The Beauty of Glass

Advantages: Simply beautifully moving
Disadvantages: None whatsoever

...I find it very difficult to begin to try and explain Philip Glass? Solo Piano because despite my preponderance of music ops I have absolutely no understanding of the theory behind music; terminology and technique means nothing to me: this is not a virtue and especially in attempting to explain the subtle delight in Glass? music I find myself flummoxed, but I shall try nevertheless, if only because no one else has and it is music that I love. I am very much a new convert to Glass? music and am now firmly entrenched in the belief that his work is magnificence of the highest order. From my little knowledge of outward cultural reaction to Glass it always appears to me that he has a following of near cult status, unusually successful and yet somehow shunned by critics and the establishment in favour of other composers. I am perhaps wrong...

No_name 15.08.2004 · Read review
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Review of Solo Piano - Philip Glass

A New Pair Of Glasses

Advantages: Some powerfully exciting music
Disadvantages: Recording can't do it complete justice

...In my previous Philip Glass review (?Bringing The World Together?) I gave all the background to this composer?s life and music that you are likely to need if he?s a new name to you. I would refer you to that review rather than repeat it all here and bore those who did read it. I mentioned in that review that I was eagerly awaiting this new CD?s release. Well, here it is at last and I?m sure you?re bursting with excitement waiting to discover what I think of it ? aren?t you? Hello? Hello???? Where?s everyone gone?? *** The Music *** The Cello Concerto was written for the cellist who performs on this disc, Julian Lloyd Webber (that?s right, Andrew?s brother). He?s one of the world?s great performers and was deeply involved in the work?s writing, making various technical suggestions, which Glass, with a complete lack of ego...

Floon 12.10.2004 · Read review
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Review of Concerto Project Vol. I - Philip Glass

Revel in the presence of the master of minimalism

Advantages: As elegant an introduction to Glass' music as it is a source of joy to the inititated
Disadvantages: None to this enthralled listener

...Recorded in 1982, for a series of six CDs for CBS, Glassworks is a Philip Glass primer. It's not a compilation, more of an introduction to the master minimalist. To quote Glass directly "Glassworks was intended to introduce my music to a more general audience than had been familiar with it up to then". And indeed it does. It represents one of his most accessible works, as well as being one of his most haunting and most beautiful. For those less conversant with Philip Glass, he has been 'lumped' into the Minimalist bracket, along with other modern composer such as Steve Reich, Terry Reilly and to a lesser extent John Adams. In general Glass is the most successful and probably the least respected. The origins in this seem to be both his prolific output, his consistency of quality as well as his trademark rhythmical repetitions...

No_name 29.01.2007 · Read review
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Review of Glassworks - Philip Glass

Bringing The World Together

Advantages: A work of absolute pleasure
Disadvantages: It hasn't been recorded yet

...<<<<<<<< Philip WHO? >>>>>>>> You may think you?ve never heard the music of Philip Glass, even if you?ve heard his name. The chances are you?d be wrong. Philip Glass? music pops up all over the place. He has written music of almost any genre you care to mention, from pop to opera; he has composed soundtrack music for numerous films; advertisements and television documentaries often use his music as background sound; and he has collaborated with musicians from around the world in an attempt to produce a synthesis between Eastern and Western cultures. The film scores include Candyman, The Hours, The Fog of War, Kundun, Dracula, Mishima and The Truman Show as well as the ?Qatsi? trilogy: Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqqatsi and Naqoyqatsi in which there are no actors and no commentary ? just cleverly assembled footage and Glass...

Floon 27.07.2004 · Read review
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Review of Philip Glass

  An Opera For Opera Haters

Advantages: Magical music of a hypnotic beauty
Disadvantages: To the unconverted, can seem repetitive

...I first encountered Akhnaten in 1985 when a good friend, earning money as a student by selling programmes for English National Opera, phoned out of the blue offering me two free tickets for this opera. My first impulse was to decline. Firstly on the grounds that, much as I enjoyed what I had heard of Philip Glass' music, I was not much of an opera lover. I can listen to Mozart operas because - well, because they're by Mozart. I can take the occasional bit of Puccini and even enjoy the whole of Tosca. But in general I don't care for opera. I can't stand screeching sopranos and the thought of sitting through several hours of a modern opera is usually enough to move me to desperate measures in order to avoid it, such as cutting both legs off - either my own or someone else's, I'm not particular. Secondly, we didn't even live...

