Untitled Document Home
Chef & Hotel Profile
Publisher's Page
Gift Guide
Travel Adventures
Epicurean Events
Health Minded
Spa Baby Secrets
Sips
Book Bites
Culinary Coup
Sense of Style
Kids Kaleidoscope
Tinsletown Tidbits
Wheels
Radio Show & Links
Contact Us


Tinsletown Tidbits   .    .    .

Anne Akiko Meyers Violinist

PERFORMANCE TO REMEMBER IN SANTA BARBARA WHEN ANNE AKIKO MEYERS PERFORMED WORLD PREMIERE PIECE FANDANGO PICANTE

Meyers Joined on Stage by Acclaimed Mexican Composer Arturo Marquez

By Bonnie Carroll


Audience members, Nir Kabaretti, and the entire Santa Barbara Symphony had a very emotional and unexpected surprise during the Sunday Afternoon Granada Theater Matinee when renowned Mexican composer Arturo Marquez appeared on stage following Anne Akiko Meyers breath taking performance of the Fandango piece written specifically for her by Marquez.

Anne Akiko Meyers with Arturo Marquez 2021

This new piece made its world premiere with the LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl recently and was written for Anne Akiko Meyers by Marquez. Myers is a trailblazing violinist whose exquisite artistry has enraptured musicians, audiences, and critic for decades. Regularly performing on the world stages, Meyers is celebrated by many of today’s most important who have written and dedicated significant works to her.

Anne Akiko Meyers Violinist

Meyers grew up in Southern California where she and her mother traveled 3.5 hours each way from the Mojave Desert to Pasadena to work with Alice and Eleanore Schoenfeld at the Colburn School of Performing Arts. After ongoing studies with Josef Gingold at Indiana University she moved to New York at age 14 to study with Felix Galimir, Masao Kawasaki and legendary teacher Dorothy DeLay at the Julliard School.  Meyers performs on the EX-Vieuxtemps Guarneri del Gesu dated 1741 a priceless violin considered by many to be the finest sounding violin in existence.

The program was performed without intermission and included Bizet: Carmen Suite, I Prelude and Aragonaise, II. Intermesso, III. Seguedille, IV. Les Dragons d’Alcala. Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol, op. 34, I Alborada, II. Variazioni, III. Alborada, Iv. Scena e canto gitano, V. Fangango Asturiano. Arturo Marquea: Fandango for Violin and Orchestra, I. Folia Tropical, II. Plegaria (Chacona), III. Fandanguito and Arturo Marquez: Danzon No. 2.

It was a very large symphony being conducted by Nir Kabaretti, Music & Artistic Director and was one of the most exciting musical afternoons I can remember. Rimsky-Korsakov selections were alive and vibrant. The Latin, Spanish and Mexican flavors of Bizet and Arturo Marquez pieces filled the entire theatre with life and at times lilting joy.  

Nir Kabaretti, Music & Artistic Director

All the patrons sitting around me expressed how lucky we all were to experience composer Arturo Marquez live on stage with Nir Kabaretti, the Santa Barbara Symphony and the amazing violinist Anne Akiko Meyers, which was a first-time reunion in many years. To say this matinee was extraordinary would be an understatement. People left the theatre and walked down State Street appearing to be overflowing with happiness!

Maestro Nir Kabaretti’s exciting 2022/23 concert season is irresistible. As an internationally recognized symphony & opera conductor, Nir has curated a Santa Barbara season that honors timeless traditions, fan favorites, extraordinary guest artists, and community collaborations worthy of the Symphony’s 70th Anniversary milestone. With some of the most in-demand orchestral and film studio musicians ever assembled, every concert proves to be a not-to-be-missed experience.

Tickets available for Thursday May 5 - 7:30 pm performance. For tickets or information visit: TheSymphony.org or call 806-898-9386.

 

 

___________________________________________________________________

GRANDES HORIZONTALES PREMIERES AT SBIFF - CONTINUES TO RACK UP AWARDS AROUND THE WORLD

Local Film Maker Leslie Zemeckis Walks Opening Night Red Carpet in February and the Awards Keep Rolling In

By Bonnie Carroll

Film Maker Leslie Zemeckis

Opening night at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival included Red Carpet interviews with film makers including local Leslie Zemeckis, who arrived looking stunning in her designer couture. This was her third time submitting a film at the 37th Santa Barbara International Film Festival and she said she was excited and happy to be at the Arlington Theatre once again with her newest film Grandes Horizontales. The premieres March 4 at the Metro Theatre #4 on State Street at 8:40 p.m.

This film is one of absolute empowerment for women film goers on understanding how a select group of females in past centuries used their sexual prowess to experience lavish lives in society through their private relationships with groups of powerful men to secure opulent comfort zone lives in their community.  Zemeckis worked on this project for five years and did her own extensive research in Paris, France, and Los Angeles, California.

