDRA LARONDE: My purpose is to center and … Continue reading
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Tagged Indigenous culture, More Than Dance, SANDRA LARONDE, We Are A Movement
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MARGARET LINDSAY HOLTON: CREATORS IN THE ARTS AFTER ONE YEAR OF COVID…. A REVIEWER INTERVIEWS PEOPLE IN THE ARTS
JAMES STRECKER: If, before the COVID crisis, you were asked for 50 words to summarize what you do, or have done, in the arts, what would you have said about your purpose and creations? MARGARET LINDSAY HOLTON: I’ve been … Continue reading
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