Advantages: Scenery Disadvantages: Almost everything
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Opinion
If you felt my explination of the story felt a little forced, it's because quite frankly it is hard to understand what is going on and why. There is all this talk about the Greene Party trying to obtain a desert for oil, and little talk of what Quantum (or Solace) is about. And then, before you know it, people are talking about cutting off water supplies and blowing up hotels that have huge gas supplies attached to every room and no ones quite sure why. Whilst I will be one of the first to admit that the James Bond movies were starting to enter a fantasy world, with 'Quantum of Solace' they have a more realistic storyline but still remain ridiculous. Only now the movies are missing the best parts, such as the 'shaken not stirred' punchlines that made the movies undeniably British.
What I was also very put off by was how there ...
Advantages: Gritty, modern Bond movie Disadvantages: The only Vesper in sight is a cocktail...
Quantum of Solace, the latest Bond movie, now available on DVD.
Although I was a little disappointed with this when I saw it at the cinema, I pre-ordered it from Amazon.co.uk without hesitatation as I think it deserves/needs a second and maybe even a third viewing to really understand and appreciate the story.
It picks up where the excellent Casino Royale left off, with Bond (Daniel Craig) tracking down and capturing Mr. White, one of the key players in the death of Bond's latest squeeze, the gorgeous Vespa Lynd (Eva Green). The opening scene involves an excellent car chase, in a great location (strangely, the video game version of this replaces the Alfa Romeo cars with Mercedes-a-likes) and swiftly moves onto a number of other exotic locations, including Siena, Austria, the Caribbean and South America.
I don't want to ruin ...
Advantages: Beautiful relaxing music. Rich instrumentation. Played with passion. Disadvantages: Not all instruments are from the period.
and prettiest of the Brandenburg concertos - and probably is.
The harpsichord, normally playing continuo under the melody, suddenly rises to stunning solo prominence in the fifth. Played magnificently by George Malcolm, the effective is superlative.
In the final Brandenburg concerto, Bach leaves out the violins (a unique action for a baroque composer), using lower strings only. Menuhin also takes the first viola leading the orchestra in a richness and profound sound that evoke a deep whirlwind-sensation of emotions.
The Marquis of Brandenburg may not have appreciated this, Bach's gift of six concertos, but I certainly do. Bach gave the world a gift to treasure for all time. Yehudi Menuhin, George Malcolm, Christopher and Richard Taylor and the rest of the Bath Festival Orchestra perform them with heart-felt passion.
It may not be ...
Cantata No. 198, 'Lass, Fürstin, lass noch einen Strahl' (Trauer Ode), BWV198
Excerpt(s)
1. EXCERPTS PART ONE - Chorus: Lass Fürstin, lass noch einen Strahl 2. Recit: Dein Sachsen (S) 3. Aria: Verstummt ihr holden Saiten (S) 4. Recit: Der Glocken bebendes Getön (A) 5. Aria: Wie starb die Heldin (A) 6. Recit: Ihr Leben liess die Kunst (T) 7. Chorus: An dir, du Vorbild grosser Frauen 8. PART TWO - Recit: Aria: Der Ewigkeit saphirnes Haus (T) 9. Recit: Was Wunder ist's? (B) 10. Chorus: Doch, Königin!
