ROME - The conductor leading the China Philharmonic Orchestra in a landmark concert Wednesday at the Vatican said he feels honored to perform for the pope, saying music breaks down cultural barriers.
Ties between the Vatican and China's communist government have been strained for decades, and the concert could indicate warming relations.
"Music is beyond any religion, culture, language, and I would say music is the language of God because language is understanding each other," conductor Yu Long told The Associated Press in an interview before the Wednesday evening concert.
He said he wanted to send a message to the Chinese people about the value of understanding Western culture -- and added: "especially I hope the whole world can also understand us."
Yu is leading the 75-member orchestra in Mozart's "Requiem" and a Chinese folk song, "Jasmine Flower."
"I am especially honored to perform at the Vatican and for the pope," he said, calling it a "double honor" because Pope Benedict XVI is a Mozart expert.
The Vatican, which has said the concert shows music can be a bridge between cultures, said Benedict will give a brief address after the performance. Benedict has made the improvement of relations with Beijing a priority of his papacy.
China's officially atheist Communist Party cut ties with the Vatican in 1951 and the two sides have not restored formal ties.
Beijing objects to the Vatican's tradition of having the pope name his own bishops, calling it interference in China.
China appoints bishops for its state-sanctioned Catholic church. Still, many of the country's estimated 12 million Catholics worship in congregations outside the state-approved church.
The Chinese orchestra played for the Italian Senate in 2004 but did not stop at the Vatican then. Still, Yu called that performance a first step toward performing for the Vatican.
"I'm not in politics but everybody feels that music can bring peace and love to peoples," he said, speaking in English at a hotel near Rome.
Yu, who studied in Berlin, said he wants to greet Benedict in the pontiff's native German.
As the musicians readied their instruments for the 25-minute trip to the Vatican, Chan Zhao, a violinist, said she was "very honored, very moved and a little bit nervous."
After the Vatican, the orchestra will move onto Venice, Italy, and Vienna, Austria.
Kamis, 08 Mei 2008
Yet another `American Idol' hopeful flubs lyrics to a song (AP)
NEW YORK - "American Idol" hopeful Jason Castro became at least the third contestant this season to flub lyrics to a song.
The Dreadlocked One performed the Bob Dylan classic "Mr. Tambourine Man," and forgot the words to the second verse Tuesday.
Wearing a goofy grin afterward, Castro acknowledged: "I lost some lines in there; that's kinda bad."
Judge Simon Cowell thought Castro's gaffe could mean the end of him. "Jason, I'd pack your suitcase," Cowell told the 20-year-old folkster from Rockwall, Texas.
The other two judges were less than impressed, too.
Randy Jackson said Castro wasn't "in the zone." Paula Abdul was, as usual, gentler.
Earlier in the night, Castro sang Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff" and got brutal reviews from Jackson and Cowell.
Castro is not the first "Idol" this season to forget the lyrics.
David Archuleta, who's still in the running, goofed during a Beatles song and castoff Brooke White forgot the words to Andrew Lloyd Webber's "You Must Love Me."
The Dreadlocked One performed the Bob Dylan classic "Mr. Tambourine Man," and forgot the words to the second verse Tuesday.
Wearing a goofy grin afterward, Castro acknowledged: "I lost some lines in there; that's kinda bad."
Judge Simon Cowell thought Castro's gaffe could mean the end of him. "Jason, I'd pack your suitcase," Cowell told the 20-year-old folkster from Rockwall, Texas.
The other two judges were less than impressed, too.
Randy Jackson said Castro wasn't "in the zone." Paula Abdul was, as usual, gentler.
Earlier in the night, Castro sang Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff" and got brutal reviews from Jackson and Cowell.
Castro is not the first "Idol" this season to forget the lyrics.
David Archuleta, who's still in the running, goofed during a Beatles song and castoff Brooke White forgot the words to Andrew Lloyd Webber's "You Must Love Me."
