Arts & Living
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Concert Review
Boston Symphony Orchestra shines under Marcelo Lehninger’s conducting by
Panharith Chhum Daily Staff Writer
Boston Symphony Orchestra assistant conductor Marcelo Lehninger directed an outstanding rendition of Pyotr Ilyich
Boston Symphony Orchestra At Symphony Hall, Oct. 4-6 301 Massachusetts Avenue Boston, MA 02115 888-266-1200 Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet” at Symphony Hall on Oct. 4, despite his overly extravagant conducting style. It was a refreshing return to Tchaikovsky since Lehninger’s failed performance of the composer’s Sixth Symphony “Pathetique” last fall. During “Romeo and Juliet,” Lehninger was both expressive and emotive. At certain points in the score the conductor could have easily been casting a spell, challenging the principal cellist to a duel or partaking in an interpretative modern dance.
Aaron Tang via Flickr Creative Commons
Joshua Bell offered a stirring performance of Bernstein’s “Serenade.” The overture featured rich texture and a controlled yet passionate musical verve. The development of the famous Shakespearean love theme felt appropriately structured. Its reprise was never stagnant, instead presenting new variations that were exquisitely executed. The
fourth return of the main theme introduced a crisp and clear brass counterpoint, a difficult feat for such a heavily layered piece. This love theme was starkly juxtaposed with the Montague-Capulet battle section of the music signaled in by crashing cymbals. As the journey of Romeo and Juliet came to a close, a final move back into a major key appropriately concluded the piece. The other concerto played that night was Leonard Bernstein’s “Serenade for Solo Violin, String Orchestra, Harp and Percussion,” featuring Joshua Bell on violin. This piece was inspired by Plato’s “Symposium,” an ancient philosophical text in which seven characters discuss the power of love. As in Plato’s original work, there was a clear dialogue among the different parts of the orchestra in the “Serenade,” and also a definitive voice for Bell’s violin. After his masterful presentation of Schubert’s “Fantasie in C for Violin and Piano” and two Grieg Violin Sonatas last year, the audience’s expectations for Bell were high. True to form, Bell delivered an excellent performance. The first movement of the “Serenade,” “Phaedrus; Pausanias,” began with Bell playing a fugato. Here, Bernstein confus-
Courtesy Stu Rosner
see SYMPHONY, page 6
Lehninger and Bell perform side by side at Symphony Hall.
Movie Review
Inauthentic ‘Taken 2’ falls short of its predecessor by
Brendan Donohue Contributing Writer
Every few years, that special kind of film comes around — the kind that, despite being indistinguishable from
Taken 2
In “Taken 2,” many of the characters and scenes lack an element of credibility. First, the film’s dizzying opening credits are followed by the strange idea that Bryan’s beautiful daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace), is still see TAKEN, page 6
Music Review
How to Dress Well releases instant indie classic by Joe Stile
Daily Editorial Board
R&B continues to infiltrate the world of indie music, with bands like the xx listing Aaliyah as a major influence and
Total Loss How to Dress Well
Starring Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen Directed by Olivier Megaton other movies in its genre, still manages to become a hit. It’s the kind of film that will be quoted and watched repeatedly, with its absurdity enjoyed rather than ridiculed. “Taken” (2008) was that kind of film. Its sequel, however, has missed the mark altogether. The original “Taken” chronicles the story of ex-CIA operative Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) as he attempts to rescue his daughter after she is kidnapped during a trip to Paris. “Taken 2,” the forced and tired follow-up, essentially tells the same story. The only difference is that this time, instead of saving his daughter, Mills has to save his ex-wife and himself after they are taken hostage in Istanbul by the father of a kidnapper Mills killed in the first movie. Surprise, surprise.
