Arts Alive

Pixar films are famous for their tear-jerking powers, and the studio’s latest is no exception. Onward may have a high-concept fantasy premise—a modernized, suburban version of a land of dragons, wizards, and unicorns—but the emotional core is very true-to-life.

KUSC’s Alan Chapman has a lot to say about music, but can he say it in 60 seconds? That’s the Chapman Challenge. We ask a question and Alan has a minute to answer it. Today’s question is from Lee in San Diego who writes,…

It may be an exaggeration to say that Mozart makes us smarter, but in a unique study, scientists at USC’s Brain and Creativity Institute (BCI) have linked classical music training with improved brain function in kids.

Franz Liszt and Johannes Brahms both wanted to capture the vibrant folk music of Hungary in their compositions. Brahms through his 21 Hungarian Dances written in 1879 and Liszt through his 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies published between 1851 and 1886. Both composers borrowed their melodies…

On Arts Alive today, LA Times and Arts Alive film critic Kenneth Turan tells us about a perfect Valentine’s Day entertainment for lovers of sheep, and, of stop-motion animation. He spoke to KUSC’s Gail Eichenthal.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic’s survey of the politically-charged Weimar Republic era continues this weekend at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Esa Pekka-Salonen will conduct the orchestra and soloists in fully staged performances of the Kurt Weill/Bertold Brecht masterpiece, The Seven Deadly Sins. KUSC’s Gail Eichenthal…

Theatre, dance, music, experimental design, found objects, and more come together for a modern adaptation of the classic story of Frankenstein this week at The Wallis in Beverly Hills.

Many performers have elaborate rituals that they go through before concerts — Glenn Gould used to soak his forearms in hot water before performances — but Stephen Hough has made a point of never depending on any of them.

Austrian composer Alban Berg (1885 – 1935) has a relatively small oeuvre, writing only a dozen or so major compositions in his life. However, each piece captures an entire world of emotion and structure and has a fascinating backstory, including one piece that has…

The attention of the film world has been squarely focused on a glamorous ski resort this past week. Filmmakers, performers, distributors, and press from all over the world have converged on Park City, Utah. LA Times and Arts Alive film critic Kenneth Turan has…

When writing for the stage, playwright Sarah Ruhl follows her instinct and ear for dialogue. She knows the rhythms of speech and conversation. But for the upcoming world premiere of Eurydice at LA Opera, based on her 2004 play, she had to learn some…

Here’s what you need to know about Hildur Guðnadottir: she’s from Iceland, she’s a cellist, she was a frequent collaborator with the late Johann Johannsson, she won an Emmy for her score for HBO’s Chernobyl and she transformed the character of Joker. She didn’t…

KUSC’s Alan Chapman has a lot to say about music, but can he say it in 60 seconds? That’s the Chapman Challenge. We ask a question and Alan has a minute to answer it. Today’s question is from Barbara in Long Beach who wants…

She’s nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, and her film is up for Best Picture. You may know her as the warm and funny millennial actress, but Greta Gerwig is actually one of the most exciting writer-directors in Hollywood today. Contributing reporter…

For most of his life, Russian composer Alexander Scriabin (1871 – 1915) was obsessed with the occult and religious symbolism. He is often linked as being a part of the Russian symbolist movement and with having been a follower of Theosophy, a movement in…

A romantic comedy from the 1950s with a classic soundtrack opens this weekend at Laemmle Theaters in West LA and Pasadena. KUSC’s Gail Eichenthal got the good word from LA Times and Arts Alive movie critic Kenneth Turan about this early Federico Fellini film.

With all the Oscar hype currently in the air, it’s easy to forget some of the successful motion pictures not included in this year’s Oscar mania. In particular Downton Abbey: The Movie. The film, set in 1927, depicts a visit by the King and…

Arts Alive pays tribute to late conceptual artist John Baldessari with an interview from the Arts Alive archives.

KUSC’s Alan Chapman has a lot to say about music, but can he say it in 60 seconds? That’s the Chapman Challenge. We ask a question and Alan has a minute to answer it. Today’s question is from Bob Marcotte who wants to know…