Floon 04.03.2003 (05.05.2003) · Read review
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Review of Akhnaten - Philip Glass

Conditioning scalp exfoliator from Philip Kingsley

Advantages: Relives scalp irritation, stimulated hair growth and improves hair condition
Disadvantages: None I can think of

...Philip Kingsley Scalp Mask - "Exfoliating mask for a refreshed scalp" My scalp feels often irritated, itchy and uncomfortable and for a long time I had no idea what to do to change that. Some time ago, I was browsing online for some haircare products and found this exfoliating scalp mask. My first thoughts were ?Exfoliator? How would I remove the microbeads from my hair afterwards??. Also, I previously used a product from this brand and was a bit disappointed. But me being me, the curiosity won and I decided to give this product a try. In the end, it cost only £3.70 for a small tube of 30ml so I wouldn?t lose much if the product didn?t work. I researched the company on their website and found out they have more than 50 years of Trichological and clinical experience and that they regard themselves a medical company much more...

Veronica115012 18.12.2009 · Read review
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Review of Philip Kingsley Scalp Mask

Einstein on the Beach

Advantages: Stunningly original protrait of an icon
Disadvantages: Not quite the full opera

...Trying to describe Einstein on the Beach is a little like attempting to explain away the impossible. It was premiered at the Festival d'Avignon in 1975. The opera is credited to both Philip Glass and Robert Wilson, though Wilson was himself responsible for the design of the opera. Philip Glass, for the uninitiated, is one of the most successful classical composers of what is commonly termed minimalist music. Meaning that he embraces rhythm rather than composing via jarring stridulations or dissonant clashing noise without structure. Einstein on the Beach is the first in Glass' portrait trilogy of operas and was designed to be a continuing opera in which the audience could walk in and out. At a length of over four and half hours this is not surprising. Nevertheless, this version is shorter, closer to three and a half hours...

No_name 04.12.2006 · Read review
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Review of Einstein On The Beach - Philip Glass

Breaking Glass, the sound of a shattered career

Advantages: Good music and insight into Britain in the early 80's
Disadvantages: Certain scenes are very difficult to watch now

...1980, Punk was dying and 2 Tone was only just getting established in the Midlands. Music was either the New Wave alternative, Glam Rock , Prog Rock or Disco. And what was Coventry songstress Hazel O'Connor doing with herself. Making this movie, Breaking Glass. It's about a young woman called Kate (apparently named after Kate Bush) trying to break into music from the bottom in the London music scene. Along with a fairly young Phil Daniels fresh from Quadrophenia who plays her manager Danny are Jonathan Pryce playing their deaf saxaphone player Ken, Ken Campbell playing the pub landlord who hosts the bands early gigs (and consistantly refuses to pay them for any), Mark Wing Davey (better known as Zaphod Beeblebrox) playing the record exec that Phil is helping to artifically create sales for. As far as other musical talent there is...

atytyut2434 09.01.2009 · Read review
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Review of Breaking Glass (DVD)

Heart of Glass

Advantages: A superb story
Disadvantages: No real dislikes for me

...NOTE: There are some spoilers here due to the nature of the film. Shattered Glass won some pretty good reviews from the critics as did Hayden Christensen for his portrayal of Stephen Glass the man who inspired this movie. This was my first opportunity to see the man who would be Vader since Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, so how was it? = What's it all about? = Those fearful words raise their head again “based on a true story”, Shattered Glass is based on a journalistic scandal involving reporter turned novelist Stephen Glass. It is a tale of truths and lies, Stephen Glass is a reporter for The New Republic magazine, big deal? Well it also happens to be the magazine of choice...

Matt.Blundell 21.06.2005 · Read review
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Review of Shattered Glass (DVD)

Through a glass darkly

Advantages: Good Conclusion
Disadvantages: Slow pace

...discover all the charges against Marco have been dropped. Upon his release the three men bump into Marco's father in law De Cal, an owner of the local glass making plant. He is furious with Marco and threatens to hurt him. After some informal enquiries Brunetti is satisfied that 'the old man' is just shouting his mouth off and means him no actual harm. Then Giorgio Tassini, the Night Watchman at the Glass Plant is found dead. Upon investigation he has also been talking bitterly about the Plant to everyone. Brunetti discovers he has a dossier about the Plant, claiming the owner to be responsible for his two year old daughter's bad health. The Commissario must find out if it is Tassini's own guilt that makes him believe this or if there really is a case to answer by De Cal and the other next door plant owner Fasano. My thoughts...

CPTDANIELS 31.05.2008 · Read review
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Review of Through a Glass, Darkly - Donna Leon