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Reviews
Hamlet Shakespeare's Globe (2018)
Globe theatre triumph
This is a video of a live performance at Shakespeare's Globe in London. I have attended several performances there, and this video captures the essence of being there, as close as possible without actually being there. It is a theatrical performance: no spectacle, no voice-overs, no ultra closeups with the actors whispering their lines.
It is a "historically informed" performance that manages to keep Elizabethan stagecraft while resonating with the XXI century. Michelle Terry is great as Hamlet. She is willing to take chances with her performance that no "famous movie actor" would. Having a woman in the lead is an interesting dynamic, and brings fresh light on the character. Too often, Hamlet is played by a 40 something actor instead of an uncertain 19 year old.
The pacing of the play is quite good. There is enough Elizabethan humor to throw the tragedy into high relief. The supporting players are all first-rate.
The IMDB lists 114 titles for Hamlet. I have by no means seen them all. This performance is the best I have seen. Olivier's movie is interesting, but is more a meditation by Larry on the play. Branagh's version is quite good, if long, but the play is sometimes buried by spectacle, and too many famous actor cameos.
By keeping with the restrictions and conventions of an Elizabethan play, this performance manages to find relevance for our time. I heartily recommend it.
The Unanswered Question: Six Talks at Harvard (1976)
A must-see for anyone interested in classical music
The subject of this 'mini-series' is classical music -- more specifically what is the 'future' of 'art' music. These are tapes of lectures given at Harvard in 1973 and broadcast (one, I believe) in 1976. There was a book of the lectures, with some mini-LPs for some of the musical examples.
These lectures are intended for a general, but well educated, audience. Non-classically trained musicians may find things rough going in spots, but Bernstein is an excellent lecturer. (Those of us who heard his young person's concerts in the 1950s should remember these concerts fondly.)
The title of the series is taken from a composition from Charles Ives. In the mid-20th century, classical music was in crisis -- and still is, if it has not become irrelevant to the majority of people. Bernstein examines the crisis from the viewpoint of why there is a crisis in the first place. Thirty years later, we may see that his conclusions are a bit optimistic, but the entire discussion is still relevant.
As far as the quality of the image and sound, the DVDs are taken directly from video-tape and the source material is not pristine. The sound is OK, but not up to current standards. However, the main reason for watching the lectures is the content, which is better than first rate.
These lectures raise issues that are still relevant today. Anyone who is interested in music will benefit by viewing this series.