Jorge Luis BorgeThe Aesthetes Suggest ...
I have received several complimentary pieces of email from visitors to the Aesthete's Home Page. Most have been very kind and I am flattered that readers would write and share their interests with me. I have decided to post links to some of the sites regarding the subjects my guests have suggested. I'll also be posting announcements regarding upcoming notable events and items of entertainment. I hope you will find them stimulating and pleasing. Or how about a good chuckle... ?
Authors
| Jorge Luis Borge |
Kristin Kelly
OK, this is where I pull the "plug your friend's book" act. My dear friend, Kris Kelly, Ph.D., has authored an impressive book titled "The Extraordinary Museums of Southeast Asia" which is an informative and practical guide to 30+ institutions scattered throughout Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia. This book is an obvious labor of love from an experienced art historian and world traveler. I am forever in her debt for introducing me to the joys of Europe. I still relish the memories of the splendid solitude we enjoyed while exploring Ostia Antica.
Clubs
Demonstrate your superior
intellect and join the DNRC. 
O-
Check
out both CDs by rising opera star Juan Diego Flórez!
This brilliant young Peruvian lyric tenor will knock your socks off! Stunning
voice, ringing tones, outstanding technique! Would love to hear him paired with
Cecilia Bartoli in La Cenerentola! His first CD is entitled Rossini
Arias and his second is Una Furtiva Lagrima. Both are outstanding!
Ron
Maxwell, director of the film Gettysburg has announced that his new film
prequel, Gods and Generals opened February 21, 2003. Based on
the novel by Jeff Shaara, Gods and Generals will feature Robert Duvall in
the role of Robert E. Lee, Jeff Daniels will reprise his role as Joshua Lawrence
Chamberlain and Stephen Lang will portray T. J. "Stonewall" Jackson.
The film covers the period prior to Gettysburg, from about 1860 to Lee's
outstanding victory at Chancellorsville. End title song by Bob Dylan. More
info and photos at: www.godsandgenerals.com
and at www.ronmaxwell.com . Rumor has it
that the third and final installment (The Last Full Measure) may go into
production this summer. Civil War buffs rejoice! This isn't exactly the Shelby
Foote brand of historical fiction but we have to take and be grateful for what
we can get these days. 
Arias for Farinelli . A new CD by American mezzo soprano Vivica Genaux on
the Hamonia Mundi label. Accompanied by the excellent Akademie Fur Alte Musik,
Berlin conducted by Rene Jacobs. Highly recommended. Ms. Genaux has a very
lovely voice and an accomplished technique capable of the vocal virtuosity
required to execute the demanding music once sung by one who is sometimes
referred to as the first "pop star", Riccardo Broschi aka Farinelli.
While I personally object to that analogy, one cannot deny Farinelli's influence
on composers of the day including the great Handel. Personal favorites on this
CD are tracks 1, 2, 3, 9 and 11.
Ever
given a listen to Polish Contralto Ewa
Podleí? Wow, what an amazing voice! Three octave range and this woman
can sing Handel like no other. Kudos to Marilyn Horne but Ewa is a powerhouse
with a chest voice that'll knock your socks off. David Daniels for finesse,
Ewa Podleí
for sheer coloratura fireworks (though her "Cara
sposa" and "Cor ingrato" are indeed beautifully lilting).
For anyone
interested in close harmony singing and recordings by the Comedian Harmonists,
The Revelers or The Mills Brothers, here's a contemporary group from Chicago
that has made a name for itself by performing and recording at home and abroad,
many of the songs of the Comedian Harmonists. The group is Hudson Shad
and having purchased all three of their CDs, I can tell you that this ensemble
is nothing short of amazing. As the only American group I know of that is
continuing the tradition of the Comedian Harmonists, they have taken great care
in treating this music with the respect and artistic consideration it deserves.
They also pull off some wicked renditions of Kurt Weill songs. You can view the
full track listings of each CD and make secure online credit card purchases
directly from the site. My CDs arrived promptly via first class mail and I've
been enthralled ever since!
Hudson Shad : "Wandr'in' Star", "Sing Something Simple" , "Hooked Again", "Spawn Song" and "Music Box".
Visit
my Palast Orchester
page for links to the official website,
RealAudio clips, CD and tour information. While you're there,
also take a look at the information regarding the Comedian
Harmonists.
| Short Stories by Wilde |
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Poems by Wilde |
| The Ballad of Reading Gaol |
The Picture of Dorian Gray |
The Fireblade Coffeehouse |
In
Memoriam My humble tribute to OW on the one hundred-first anniversary of his death.
Kind of says it all, doesn't it?
Many thanks to Erik, Max and Glenn, the first Aesthetes to respond to my humble pages.
Please feel free to write to me if you have a suggestion that is appropriate for this page. Thanks.
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