Radu Lupu’s Story: It was Always About the Music
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“The artist should have his own voice,” pianist Radu Lupu said. “Everyone tells a story differently and that story should be told compellingly and spontaneously. If it is not compelling and convincing, it is without value. The most important thing is to play. Enjoy is not the word, but to be able to feel that […]
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Grief Bacon
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What is grief bacon? The term is a direct translation of the German word kummerspeck. It refers to the overeating people do to cope with the trauma of grief. We know that dealing with the death of a significant other frequently involves appetite changes. Overeating, stress eating, and binge eating are on one side of the equation — […]
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Augusta National: The Tradition That Always Delivers
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After a two-year hiatus, The Masters returned to pre-pandemic form this year. The patrons flocked to Augusta National in full force. For a few blessed April days, the world of beauty, order, and civility emanated from that beloved golfing cathedral. We may not have fully escaped the COVID-19 nightmare, but it was good to be […]
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Alfred Hitchcock Taught Joseph Cotten to be a Murderer
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When Joseph Cotten was cast as Charlie Oakley in Alfred Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt, he found himself completely at a loss. The thirty-seven year old actor had never played a real villain before: Oakley was a serial killer whose victims were wealthy widows. Cotten was so conflicted about the matter, he approached Hitchcock for advice. “I’ve […]
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Who killed Vincent van Gogh?
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“The sadness will last forever.” These are among the last words spoken by Vincent van Gogh before his death just after 1 a.m. on July 29, 1890. The thirty-seven year old artist was cradled in the arms of his brother, Theo — the two were in Van Gogh’s modest attic room at the Ravoux Inn, […]
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