Zemeckis shared that the lives of the courtesans always fascinated her, and the subject was largely unexplored without prejudice so thought she would jump in.  The research was done solely by the film maker who said she likes to hold all the information in her own head, and then cross reference things. The film was shot in Paris and here in Santa Barbara and features some amazing photographs, paintings, and sculptures of courtesans of the period.

The narration of the film by Zemeckis and Andrew Kursanov is done with sensitivity and at times a sense of fun, but always filled with interesting personal detail on how these clever women managed to live such amazing lives, as well as details on the sad endings of some. Cinematography was done so well by Clay Westervelt, educational, sensual but not sensational.

Full Cast & Crew include Leslie Zemeckis, Writer/Director, Cast: Andrew Kirsanov, Dianna Miranda, Michelle L’Amour, Sheri Hellard, Mosh, Minxie Minnieux, Ed Anthony Budzius, Producers: Donnalee Austin, Leslie Zemekis, Robert Zemeckis, Executive Producer, Music Oliver Schnee, Joel Sill Executive Music Supervisor , Film Editing, Evan Finn, Brent Summer and Leslie Zemeckis, Make Up, Sara Chamiedes, Poster Arts Jason Kauzlarich.

Knowing this woman in my community as a wife, and as a dedicated mother who creates amazing cooking videos at home, an active community member as well as the creator of a writer’s group that inspires and offers unique assistance to other women authors, I am not at all surprised by this outstanding film, but delighted by knowing that before the Santa Barbara International Film Festival had even begun the Leslie Zemeckis Grandes Horizontales film has received three major awards from Hollywood and Los Aneles Film groups.

Congratulations to our talented Santa Barbara lady and thank you for this beautifully researched and presented story on a subject that warrants exploration and understanding.  For tickets to SBIFF visit www.sbiff.org.


2008
March 08 | April 08 | May 08 | June 08 | July 08 | August 08 | September 08 | October 08 | November 08 | December 08 | January 09 | February 09 | March 09 | April 09 | May 09 | June 09 | October 09 | July 09 | August 09 | September 09 | November 09 | December 09 | January 10 | February 10 | March 10 | April 10 | May 10 | June 10 | July 10 | August 10 | September 10 | October 10 | November 10 | December 10 | January 11 | February 11 | March 11 | April 11 | June 11 | May 11 | July 11 | August 11 | September 11 | October 11 | November 11 | December 11 | January 12 | February 12 | March 12 | April 12 | May 12 | June 12 | July 12 | August 12 | September 12 | October 12 | November 12 | December 12 | January 13 | February 13 | March 13 | April 13 | May 13 | June 13 | July 13 | August 13 | September 13 | October 13 | November 13 | December 13 | January 14 | February 14 | March 14 | April 14 | May 14 | July 14 | August 14 | September 14 | June 14 | October 14 | November 14 | December 14 | January 15 | February 15 | March 15 | April 15 | May 15 | June 15 | July 15 | August 15 | September 15 | October 15 | November 15 | December 15 | January 16 | February 16 | March 16 | April 16 | May 16 | June 16 | July 16 | August 16 | September 16 | October 16 | November 16 | December 16 | February 17 | January 17 | March 17 | April 17 | May 17 | June 17 | July 17 | August 17 | September 17 | October 17 | November 17 | December 17 | January 18 | February 18 | March 18 | April 18 | May 18 | June 18 | July 18 | August 18 | September 18 | October 18 | November 18 | December 18 | January 19 | February 19 | March 19 | April 19 | May 19 | June 19 | July 19 | August 19 | September 19 | October 19 | November 19 | December 19 | January 20 | February 20 | March 20 | April 20 | May 20 | June 20 | July 20 | August 20 | October 20 | November 20 | September 20 | December 20 | January 21 | February 21 | March 21 | April 21 | May 21 | June 21 | July 21 | August 21 | September 21 | October 21 | November 21 | December 21 | January 22 | February 22 | March 22 | April 22 | May 22 | June 22 | July 22 | August 22 | September 22 | October 22 | December 22 | November 22 | February 23 | January 23 | March 23 | April 23 | May 23 | May 23 | June 23 | July 23 | August 23 | October 23 | September 23 | November 23 | December 23 | January 24 | February 24 | March 24 | April 24 | May 24 | June 24 | August 24 | July 24 | September 24 | February 08 | January 08

2007
December 07
| November 07 | October 07 | September 07 | August 07 | July 07 | June 07 | May 07
April 07 | March 07 | February 07 | January 07

2006
December 06
| November 06 | October 06 | September 06 | August 06 | July 06 | June 06 | May 06
April 06 | March 06 | February 06 | January 06

2005
December 05
| November 05 | October 05 | September 05 | August 05 | July 005 | June 05

© 2008 Bonnie Carroll, All Rights Reserved