Category Archives: Music

MUSIC REVIEW: David Arnold’s ‘Concert for Care’

Posted on November 2, 2010 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – The richness and range of modern film scores were on display Monday at London’s Royal Albert Hall as James Bond composer David Arnold’s Concert for Care International showcased some of the best of today’s movie … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Reviews | Tagged Alfie Boe, Anne Dudley, Caroline Dale, Christopher Gunning, Concert for Care, Craig Armstrong, Dario Marianelli, David Arnold, Dom Joly, Ed Byrne, George Fenton, Harry Gregson-Williams, Jimmy Carr, John Otman, John Powell, Jonny Greenwood, Michael Nyman, Patrick Doyle, Rachel Portman, Ricky Wilson, Robert Ziegler, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Symphony Orchestra | Comments Off

Extraordinary how potent film music is

Posted on October 25, 2010 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – The shower sequence in “Psycho” is one of the most famous in film history with its combination of 75 camera set-ups and some of the most indelible film music ever written. It’s impossible to think … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Music | Tagged "Psycho", Alfred Hitchcock, Anne Dudley, Bernard Herrmann, David Arnold, Janet Leigh, John Barry, John Corigliano, Michael Nyman, Patrick Doyle, Sidney Pollack | Comments Off

THEATRE REVIEW: Elena Roger in Sondheim’s ‘Passion’

Posted on September 24, 2010 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – That love never fails is a simple concept made rich and complex in Stephen Sondheim’s ardent 1994 Tony Award-winning musical “Passion” in a memorable new production at the Donmar Warehouse. From the sizzling opening bedroom … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'Passion', David Thaxton, Donmar Warehouse, Elena Roger, Jamie Lloyd, Scarlett Strallen, Stephen Sondheim | Comments Off

THEATER REVIEW: ‘Les Miserables – 25th Anniversary’

Posted on September 15, 2010 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – In a reasonable world, 25 years should see fans of strident caterwauling sated sufficiently, but here is “Les Miserables” in a new production to celebrate the show’s quarter century. It has returned to London’s Barbican from … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'Les Miserables - 25th Anniversary', Barbican Hall | Comments Off

Songwriter Margaret Ann Rich dies

Posted on July 23, 2010 by admin

By Ray Bennett Country music songwriter Margaret Ann Rich, widow of singer Charlie Rich, died Thursday at her home near Memphis, TN, following a struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was 76. Charlie recorded several of her songs including “Life … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, News | Tagged Charlie Rich, Charlie Rich Jr., Margaret Ann Rich | Comments Off

THEATRE REVIEW: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Love Never Dies’

Posted on March 15, 2010 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Unlike lightning, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom” does strike twice. More than 23 years after “Phantom of the Opera” became a worldwide sensation, the British composer has delivered a sequel in “Love Never Dies” that is … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'Love Never Dies', 'Phantom of the Opera', Adelphi Theatre, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Ben Elton, Frederick Forsyth, Glenn Slater, Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess | Comments Off

BERLIN FILM REVIEW: ‘Arias With a Twist: The Docufantasy’

Posted on February 12, 2010 by admin

By Ray Bennett BERLIN – There are many who will take to the flamboyant New York performance artist Joey Arias immediately although some will find he has to grow on you. But he does grow on you in Bobby Sheehan’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Music, Reviews | Tagged 'Arias With a Twist: The Docufantasy', Basil Twist, Berlin International Film Festival, Bobby Sheehan, Joey Arias | Comments Off

FILM REVIEW: Andy Serkis in ‘Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll’

Posted on January 8, 2010 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Rowdy and a bit ragged but wholly entertaining, Mat Whitecross’s “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll” is a biopic of British punk rocker Ian Dury with a sensational lead performance by Andy Serkis, best … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Music, Reviews | Tagged 'Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll', Andy Serkis, Bill Milner, Chaz Jankel, Ian Dury, Mat Whitecross, Naomie Harris, Olivia Williams, Tom Huges | Comments Off

THEATRE REVIEW: Tamzin Outhwaite in ‘Sweet Charity’

Posted on December 3, 2009 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – British television actress Tamzin Outhwaite is so vivacious and eager to please in the Menier Chocolate Factory’s revival of the 1960s Broadway show “Sweet Charity”, now transferred to the West End, that it’s a shame … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'Sweet Charity', 'The Nights of Calabria', Cy Coleman, Dorothy Fields, Federico Fellini, Matthew White, Neil Simon, Tamzin Outhwaite, Theatre Royal Haymarket | Comments Off

FILM REVIEW: Ray Winstone in ’44-inch Chest’

Posted on October 22, 2009 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – When a man’s wife breaks the news that she has met someone else after 21 years of marriage, the husband and four friends kidnap her lover while they decide if they should kill him in Malcolm … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Music, Reviews | Tagged '44 Inch Chest', Angelo Badalamenti, David Scinto, Ian McShane, Joanne Whalley, John Hurt, London Film Festival, Louis Mellis, Malcolm Venville, Melvil Poupard, Momentum Pictures, Ray Winstone, Stephen Dillane, Tom Wilkinson | Comments Off