February 21, 2015

State and Main

Question: “What’s an associate producer credit?” – Answer: “It’s what you give to your secretary instead of a raise.”

SandM

This is one of the many hilarious lines in one of my favorite movies: “State and Main“ written and directed by David Mamet in 2000. The title is as baffling to non-Americans as it is crystal clear to Americans: in most American towns there is a “Main Street” and somewhere it will be crossed by “State”, short for the State Highway.  And this movie is all about a little sleepy town in Vermont where a Hollywood film is being shot, with all the uproar that creates…

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February 20, 2015

Palais Royal Perfumer

The Mystical World of Serge Lutens, Make-up Artist & Perfumer Extraordinaire

Serge Lutens is a Grand Master of Maquillage, he created some of the most unforgettable make-up advertisements for Shiseido and Dior. Each “look” he ever created is a work of art, a Surrealist portrait, with every minute detail controlled to create a total atmosphere of rarity and mystery. Below you will find a “Create the look” tutorial.

SL2

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February 19, 2015

Music Genius vs. Nazi Ideologie

How the composer Richard Strauss waged his own war against the Nazi’s

“I consider the Goebbels Jew-baiting as a disgrace to German honor, as evidence of incompetence—the basest weapon of untalented, lazy mediocrity against a higher intelligence and greater talent.” 

In 1933, in the beginning stage of the Nazi regime, the composer Richard Strauss wrote this in his private notebook about the mounting anti-semitism in Germany.

richardsreaussRichard Strauss (1864 – 1949)

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February 18, 2015

My Personal Top 10 Female Singers – No 5

…in no particular order & with my favorite recording…

Number Five: Gundula Janowitz

Richard Strauss: “Four Last Songs”, with Herbert von Karajan directing the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

GundulaGundula Janowitz

Perhaps it is often the first version you hear of an iconic piece of music, that becomes your favorite! In my case it is this particular recording of “The Four Last Songs” by Richard Strauss, sung by Gundula Janowitz and directed by Herbert von Karajan. (Sorry fans of Elisabeth Schwartzkopf)

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February 17, 2015

Mirror, Mirror…

Reflections on a reflection device…

The first way anyone would have been able to contemplate his or her image would have been as a reflection in a pool of still water…like told in the Greek mythical story of Narcissus who saw his own reflection in the water and fell in love with it, not realizing it was merely an image. Unable to leave the beauty of his reflection, Narcissus drowned.

Narcissus-Caravaggio“Narcissus” by Caravaggio – circa 1597

It is amazing how in early antiquity mirrors were a common everyday accessory, from a simple piece of polished obsidian to elaborate hand mirrors with decorative handles.

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