Tina Turner plans first tour in eight years (Reuters)
NASHVILLE (Hollywood Reporter) - At the Grammys in February, Beyonce introduced her as "the Queen." In the fall, Tina Turner will take it to her loyal subjects.
The Rock Hall of Famer plans to embark on her first tour in eight years beginning October1 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.
The arena tour will be promoted by AEG Live and will include about three dozen shows in North America, likely to be followed by engagements in Europe and other international dates.
Turner announced the tour at a taping of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" set to air Thursday. She said tickets will go on sale May 12.
Turners 2000 tour, billed as her last, was the top-grossing jaunt of that year, according to Billboard Boxscore.
It grossed almost 110 million from 89 shows and drew more than 2 million people, averaging more than 24,000 a night in attendance. At the time it was the top-grossing tour ever by a female artist. The record has since been topped by Cher and Madonna.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
The Rock Hall of Famer plans to embark on her first tour in eight years beginning October1 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.
The arena tour will be promoted by AEG Live and will include about three dozen shows in North America, likely to be followed by engagements in Europe and other international dates.
Turner announced the tour at a taping of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" set to air Thursday. She said tickets will go on sale May 12.
Turners 2000 tour, billed as her last, was the top-grossing jaunt of that year, according to Billboard Boxscore.
It grossed almost 110 million from 89 shows and drew more than 2 million people, averaging more than 24,000 a night in attendance. At the time it was the top-grossing tour ever by a female artist. The record has since been topped by Cher and Madonna.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
Rabu, 07 Mei 2008
"Haditha" film shows both sides of Iraq killings (Reuters)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - "Battle for Haditha" dramatizes one of the most controversial incidents of the Iraq war -- the killing of 24 Iraqi civilians by U.S. Marines -- but former Marine Elliot Ruiz who stars in the film says it doesnt give the Marine Corps a bad name.
"Were not going after those Marines; this film doesnt blame those Marines for what happened. Its not really putting the blame on anybody," Ruiz told Reuters in an interview ahead of the films release in New York on Wednesday.
"It puts the situation out there and lets you decide for yourself whos responsible."
The film is based on real events that happened in November 2005 in Haditha, west of Baghdad. A convoy of U.S. Marines was hit by a roadside bomb, killing a popular officer, and 24 Iraqi civilians were shot dead in the aftermath.
Eight Marines were charged in the case but charges have been dropped against five. Three, including accused ringleader Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, still face court-martial.
Iraqi witnesses say angry Marines massacred unarmed civilians after a popular comrade, Lance Cpl. Miguel "TJ" Terrazas, was ripped in half by the roadside bomb. Defense attorneys maintain that the civilians were killed during a pitched battle with insurgents in and around Haditha.
Ruiz, who fought in the initial invasion of Iraq, said he spoke to his Marine Corps buddies before taking the part of Cpl. Ramirez, who is based on a real character but with the name and many other details changed.
"I didnt want to do anything that was going to give the Marine Corps a bad name," he said.
British director Nick Broomfield says when he first met the Marines who were in Haditha, "I was probably much more judgmental."
Then, he said, he heard firsthand the stories of young men from underprivileged backgrounds who signed up fresh out of high school and were not given enough support or psychological help even after enduring traumatic combat experiences.
"(I) realized they were still traditional cannon fodder," Broomfield told Reuters.
SEEING IRAQI CHARACTERS
The two Iraqi insurgents who plant the roadside bomb that sparks the killing are also presented in a way that U.S. audiences may find surprisingly sympathetic.
"You need to understand where theyre coming from, and their point of view hasnt been represented in any way in the press over here," Broomfield said. He met Iraqi insurgents in Jordan, where the film was shot, in an effort to hear their side of the story as he was writing the script.
In the film, one of the insurgents is an aging former Iraqi army officer driven by patriotism and frustration after U.S. authorities disbanded the military following the March 2003 invasion. It shows how he is used by al Qaeda fighters seeking to stir up anti-American feeling, a goal that succeeds beyond their expectations with the killing of the 24 Iraqis.
"People in the States know nothing, really, about Iraqis," Broomfield said, adding that he believed this was the first feature film with Iraqi characters.
"Some of the documentaries are great but I think an American audience needs to see proper Iraqi characters in feature films," he said.
The film will play at New Yorks independent Film Forum before going on limited release starting in San Francisco and Chicago.
Much of the dialogue in the film was improvised by Ruiz and other former servicemen who play the U.S. Marines. Other details were pieced together from Iraqi witnesses and a U.S. military report, as well as the interviews with Marines.
"Its not saying this is a forensic examination of exactly what happened on that day in Haditha," Broomfield said. "Its saying how do things like Haditha happen? What are the circumstances of war that produce Hadithas?"
(Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
"Were not going after those Marines; this film doesnt blame those Marines for what happened. Its not really putting the blame on anybody," Ruiz told Reuters in an interview ahead of the films release in New York on Wednesday.
"It puts the situation out there and lets you decide for yourself whos responsible."
The film is based on real events that happened in November 2005 in Haditha, west of Baghdad. A convoy of U.S. Marines was hit by a roadside bomb, killing a popular officer, and 24 Iraqi civilians were shot dead in the aftermath.
Eight Marines were charged in the case but charges have been dropped against five. Three, including accused ringleader Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, still face court-martial.
Iraqi witnesses say angry Marines massacred unarmed civilians after a popular comrade, Lance Cpl. Miguel "TJ" Terrazas, was ripped in half by the roadside bomb. Defense attorneys maintain that the civilians were killed during a pitched battle with insurgents in and around Haditha.
Ruiz, who fought in the initial invasion of Iraq, said he spoke to his Marine Corps buddies before taking the part of Cpl. Ramirez, who is based on a real character but with the name and many other details changed.
"I didnt want to do anything that was going to give the Marine Corps a bad name," he said.
British director Nick Broomfield says when he first met the Marines who were in Haditha, "I was probably much more judgmental."
Then, he said, he heard firsthand the stories of young men from underprivileged backgrounds who signed up fresh out of high school and were not given enough support or psychological help even after enduring traumatic combat experiences.
"(I) realized they were still traditional cannon fodder," Broomfield told Reuters.
SEEING IRAQI CHARACTERS
The two Iraqi insurgents who plant the roadside bomb that sparks the killing are also presented in a way that U.S. audiences may find surprisingly sympathetic.
"You need to understand where theyre coming from, and their point of view hasnt been represented in any way in the press over here," Broomfield said. He met Iraqi insurgents in Jordan, where the film was shot, in an effort to hear their side of the story as he was writing the script.
In the film, one of the insurgents is an aging former Iraqi army officer driven by patriotism and frustration after U.S. authorities disbanded the military following the March 2003 invasion. It shows how he is used by al Qaeda fighters seeking to stir up anti-American feeling, a goal that succeeds beyond their expectations with the killing of the 24 Iraqis.
"People in the States know nothing, really, about Iraqis," Broomfield said, adding that he believed this was the first feature film with Iraqi characters.
"Some of the documentaries are great but I think an American audience needs to see proper Iraqi characters in feature films," he said.
The film will play at New Yorks independent Film Forum before going on limited release starting in San Francisco and Chicago.
Much of the dialogue in the film was improvised by Ruiz and other former servicemen who play the U.S. Marines. Other details were pieced together from Iraqi witnesses and a U.S. military report, as well as the interviews with Marines.
"Its not saying this is a forensic examination of exactly what happened on that day in Haditha," Broomfield said. "Its saying how do things like Haditha happen? What are the circumstances of war that produce Hadithas?"
(Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling wins privacy case appeal (AP)
LONDON - A court ruling in favor of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has set the stage for a trial on whether publication of photos taken of her young son violates his privacy.
The Court of Appeal in London says children of famous parents have the same right to expect privacy as children of parents who aren't well-known.
The ruling Wednesday sets aside an earlier finding in favor of Express Newspapers and Big Pictures, an agency that took the photos with a long telephoto lens.
Rowling and her husband, Dr. Neil Murray, brought the case on behalf of their 5-year-old son David. The photos in question were taken when David was 18 months old.
The judge says the case should now go to trial unless it can be settled.
The Court of Appeal in London says children of famous parents have the same right to expect privacy as children of parents who aren't well-known.
The ruling Wednesday sets aside an earlier finding in favor of Express Newspapers and Big Pictures, an agency that took the photos with a long telephoto lens.
Rowling and her husband, Dr. Neil Murray, brought the case on behalf of their 5-year-old son David. The photos in question were taken when David was 18 months old.
The judge says the case should now go to trial unless it can be settled.
K-Fed lawyer: Spears' expanded visits recognize 'progress' (AP)
LOS ANGELES - Britney Spears will have expanded visits with her sons following a child-custody hearing that went off without a hitch Tuesday, capping a three-month period of relative calm and stability for the troubled pop star and mother of two.
The longer visits are "recognition of the progress that has been made, a progress in structure and stability," said Mark Vincent Kaplan, lawyer for Spears' ex-husband Kevin Federline. At a post-hearing press conference, Kaplan said Federline retains custody of 2-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jayden James, but that Spears would be allowed to see them for longer periods.
Surrounded by lawyers and her parents, Spears smiled slightly, looked straight ahead and did not respond to questions as she left the hearing, which was closed to reporters. Federline left a few minutes later, smiled at everyone, but also did not comment.
"We are so pleased with Britney's progress and we are very appreciative of the court's recognition of this progress," Spears' parents, Jamie and Lynne Spears, said in a statement read by court spokesman Allan Parachini.
Federline spokesman Elliot Mintz said his client is "extremely pleased with the way things went today."
Kaplan said one of the major changes is that "there are not daily events" to undermine the situation, and that he expected to see further progress from Spears. He said "the children are doing great," adding that Federline hopes they will one day have a more constant relationship with their mother.
"Consistently, we've said that Kevin's goal and hope is that his children will have the benefit sometime in the future of having two parents actively participating in their lives," he said.
A hearing was set for July 15 to get a progress report on the new arrangement.
It was clear from the beginning that Tuesday's hearing would be different from past courthouse spectacles, which included screaming fans with banners, frenzied paparazzi and Spears dressed in cocktail-party attire. The collection of photographers, reporters, sheriff's deputies and prospective jurors who witnessed Spears' arrival in the front of a white Land Rover didn't compare to the circus at a January hearing, when she showed up in a black minidress and gold platform shoes, then bolted before entering the courtroom.
On Tuesday, a somber Spears entered court wearing a brown polka-dot dress and white sweater. Federline arrived about 15 minutes later in a beige pinstriped suit. Moments after Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon swore them in, Spears attorney Stacy Phillips asked that the hearing be closed, and Gordon ordered reporters out.
It's been three months since Spears left a psychiatric ward a week ahead of schedule and stirred up a paparazzi car chase, a scene that looked like the beginning of even more erratic behavior. But in the weeks that followed, she lay low and largely avoided the cameras, spent time with family members and even found success in a cameo appearance on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother."
During that time, the 26-year-old pop star has been under the conservatorship of her father. The court-ordered arrangement put James Spears in control of his daughter's personal and financial affairs.
Federline has had full custody of his two sons by Spears since January, when police were called to Spears' home and taken by ambulance to UCLA Medical Center after she refused to relinquish one of the boys to a Federline bodyguard. Her visitation rights were suspended at the time, but have been gradually restored in recent months.
Spears was a constant media presence before the conservatorship took effect. Photographers captured her every visit to Starbucks and gas stations around Los Angeles, and documented a bout of bizarre behavior that included appearing in public without underwear, shaving her own head and beating a car with an umbrella.
Since James Spears took over her affairs, the pop star has been relatively invisible to photographers, only occasionally snapped shopping or having dinner with her mother, Lynne. A traffic accident last month turned out to be a minor bump in which no one was injured, and for which no one was cited.
Spears' public face has been limited to the "How I Met Your Mother" cameo, which was received well enough that she reprised it during a taping last week. The episode is set to air May 12.
"We're thrilled to have Britney joining us once again," series executive producer and co-creator Craig Thomas said in a statement last month. The show's audience increased by a million viewers the week Spears appeared.
The pop star also made news last month when she took on full-time exercise and nutrition coaches from Bally Total Fitness. Once known for her flawless figure, Spears was widely ridiculed for her flabby form in September during a universally panned performance on the MTV Video Music Awards that was meant to herald her comeback.
___
AP writer Sandy Cohen contributed to this story.
The longer visits are "recognition of the progress that has been made, a progress in structure and stability," said Mark Vincent Kaplan, lawyer for Spears' ex-husband Kevin Federline. At a post-hearing press conference, Kaplan said Federline retains custody of 2-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jayden James, but that Spears would be allowed to see them for longer periods.
Surrounded by lawyers and her parents, Spears smiled slightly, looked straight ahead and did not respond to questions as she left the hearing, which was closed to reporters. Federline left a few minutes later, smiled at everyone, but also did not comment.
"We are so pleased with Britney's progress and we are very appreciative of the court's recognition of this progress," Spears' parents, Jamie and Lynne Spears, said in a statement read by court spokesman Allan Parachini.
Federline spokesman Elliot Mintz said his client is "extremely pleased with the way things went today."
Kaplan said one of the major changes is that "there are not daily events" to undermine the situation, and that he expected to see further progress from Spears. He said "the children are doing great," adding that Federline hopes they will one day have a more constant relationship with their mother.
"Consistently, we've said that Kevin's goal and hope is that his children will have the benefit sometime in the future of having two parents actively participating in their lives," he said.
A hearing was set for July 15 to get a progress report on the new arrangement.
It was clear from the beginning that Tuesday's hearing would be different from past courthouse spectacles, which included screaming fans with banners, frenzied paparazzi and Spears dressed in cocktail-party attire. The collection of photographers, reporters, sheriff's deputies and prospective jurors who witnessed Spears' arrival in the front of a white Land Rover didn't compare to the circus at a January hearing, when she showed up in a black minidress and gold platform shoes, then bolted before entering the courtroom.
On Tuesday, a somber Spears entered court wearing a brown polka-dot dress and white sweater. Federline arrived about 15 minutes later in a beige pinstriped suit. Moments after Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon swore them in, Spears attorney Stacy Phillips asked that the hearing be closed, and Gordon ordered reporters out.
It's been three months since Spears left a psychiatric ward a week ahead of schedule and stirred up a paparazzi car chase, a scene that looked like the beginning of even more erratic behavior. But in the weeks that followed, she lay low and largely avoided the cameras, spent time with family members and even found success in a cameo appearance on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother."
During that time, the 26-year-old pop star has been under the conservatorship of her father. The court-ordered arrangement put James Spears in control of his daughter's personal and financial affairs.
Federline has had full custody of his two sons by Spears since January, when police were called to Spears' home and taken by ambulance to UCLA Medical Center after she refused to relinquish one of the boys to a Federline bodyguard. Her visitation rights were suspended at the time, but have been gradually restored in recent months.
Spears was a constant media presence before the conservatorship took effect. Photographers captured her every visit to Starbucks and gas stations around Los Angeles, and documented a bout of bizarre behavior that included appearing in public without underwear, shaving her own head and beating a car with an umbrella.
Since James Spears took over her affairs, the pop star has been relatively invisible to photographers, only occasionally snapped shopping or having dinner with her mother, Lynne. A traffic accident last month turned out to be a minor bump in which no one was injured, and for which no one was cited.
