Cinema Cycle - Horowitz in Moscow

Horowitz in Moscow 

Thursday, 03.6.2020

Media

Laserdisc

Attendees

Bruce Johnson

Notes

1. Apparently, Vlad only plays a Steinway
2. Vlad...Moscow rock star
3. Very, very somber opening, you could hear a fart in this music hall.
4. Horowitz, eyes closed, all the notes from memory.  EGAD. He is in his 70s here.
5. At about 30 minutes he really starts tinkling those ivories 
6. Vlad needs a bathroom break, Audience says NO WAY.
7. Based on pans of the audience,  uni-brows were pretty common on women in the old Soviet Union.
8. In the interview sections Vlad is pretty hard to understand.
9. I can't believe that anyone can have that much dexterity in their fingers at the age of 70.

Cinema Cycle Notes

• 20.7 miles
• 100  minutes
• Odometer =  11,813.5 miles  

For RePeats Sake: Beethoven - Symphony #4 & #5

TAKE AWAY: 

If you combine Karajan and Beethoven you are going to get some good music.  No surprise here.  Although the presentation is unique.  It is a live performance, but done in a studio with very intimate camera angles on the musicians and on the conductor.  I don't believe that the entire orchestra was ever present in one scene. 

For RePeats Sake: Miles Davis - MIles In Paris

TAKE AWAY: 

There is one glaring problem with this live performance by Miles Davis recorded in Paris, France.  It isn't long enough!  After 73 minutes of music and interviews, you come to the awful conclusion.  Which is, you don't know nearly as much about music and expression as Miles Davis did.  He was a bit eclectic, but talent would be an understatement. 

For RePeats Sake: New Year's Eve Concert

Take Away: 

This is a big tradition in Europe.  The New Year's Day concert, which translates to a "Best of Pop - Circa 1880".  It is joyous and usually festive music by famous composers performed in concert to bring in the New Year.  In most cases with a lot of ladies in gowns and men in tuxedos sitting in ornate concert halls.  This was no exception.  Bring on 2020. 

For RePeats Sake: Dire Straits - Alchemy Live

Take Away:

Just a good concert film.  Nothing fancy or flashy, just really good music shot live in front of a large audience.  Knoffler and crew do some wonderful jam sessions of popular Dire Straits tunes here, which is when the band really shines.  They are tight and proficient. 

For RePeats Sake: Mstislav Rostropovich: J.S. Bach Cello Suites

Take Away:

Wow!  Never listened to this before and discovered that it is a 3 disc set totalling 5 sides.  This is a master class in classical music where Mstislav first discusses the piece (in detail) and then performs it solo in a cavernous cathedral.  I rate this series by how often I stop and watch the repeating Laserdisc while walking through the room.  I often stood for lengthy periods of time mesmerized by Rostropovich's virtuosity. 

For RePeats Sake: Yessongs

Take Away:

This is a classic concert film performed in 1972.  Its not fancy or slick, but shows the power of the original lineup of the band, including Rick Wakeman.  What was interesting were the trailers at the end of side two that indicated that this was a theatrical release in 'Quadraphonic' sound.  The laser is only stereo, but the theatrical performance was probably really impressive. 

Track List:

Opening Logos

Introduction

Your Move/I've Seen All Good People

The Clap

And You And I

Close to the Edge

Excerpts from The Six Wives of Henry VIII

Roundabout

Yours is No Disgrace

End Credits: Excerpt from Starship Trooper

Trailers

For RePeats Sake: Wham! In China / Foreign Skies

Take Away:

An interesting view, not so much for the music performed by Wham, but as an historical document.  George Michael is all of 20 years old here and comes off as the perfect genetically engineered pop-star that pours out talent on stage.  However, there aren't a lot of musical numbers in this 60 minute video.  The ones that are performed are impressive, but this is more of a tour video and not a music video  What comes across is the fact that Wham! toured China about 10 years after Nixon's visit and they were still a pretty emerging country.  The group strolls through Tienanmen Square prior to the riots and hundreds of Mao clad concert goers fold their arms and stare at Michael gyrating on stage to "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go".  It is a bit surreal. 

For RePeats Sake: Thelonious Monk - '63 In Japan

Take Away:

Wow!.  Only a 39 minute long one-sided Laserdisc, but well worth a listen.  I was never a fan of Monk before, but I am going to look him up more in the future.  A live 30 minutes jam session done for Japanese Television back in 1963.  Try finding this on some streaming service. 

For RePeats Sake: Concerto! - Mozart: Concerto For Flute & Harp

Take Away: 

A very good video.  Basically, a documentary of how musicians rehearse and interpret a very complex piece of music.  They are all virtuosos and are able to collaborate and communicate on a different plain than the rest of us, which creates incredibly beautiful music as a result. 

For RePeats Sake: Aerosmith - The Making Of Pump

Take Away

An exceptional film.  I often lingered to watch segments as I walked through the Man Cave.  If you think you know Aerosmith, you probably don't.  Well shot with interesting interview segments that show the band had matured a lot by the time they made this.  The studio segments where they are rehearsing are astounding. 

For RePeats Sake: Beethoven - Symphonies 3 & 7

Take Away

If you see the words Karajan and Beethoven in the title, you know it is going to be good.  Classical discs like this are of two type.  Images of life that are highlighted by the music and an actual classical concert.  This is a hybrid, with the Berlin Philharmonic filmed on a specially built sound stage with very high production value.  Karajan is so into the music, he never opens his eye during the 3rd Symphony. 

For RePeats Sake - Fleetwood Mac: Tango In The Night

Take Away:

Filmed at The Cow Palace in San Francisco 12th/13th of December, 1987.  In this rendition, Lindsay Buckingham is replaced by Billy Burnette and Rick Vito.  They make a tight band even better.  All their greatest hits in a well done concert film. 

Track List:

The Chain

Everywhere

Dreams

Seven Wonders

Isn't It Midnight

World Turing

Little Lies

Oh Well

Gold Dust Woman

Another Woman Stand Back

Songbird

Don't Stop

For RePeats Sake: Maria Callas - Paris Debut

Take Away:

A concert film shot at the Paris Opera House in 1958.  A fascinating historical document of a famous performer in her prime.  She was the rival of Jackie Kennedy and the paramour of Aristotle Onassis and she was the last great Opera Prima Donna.  Watching this, she comes off as the Madonna of her day. 

Cinema Cycle - Queen - Live in Rio

An interesting look at Queen in their Heyday, playing to a very large crowd in Rio de Janeiro in the mid 1980s  Bohemian Rhapsody was extremely impressive  Not an easy song to do live.

Cinema Cycle - New Years Eve Concert: 1991 / Vienna Philharmonic

Cinema Cycle - Joni Mitchell: Refuge of the Roads

Cinema Cycle - Liza Live! - At Radio City Music Hall

Cinema Cycle - Beethoven: Symphonies #3 & #5

Cinema Cycle - Linda Ronstadt and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra