The MERCHANT of Venice: Shakespeare is never outdated! (at Rio de Janeiro´s Teatro Nelson Rodrigues until 15 June)
“Theater is wonderful. I love how it enriches our life,” commented one of our party of theatergoers in our Uber as we departed from the downtown Teatro Nelson Rodrigues theater after opening night at the updated, imaginative version of Shakespeare´s “The Merchant of Venice.” Meanwhile in another Uber a couple who were unpleasantly surprised by […]
Pianist Sonia Rubinsky Continues Tradition of GREAT Pianists in Brazil
Among the biggest secrets to the outside world (—which only seems to know this planet called Brazil as most famous for samba and Carnaval—) is the long tradition of outstanding Brazilian pianists. Guiomar Novaes, Magdalena Tagliaferro, Jacques Klein, Cristina Ortiz, Arnaldo Cohen, Roberto Szidon, Arthur Moreira Lima and of course Nelson Freire, are only some […]
Radio (MEC-FM) Days or Camerata Music Viva on Concert Hall
Does anyone in the younger generation listen to the radio these days? This is my query almost 48 hours after participating in yet another program on Rio de Janeiro´s Radio-MEC Fm ´s “Sala de Concerto” last Friday at exactly 5 pm ending exactly at 6 pm. For those musicians and non-musicians who have never done […]
“Dear Mister Director ,” a monolgue at the Teatro Poeira ,Botafogo,Rio de Janeiro.(Tuesday and Wednesday ,20hs) until 23 April
What should a dramatic work, call it a play or film ,be about: a highly dramatic occurrence or the supposed humdrum of every day life? To American writer John (”Rabbit,Run”) Updike and German filmmaker Wim(”Perfect Days”) Wenders,among others , fiction is about confronting the humdrum reality of every day life. In Updike´s case the themes […]
Aboard the transatlantic ship Pacific Coast with top Brazilian Crooner ´King ‘Roberto Carlos
Rio de Janeiro The same routine often gets tiring (if not boring) and for this reason your correspondent –although always reluctant to leave his comfortable sofa at home here in Copacabana—gladly accepted Thursday the invitation by Brazil´s top crooner, the immortal Brazilian pop music King Roberto Carlos to visit his transatlantic Italian ship, the Costa […]
The Red Rooster Harlem: Charm, Elegance and Great food
Since this observer- ( in my earlier years) gourmet is currently in Rio de Janeiro for the city’ s gala Carnaval, my associate (and brother) has graciousy sent me this glittering restaurant review for my Blog Globetrotter. PS: The Red Rooster has a gospel brunch ( with a live choir!) Sundays at 11:00 am and […]
A Reunion of Aging Gringos who worked on the Brazil Herald newspaper in Rio de Janeiro: the Brazil Chronicles
Through the magic of internet´s “Meet,” this former cultural reporter, columnist, food, music and theater critic for the now extinct English newspaper in Rio de Janeiro the Brazil Herald, attended Sunday afternoon a reunion fifty years later of our former reporters and editors. The occasion was to herald(!) in a new book of over 496 […]
Singer Carole Saboya, pianist -composer Antonio Adolfo (and jazz pianist Adaury Mothe) at the Blue Note
Coincidence or destiny? As we took a taxi here in Copacabana en route to the local oasis of good pop and jazz music, the Blue Note, I didn´t have to ask our driver to lower the sound on the usual awful rap or repetitive drum loop called “music “these days we hear in most taxis. […]
Duo Gilson Peranzetta, piano and Marcel Powell, guitar at the Blue Note
Trying to catch up with the Brazilian jazz and popular music world after decades of being submerged in the so-called “erudite” music world of Brazil, this observer was a bit embarrassed to sit almost onstage at the Blue Note nightspot or directly in front of pianist Gilson Peranzzetta and Marcel Powell, guitarist, as they performed […]
Tom Jobim, the Musical
I couldn’t help thinking as I enjoyed last Sunday (8 December) every minute of” Tom Jobim, the Musical” at Rio de Janeiro´s Teatro Grande —thirty years after Jobim died in a New York City hospital–the apropos words of a local acquaintance: “Due to internet there is no longer any third world culture.” Agreed, at least […]