Spears' public face has been limited to the "How I Met Your Mother" cameo, which was received well enough that she reprised it during a taping last week. The episode is set to air May 12.
"We're thrilled to have Britney joining us once again," series executive producer and co-creator Craig Thomas said in a statement last month. The show's audience increased by a million viewers the week Spears appeared.
The pop star also made news last month when she took on full-time exercise and nutrition coaches from Bally Total Fitness. Once known for her flawless figure, Spears was widely ridiculed for her flabby form in September during a universally panned performance on the MTV Video Music Awards that was meant to herald her comeback.
___
AP writer Sandy Cohen contributed to this story.
'Dancing With the Stars' eliminates another celebrity (AP)
LOS ANGELES - It was the 100th episode of "Dancing with the Stars" -- but the last for Mario. The 21-year-old R&B singer and his professional partner, Karina Smirnoff, were eliminated during Tuesday's results show, which also served as a special celebration of the ABC dancing competition's 100th episode.
Mario and Smirnoff performed a Viennese waltz and a jive during Monday's performance show, earning 53 out of 60 points. The judges crowned Mario "a new prince" following his ballroom dance but called his feet "bloody ugly" after his Latin dance. Mario came in third place following the judges' scores Monday.
Top-scorer Christian De la Fuente dropped partner Cheryl Burke last week when he ruptured a tendon in his biceps. Burke choreographed the couple's tango and mambo routines this week so that the Chilean actor mostly used his good arm -- including the lifts, which were allowed for the first time this round.
De la Fuente, NFL player Jason Taylor, Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi and Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur remain and will compete in next week's semifinals.
In honor of the popular reality series' 100th episode, host Tom Bergeron announced there were 100 fans -- two from each state -- in the audience as well as several former contestants, such as Kelly Monaco, Jane Seymour, Vivica A. Fox, Jerry Springer, Mark Cuban, Drew Lachey, Ian Ziering, Sabrina Ryan and Lisa Rhinna.
Three former contestants returned to the dance floor.
Fourth season winner Apolo Anton Ohno and fifth season runner-up Melanie Brown separately danced with their former professional partners during performances by Rascal Flatts. Third season runner-up Mario Lopez, who's currently starring in "A Chorus Line" on Broadway, also performed a high-kicking routine with the cast from the musical revival.
___
ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co.
___
On the Net:
ABC:
http://abc.go.com/primetime/dancingwiththestars
Mario and Smirnoff performed a Viennese waltz and a jive during Monday's performance show, earning 53 out of 60 points. The judges crowned Mario "a new prince" following his ballroom dance but called his feet "bloody ugly" after his Latin dance. Mario came in third place following the judges' scores Monday.
Top-scorer Christian De la Fuente dropped partner Cheryl Burke last week when he ruptured a tendon in his biceps. Burke choreographed the couple's tango and mambo routines this week so that the Chilean actor mostly used his good arm -- including the lifts, which were allowed for the first time this round.
De la Fuente, NFL player Jason Taylor, Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi and Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur remain and will compete in next week's semifinals.
In honor of the popular reality series' 100th episode, host Tom Bergeron announced there were 100 fans -- two from each state -- in the audience as well as several former contestants, such as Kelly Monaco, Jane Seymour, Vivica A. Fox, Jerry Springer, Mark Cuban, Drew Lachey, Ian Ziering, Sabrina Ryan and Lisa Rhinna.
Three former contestants returned to the dance floor.
Fourth season winner Apolo Anton Ohno and fifth season runner-up Melanie Brown separately danced with their former professional partners during performances by Rascal Flatts. Third season runner-up Mario Lopez, who's currently starring in "A Chorus Line" on Broadway, also performed a high-kicking routine with the cast from the musical revival.
___
ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co.
___
On the Net:
ABC:
http://abc.go.com/primetime/dancingwiththestars
Langganan:
Postingan (Atom)