Acephale Records
Magali Bragard / 20th Century Fox / epk.tv
Frank Ocean rising to superstardom with his pensive tracks. How to Dress Well’s second album, “Total Loss,” furthers this phenomenon by using the R&B framework to create an artistic and somewhat challenging work that has become an overnight indie classic. It’s hard to give an accurate description of How to Dress Well’s music. Lead singer and project creator, Tom Krell, sounds like a spectral Michael Jackson, a drugged-out Justin Bieber and a paranoid-underground Usher all at the same time. His voice is marvelous, but the detached, ambient aspects of his songs are what make him such an interesting young talent and a driving force in today’s indie music. One of the album’s first high points
Though Neeson’s action scenes may be predictable, they’re just as entertaining as ever.
see TOTAL, page 6
Elizabeth Landers | College Chic Report
From Russia, with love
T
he outskirts of St. Petersburg fulfill every notion you’ve ever had of a former communist country: cruise shiplike buildings of monolithic proportion and approach, with identically cut windows, traffic circles flowing around forged metal temples that pay homage to SwedishRussian battles from the 19th century and even an airport split in half by domestic and foreign-bound flights. The periphery’s appearance reflects the ever-evolving steps being taken towards modernization. Yet the heart of St. Petersburg holds far more potential and advancement and in many conventional senses has reached that point of modernity. It is here that I found a perfect paradox of politics and personal style, a marriage I am constantly, and vainly, looking to forge for myself. During my week spent in the city, I passed through touristy sites and local markets on the bus and the metro, looking for a Russian native with personal style that spoke, that smiled, that breathed. This was a very unrewarding quest. The main shopping streets like Nevsky Prospekt boasted stores such as United Colors of Benetton, Zara and H&M. High-end stores like Dior lined slightly less crowded streets, perpendicular to the hum of main traffic. As the weather fluctuated on a whim during our trip, I witnessed warm, cold and rainy looks. Older Russian women aged themselves dramatically in sullen, muted gray coats and mid-calf skirts that resembled rustling paper bags. Younger women dressed in a similar palate, but in cheap skinny jeans or short miniskirts with Plexiglas high heels. Clearly, in a country with 10 million more women than men, one must compete for attention. It’s not that everyone was unstylish — it’s just that no one looked special. This, of course, fits perfectly into the communist mold of equality, where everything’s commonality provides a certain solace. The paradox lies in the long-term history of Russia, which appears through the Romonov relics and imperial stamps found all over the city. Historical St. Petersburg brims with the Russian Baroque style, which is lighter in color and heavier in gold leaf than its European counterparts. Catherine the Great’s palace houses a room completely inlaid with semiprecious amber. Empress Elizabeth, estimated to have owned 10,000 dresses, consumed clothing in such excess that when St. Petersburg was seized in war, her dresses were used to wrap and protect countless pieces of artwork. An inclination towards luxury, architectural feats, fine art, culture and clothes surrounds the residents of modern day St. Petersburg — they certainly don’t lack inspiration. When we asked our local guide about shopping and clothing in the city, she explained that fashion was very expensive in Russia; global brands are marked up by two to three times with collections dating back two to three seasons. Everything was overpriced and out of date. When I pressed her on the luxury stores, she said that she suspected Louis Vuitton doesn’t break even in the city, but they kept their St. Petersburg store to maintain their international presence and appearance. Moscow would make for an interesting comparative study. As the seat of Russia’s government, the city positively bursts with the nouveau riche Roman Abramovich and Dasha Zhukova types, oligarchs who are redefining what it means to be wealthy and stylish. Major international retailers such as Ralph Lauren and Michael Kors — both of which tend to sell a glamorous version of the all-American look — have situated themselves in looming flagship stores within the nation’s capital. Pintsized Russian beauty Miroslava Duma graces the pages of multinational publications and her penchant for designer threads ensures that she’s at all the top global fashion shows. This striking difference between what I saw and what supposedly exists truly makes me hope that the Internet and earnestness of Russian youth will revitalize fashion and style in St. Petersburg. Elizabeth Landers is a senior majoring in political science. She can be reached at Elizabeth.Landers@tufts.edu.