La Boheme -
Recorded in Rome in 1969, and led handsomely and with great sensitivity by the lamented
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Thomas Schippers, this set is extraordinary. Both Pavarotti and Freni were only in their thirties at the time, and they sing with ease, commitment and true love. Sesto Bruscantini is a sympathetic Marcello, while Nicolai Ghiuselev impresses as Colline. Even if you own another Bohème (or two), at this price, this one is a must. --Robert Levine
Puccini: La Boheme
Puccini based his opera La boh''me on the autobiographical novel "Sc''nes de la vie de
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Boh''me" by Henri Murger. The novel reminded him of his own bohemian existence as an impoverished student at the conservatory in Milan. During the composition process Puccini learned that Ruggero Leoncavallo was also working on turning the novel into an opera and writing his own libretto for it. The two composers swiftly became rivals but Puccini managed to finish his opera first which premiered over a year before Leoncavallo's version. The way in which Puccini managed to combine comedy and tragedy in this opera is superb and Franz Welser-M''st's conducting aims to really bring out the libretto. The Belgian director of this production Philippe Sireuil was heavily inspired by Aki Kaurism''ki's film version of Henri Murger's novel "Sc''nes de la vie de Boh''me". Kaurism''ki's great melancholic sensitive and totally unpretentious cinematic impressions led Sireuil to picture the state of a "carefree poverty" in which the bohemian students live on the edge of society. Stage designer Vincent Lamaire has been working closely with Sireuil for years and the key aspect in the set design for both of them was to place the characters in completely realistic surroundings. Furniture and props are only used very sparingly.
...Just got back from a 2 night 3 day stay at the New York and it was great! Hotel is in a excellent location, a 2 minute walk from the Disney Village and only 5 minutes from the Disney Parks. Check in was 3pm but the hotel allowed us to check in at 10:30 am. We stayed in the Gramercey Park part of the hotel, rooms were clean and spacious, with excellent facilities, nice view of the Disney castle from our room, there is a safe in the room free of charge. Breakfast is included and is continental style but also serves bacon, sausages and scrambled egg, I think this is something to do with the hotel being American themed? Staff at the hotel are great, very helpful and polite. The hotel also has an ice rink through the winter which you have to pay for but worth it. Mickey has his kids disco in the hotel reception each evening at 8pm. The hotel...
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Advantages: Clean, nice rooms - amazing views from roof top balcony Disadvantages: 24 Hour coffee bar was actually a vending machine!!
...to be, and helpful and the whole check in procedure was quick and easy. The staff are bilingual – although this was not needed in our case – but handy to know if you do not speak English.
**LOCATION AND CONVENIENCE**
Well, The Bentley Hotel is situated on the Upper East Side of NewYork, on East 62nd Street.
It is 15 miles from JFK airport – (which is where we flew in from)
10 miles from Newark airport
8 miles from La Guardia airport.
Everywhere we went to (and that was a lot of places in 3 days!) seemed easily accessible by cab. This was an experience in itself, the driving, the honking and so on, but the hotel itself is situated very close to Roosevelt Island and the East River. Many of the views from the hotel look out over the East River and this is a fairly unique view for a New York hotel.
It is 7 blocks from Central...
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Advantages: Tips on getting tickets. Wonderful city, full of life...AND THEATRES Disadvantages: Can be VERY busy, as well as pricey!!
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> THE PRODUCERS (MUSICAL. Comedy based on film, new film out too)
> RENT (MUSICAL. Modern adaptation of LaBoheme - AMAZING) check out: www.squidoo.com/rentremixed
But just because they've been around the longest, doesn't mean they're the best.
I (that is me, moi, my personal choice) would recommend:
> AVENUE Q (MUSICAL. Sesame Street for adults - OUTRAGEOUSLY BRILLIANT!)
> HAIRSPRAY (MUSICAL. V.feel good)
> LES MISERABLES (MUSICAL. Superb music, classic)
> EQUUS (PLAY. Daniel Radcliffe) check out www.squidoo.com/equus-play
> THE LION KING (MUSICAL. Please see my other review on this)
> MAMMA MIA (MUSICAL. v.feel good)
> SPRING AWAKENING (MUSICAL. Everyone must see this show) check out: www.squidoo.com/springawakening
> WICKED (MUSICAL. The story of how the Wicked Witch of the West became Wicked. Superb show...
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The New Yorker is in an excellent midtown location with the subway (lines A, C & E) literally steps outside. Being on the corner of 8th Avenue and 34th Street this meant good access to Macy's, Empire State Building, Madison Square Gardens and the... more
Postmodernism, eh? It's a funny old bag of fish. Even the holier-than-thou critics don't quite seem to know what it's all about. They argue whether it's
a) a revolt against modernism,
b) a progression of modernism,
c) both of these and more
or d) more
If you want to stay in Central New York then this is the hotel to book. It is actually IN Times Square! It's a huge modern hotel with over 45 floors so some of the views are great. There is a bar at the top which is a lovely place to have a drink,... more