War Requiem

Jarman to a T: Brilliant, atmospheric, imagistic, eccentric, and sometimes homo-erotic. An incredible blend of one of the great 20th century musical works on (or rather against) war and the cinematographic art. I've seen this film twice now. Some of the... Full review

War Requiem is a vital film in Derek Jarman's filmography; seemingly handcuffed by a score with which he could not play around at all, Jarman could not work his sonic wizardry with his usual collaborator Simon Fisher Turner, or any others.... Full review

They perform brilliantly in this violent, horrifying, ultimately inspiring film -- an eloquent, complex and profoundly negative statement on war. Now Jarman has added visuals so intense that this is likely to be the ultimate embodiment of the idea until someone develops a technique for recording and playing back physical sensations other than sight and sound: the impact of a shell exploding a few yards away; the feel of mud everywhere; the taste of blood coughed up from a lung wound. ... Full Review

In choosing Mahler's Eighth Symphony for his final suite of concerts with the New York Philharmonic (June 24 through June 27), Lorin Maazel doubtless wanted to go out big-and there's nothing bigger than the Eighth, which employed some one thousand... ... Full Article

Call it Maazeld?mmerung . Lorin Maazel, contemplating his final month as music director of the New York Philharmonic , seems to be thinking thematically. This week he devotes his concert to the tragic valedictory of Britten's War Requiem . ... Full Article

He still believes the merger was the right move. "I have absolutely no regrets about having advocated that," he said. "There's no crystal ball, but had we not done that ... one or the other or both [organizations] would have... ... Full Article

With Whom Do You Share Your Birthday?Is November 22nd your birthday? Was someone special to you born on November 22nd? With whom will you choose to celebrate this excellent occasion?If today is your birthday, then you are in excellent company. ... Full Article

Opera is experiencing its time in the dark as a number of cinemas, including the Curzon Mayfair and the Gate, regularly screen transmissions of live performances at the Royal Opera House or New York's Metropolitan Opera. ... Full Article

If you haven't seen it before or if it's been awhile, Derek Jarman's debut feature, the Latin-language, Brian Eno-scored saint's legend Sebastiane , arrives almost like a box set on a single disk, a treasure trove of images and instincts... ... Full Article