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Latest episodes from Arts Alive

Friday Film Chat: A New Thriller Out of Germany

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2020


A new thriller out of Germany is the focus of Kenneth Turan’s film review this week. The LA Times and Arts Alive film critic spoke to KUSC’s Gail Eichenthal.

Two Brothers Score Two Brothers in Pixar’s “Onward”

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2020


Pixar films are famous for their tear-jerking powers, and the studio’s latest is no exception. Onward may have a high-concept fantasy premise—a modernized, suburban version of a land of dragons, wizards, and unicorns—but the emotional core is very true-to-life.

How Do You Loan a Stradivarius?

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2020


KUSC’s Alan Chapman has a lot to say about music, but can he say it in 60 seconds? That’s the Chapman Challenge. We ask a question and Alan has a minute to answer it. Today’s question is from Lee in San Diego who writes,…

How Classical Music Powers a Child’s Brain

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2020


It may be an exaggeration to say that Mozart makes us smarter, but in a unique study, scientists at USC’s Brain and Creativity Institute (BCI) have linked classical music training with improved brain function in kids.

The Story Behind the “Borrowed” Melodies of Brahms and Liszt

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2020


Franz Liszt and Johannes Brahms both wanted to capture the vibrant folk music of Hungary in their compositions. Brahms through his 21 Hungarian Dances written in 1879 and Liszt through his 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies published between 1851 and 1886. Both composers borrowed their melodies…

Friday Film Chat: A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2020


On Arts Alive today, LA Times and Arts Alive film critic Kenneth Turan tells us about a perfect Valentine’s Day entertainment for lovers of sheep, and, of stop-motion animation. He spoke to KUSC’s Gail Eichenthal.

A Preview of the LA Phil’s Fully Staged Performances of the Kurt Weill/Bertold Brecht Masterpiece, “The Seven Deadly Sins”

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2020


The Los Angeles Philharmonic’s survey of the politically-charged Weimar Republic era continues this weekend at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Esa Pekka-Salonen will conduct the orchestra and soloists in fully staged performances of the Kurt Weill/Bertold Brecht masterpiece, The Seven Deadly Sins. KUSC’s Gail Eichenthal…

A Junkyard Opera Company Reimagines “Frankenstein”

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2020


Theatre, dance, music, experimental design, found objects, and more come together for a modern adaptation of the classic story of Frankenstein this week at The Wallis in Beverly Hills.

Pre-Performance Rituals with Pianist Stephen Hough

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2020


Many performers have elaborate rituals that they go through before concerts — Glenn Gould used to soak his forearms in hot water before performances — but Stephen Hough has made a point of never depending on any of them.

The Secret Love Affair Hidden in Alban Berg’s “Lyric Suite”

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2020


Austrian composer Alban Berg (1885 – 1935) has a relatively small oeuvre, writing only a dozen or so major compositions in his life. However, each piece captures an entire world of emotion and structure and has a fascinating backstory, including one piece that has…

Friday Film Chat: A Report From This Year’s Sundance Film Festival

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2020


The attention of the film world has been squarely focused on a glamorous ski resort this past week. Filmmakers, performers, distributors, and press from all over the world have converged on Park City, Utah. LA Times and Arts Alive film critic Kenneth Turan has…

A Playwright Becomes Librettist

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2020


When writing for the stage, playwright Sarah Ruhl follows her instinct and ear for dialogue. She knows the rhythms of speech and conversation. But for the upcoming world premiere of Eurydice at LA Opera, based on her 2004 play, she had to learn some…

The Composer Who Transformed “Joker”

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2020


Here’s what you need to know about Hildur Guðnadottir: she’s from Iceland, she’s a cellist, she was a frequent collaborator with the late Johann Johannsson, she won an Emmy for her score for HBO’s Chernobyl and she transformed the character of Joker. She didn’t…

Chapman Challenge: The Difference Between a Viola and a Viola Da Gamba

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2020


KUSC’s Alan Chapman has a lot to say about music, but can he say it in 60 seconds? That’s the Chapman Challenge. We ask a question and Alan has a minute to answer it. Today’s question is from Barbara in Long Beach who wants…

Greta Gerwig on Finding the Echoes in “Little Women”

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2020


She’s nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, and her film is up for Best Picture. You may know her as the warm and funny millennial actress, but Greta Gerwig is actually one of the most exciting writer-directors in Hollywood today. Contributing reporter…

The Mystery Behind Scriabin’s Mystic Chord

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2020


For most of his life, Russian composer Alexander Scriabin (1871 – 1915) was obsessed with the occult and religious symbolism. He is often linked as being a part of the Russian symbolist movement and with having been a follower of Theosophy, a movement in…

Friday Film Chat: A Fun, Frolicking Fellini Flashback Opening This Weekend

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2020


A romantic comedy from the 1950s with a classic soundtrack opens this weekend at Laemmle Theaters in West LA and Pasadena. KUSC’s Gail Eichenthal got the good word from LA Times and Arts Alive movie critic Kenneth Turan about this early Federico Fellini film.

A Conversation with the Composer Behind Downton Abbey’s Unforgettable Theme

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2020


With all the Oscar hype currently in the air, it’s easy to forget some of the successful motion pictures not included in this year’s Oscar mania. In particular Downton Abbey: The Movie. The film, set in 1927, depicts a visit by the King and…

Remembering Pioneering Artist John Baldessari

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2020


Arts Alive pays tribute to late conceptual artist John Baldessari with an interview from the Arts Alive archives.

Chapman Challenge: How Do You Tune a Pipe Organ and How Often Do They Need Tuning?

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2020


KUSC’s Alan Chapman has a lot to say about music, but can he say it in 60 seconds? That’s the Chapman Challenge. We ask a question and Alan has a minute to answer it. Today’s question is from Bob Marcotte who wants to know…

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