Category Archives: Music

THEATRE REVIEW: Gemma Arterton in ‘Nell Gwynn’

Posted on February 17, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Jessica Swale’s thoroughly entertaining play “Nell Gwynn”, about the strumpet turned actress who beguiled a king of England and became a queen of the London stage, is filled with laughter and music and a few … Continue reading →

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Art meets science in space at the Natural History Museum

Posted on February 12, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – The Natural History Museum’s exhibition “Otherworlds: Visions of Our Solar System”, on show now through May 15, is as good as a movie as it takes visitors on a journey through space with spectacular still … Continue reading →

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David Bowie: When Ziggy played guitar

Posted on January 11, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – On Oct. 8 1972, a new young artist from England played his sixth U.S. concert in Detroit at the Fisher Theatre. This is what I wrote in The Windsor Star newspaper two days later: Remember the name. … Continue reading →

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THEATRE REVIEW: Frank Loesser’s ‘Guys and Dolls’

Posted on December 20, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – If you like musical theatre, beg, borrow or steal a ticket to see the Chichester Festival Theatre’s dazzling production of Broadway classic “Guys and Dolls”, which opens at the Savoy Theatre on Jan. 6 and … Continue reading →

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Why Frank Sinatra was called The Voice

Posted on December 12, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett There were several reasons why Frank Sinatra, who was born 100 years ago today, was known as The Voice. In 1992, Daily Variety gave me the chance to research just how he earned the sobriquet.

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FILM REVIEW: Danny Boyle’s ‘Steve Jobs’

Posted on December 9, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Danny Boyle apparently blames the box-office failure of his film “Steve Jobs” in the U.S. on the decision by distributor Universal Studios to break it wide too early.  Universal reportedly blames the film’s leading actor, Michael … Continue reading →

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How James Horner came to write the ‘Titanic’ song

Posted on June 23, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – American composer James Horner, who has died in a plane crash aged 61, won an Academy Award along with lyricist Will Jennings for “My Heart Will Go On” sung by Celine Dion in “Titanic”, and … Continue reading →

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KFMF: International TV series music gala rocks

Posted on May 31, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett KRAKOW – Themes from some of the most popular television shows in the world rocked the impressive new Tauron Arena here on Saturday as the Krakow Film Music Festival celebrated the exciting vibrancy of music for TV … Continue reading →

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KFMF: Enthralling film music at Shakespeare in Concert

Posted on May 30, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett KRAKOW – Powerful, melodic and mischievous, Elliot Goldenthal’s music for the productions of his partner Julie Taymor was given full rein at an exhilarating Shakespeare in Concert performance as part of the Krakow Film Music Festival on … Continue reading →

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KFMF: Andrzej Wajda’s film scores hit the mark

Posted on May 29, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett KRAKOW – Andrzej Wajda’s devastating images from his 2007 film “Katyń” and the haunting music of Krzysztof Penderecki formed the emotional heart of the Polish Music Gala: Scoring4Wadja here last night.

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