Category Archives: Music

Nominees set for WSA, concert to honour Ronni Chasen

Posted on August 17, 2011 by admin

By Ray Bennett The World Soundtrack Awards concert at the 38th Ghent Film Festival on Oct. 22 will be a night of mixed emotions because while it will celebrate the music of some great composers, it also will be dedicated … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Music, News | Tagged Dirk Brosse, Elliot Goldenthal, Ghent Film Festival, Hans Zimmer, Howard Shore, Ronni Chasen, World Soundtrack Awards | Comments Off

MUSIC REVIEW: CBSO plays film music by Anthony Hopkins

Posted on July 28, 2011 by admin

By Ray Bennett In an evening of film scores played impeccably by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Howard Shore’s theme from “The Silence of the Lambs” caused shivers and every attempt was made to warn that Hannibal Lecter was … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Music, Reviews | Tagged Anthony Hopkins, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Dirk Brosse, Julie Edwards, Michael Seal, Tommy Pearson | 1 Comment

THEATRE REVIEW: ‘London Road’ at the National

Posted on April 15, 2011 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – “London Road” is a documentary musical about the impact of a serial killer on one community with words spoken and sung to match the original phrasing and cadence of people who lived where the murders … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'London Road', Adam Cork, Alecky Blythe, National Theatre, Rufus Norris. Katrina Lindsay | Comments Off

THEATRE REVIEW: ‘Betty Blue Eyes’

Posted on April 14, 2011 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – “Betty Blue Eyes” is a new stage musical based on the 1984 Michael Palin and Maggie Smith post-war English comedy “A Private Function” but in making something loud and boisterous, the show loses the film’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'Betty Blue Eyes', Alan Bennett, David Bamber, Maggie Smith, Michael Palin, Novello Theatre, Reece Shearsmith, Richard Eyre, Sarah Lancashire | Comments Off

THEATRE REVIEW: Lost Musicals’ ‘The Band Wagon’

Posted on March 27, 2011 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – One of the most acclaimed Broadway revues of the 1930s – “The Band Wagon” by George S. Kaufman, Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz – is on show in concert for the first time in Europe, … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'The Band Wagon', Adele Astaire, Arthur Schwartz, Fred Astaire, George S. Kaufman, Howard Dietz, Lilian Baylis Studio, Lost Musicals, Sadler's Wells, Vincent Minnelli | Comments Off

OLIVIER AWARDS: ‘Clybourne Park’, ‘Legally Blonde’ winners

Posted on March 13, 2011 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – “Clybourne Park”, a comedy by Bruce Norris that deals with racism in Chicago over 50 years, was named best new play and “Legally Blonde – The Musical,” based on the movie, won as best new … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, News, Theatre | Tagged 'After the Dance', 'Cleburne Park', 'Legally Blonde - The Musical', Nancy Carroll, Olivier Awards, Roger Alam, Sheridan Smith, Stephen Sondheim | Comments Off

THEATRE REVIEW: ‘Wizard of Oz’

Posted on March 2, 2011 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – If ever a show was pre-sold it’s the new stage version of The Wizard of Oz with the 1939 movie a perennial favorite and Danielle Hope cast as Dorothy via a 10-week prime time BBC-TV … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'The Wizard of Oz', Andrew Lloyd Webber, Danielle Hope, E.W. Harburg, Hannah Waddington, Harold Arlen, Jeremy Sams, London Palladium, Michael Crawford, Tim Rice | Comments Off

THEATRE REVIEW: ‘Million Dollar Quartet’

Posted on February 26, 2011 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – “Million Dollar Quartet” is a straightforward jukebox musical but since the music comes from Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis at Sun Records in the 1950s, it’s not your average jukebox. … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'Million Dollar Quartet', Ben Goddard, Derek Hagen, Eric Schaeffer, Floyd Mutrux, Francesca Jackson, Michael Malarkey Colin Escott, Noel Cowerd Theatre, Robert Britton Lyons | Comments Off

THEATRE REVIEW: Emma Williams shines in ‘Love Story’

Posted on December 7, 2010 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Those for whom Arthur Hiller’s 1970 tearjerker “Love Story” is the hallmark of mawkish manipulation will be amazed to learn that Erich Segal’s original novella has been turned into a delightfully elegant and satisfying stage … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Music, Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'Love Story', Arthur Hiller, Chichester Festival Theatre, Duchess Theatre, Emma Williams, Erich Segal, Francis Lai, Howard Goodall, Michael Xavier, Peter McKintosh, Rachel Kavanaugh, Stephen Clark, Stephen Ridley | Comments Off

THEATRE REVIEW: ‘The Glass Menagerie’ at the Young Vic

Posted on November 20, 2010 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON — In a dream, there is always music, says Leo Bill as Tom, the nostalgic wanderer who narrates Tennessee Williams’ autobiographical play “The Glass Menagerie” and the Young Vic’s refreshing revival honors the playwright’s vision with … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'The Glass Menagerie', Dario Marianelli, Leo Bill, Lindsay Findlay, Sinéad Matthews, Tennessee Williams, The Young Vic | Comments Off