There is something undeniably magnetic about watching bad singers perform. “American Idol,” for example, is a perennial hit because audiences like to see the comical dreamers of the early episodes croon their way to television infamy. A generation before Kelly Clarkson was crowned reality royalty by the public, though, Florence Foster Jenkins captured the hearts […]
Author Archives: Catherine Moore
Unbounded Ballet
Despite the implications of its name, the Lyon Opera Ballet’s performances are missing all of the standard ballet accoutrements. There are no princesses in tutus and tiaras, pirouettes in pointe shoes or a corps de ballet of swans. There is nothing balletic in the program,” said Yorgos Loukos, the troupe’s artistic director. Tonight, the Lyon […]
Finding the “˜Missing Peace’
As the Tibetan head of state and the leader of his country’s Buddhist faith, the Dalai Lama is an inspiration to millions and a global personality. Rivaled only by presidents and popes, the Dalai Lama is recognized for his spiritual guidance, worldwide peace initiatives, and political agenda. A 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Tenzin Gyatso, […]
Cuban Connection
Gil Garcetti is practically a Los Angeles institution. With three decades of experience in the district attorney’s office, his name is familiar to most Angelenos. While his career as a prosecutor made him a household name, most people do not realize that Garcetti is also a critically acclaimed photographer. Garcetti’s most recent collection, “Dance in […]
A modernist legacy
When visiting a modern-art exhibit, one inevitably hears remarks such as, “I just don’t get it,” or “They paid millions for that? I could have done that with Crayolas!” Indeed, 20th-century modern art is grossly misunderstood and thus greatly underappreciated. While Salvador DalÃ’s surrealist landscapes and Piet Mondrian’s primary-colored grids have become a part of […]
A voice for Vietnam
On April 30, 1975, Saigon fell to the Northern Communist forces and forever changed the lives of millions of South Vietnam citizens. One such individual was Quang X. Pham. Then a 10-year-old boy, Pham and his mother fled with the masses as his father, a pilot fighting with the Southern forces, was taken captive. While […]
WEEKEND REVIEW
Exuberant crowds of masked revelers, costumed children and jubilant musicians crowded UCLA’s Kaufman Plaza on Saturday to celebrate Carnival. The afternoon festival brought to life the Fowler Museum of Cultural History’s current exhibit on the worldwide celebration of Carnival through dance, music, food and art. Traditionally, Carnival is a three-day celebration of Bacchanalian excess and […]