Arts in Brief: June 26

RS announces new season lineup; Campbell diagnosed with Alzheimer’s; Clooney’s thriller to open Venice Fest.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
RS announces new season lineup
The Ra’anana Symphonette’s 2011/12 season showcases local conductors, from fast-rising international star and RS music director Omer Welber (12/11) to recent Israel-Prize laureate, Noam Sheriff (1/12). They’ll conduct two of the six programs with violinist Shlomo Mintz (10/11), Asher Fisch (11/11), Roni Porat (11/11) and Yuval Ben Ozer in an all-Theodorakis program from Zorba the Greek (1/12) to round out the series.
The season highlight is a special concert dedicated to the works of Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo (3/12) at which the guest of honor will be his daughter Cecilia, and Welber will again conduct.
A guest from abroad is conductor Giacomo Sagriponti, an acknowledged Rossini expert, in a program of the composer’s works (2/12). Conductor/cellist Dmitri Yablonski and pianist Oxana Yablonskaya will work together in a special concert (2/12) that includes the popular Bachianas Brasileiras by Villa-Lobos.
Additionally Gil Shohat’s lecture/demonstration series this year looks at the music/dance connection, and on April 4, RS hosts the Israel Symphony in a golden jubilee tribute to the Parvarim Duo. Lots to look forward to from this classy little orchestra. • Helen Kaye
Campbell diagnosed with Alzheimer’s LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – “Rhinestone Cowboy” singer Glen Campbell says he is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, and has recorded one last album as a farewell to his fans.
Campbell, 75, had been suffering from short-term memory loss for years, but the terminal Alzheimer’s diagnosis only came six months ago, according to an interview published in People magazine on Wednesday.
“I still love making music,” he was quoted as saying.
“And I still love performing for my fans. I’d like to thank them for sticking with me through thick and thin.”
Campbell, who has been sober for years, returns to stores on August 30 with Ghost on the Canvas, an album featuring original songs composed by the likes of Paul Westerberg of the Replacements and Jakob Dylan of the Wallflowers.
Backing musicians include Chris Isaak, surf-guitarist Dick Dale and Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan.
Campbell, who started out as a session guitarist for the Beach Boys and producer Phil Spector, rose to fame in the 1960s with such hits as “Wichita Lineman” and “By the Time I Get to Phoenix.” Perhaps his best-known song, “Rhinestone Cowboy,” was a No. 1 hit in 1975.
Clooney’s thriller to open Venice Fest ROME (Reuters) – Hollywood star George Clooney's The Ides of March, a thriller about a US presidential campaign, will open this year’s Venice Film Festival and will compete for the coveted Golden Lion award, organizers said Wednesday.
The film, about a Democratic governor campaigning in presidential primaries, will make its world premiere on August 31 immediately after the opening ceremony.
Clooney directs and stars in the movie, along with Ryan Gosling, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Paul Giamatti, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright and Max Minghella.
The Ides of March is the fourth film directed by Clooney after Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002), Good Night and Good Luck (2005) and Leatherheads (2008).