Rendering 3 (Music)

The article was published on the website of the newspaper “New York Times” on May 29, 2013 and is headlined "It’s Happy, It’s Danceable and It May Rule Summer". This article reports at length about the musicians, Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo,and their hit “Get Lucky.”

The author of the article, James C. and McKinley Jr., report that Daft Punk group is known for kitschy robot costumes, machinelike vocals and computer-generated beats. Since their single was released on April 19, the song has rapidly ascended to No. 4 on the Billboard singles chart, making it an early candidate to become the song of the summer.

Analyzing the text, we find out that the album, Daft Punk’s first since 2010, has sold 339,000 copies since it was released last week, putting the group on par with more mainstream acts like Pink and Dave Matthews.

What is more, the song is getting airplay and generating requests from listeners across several radio formats -Top 40, hip-hop, alternative, even Spanish-language pop stations. As for its content, it convey a rapturous message about finding a soul mate at a dance party.

Mr. Bangalter and Mr. de Homem-Christo, who declined to be interviewed for this article, have told reporters that they started working on the album in 2008. It is important to mention that “Get Lucky” took more than 18 months to write. the problem was that the group wanted to depart from their usual way of operating and recapture what they call the “golden age” of recording in the late 1970s. They abandoned playing the parts themselves and relying heavily on drum machines, computerized loops and samples of disco and rock records.

The author remarks that many teenagers only know Daft Punk through “Tron,” the duo’s 2010 album, or through Kanye West, who sampled one of its earlier songs for his 2006 hit “Stronger.”

To sum it up I'd like to say that I like this song. It has an upbeat message and danceable beat. It is catchy, but I don't think that it will be a summer hit as it doesn't have something original.

Rendering 2 (Music)

The title of the article is "Still Young, Even at 50." The article was published on the site New York Times on 28 May, 2013. The article is about the 50th anniversary of the New York Youth Symphony.

As the author reports Since 1984, the New York Youth Symphony has awarded commissions to 102 composers age 30 and under, whose works have won three Pulitzer Prizes and the Grawemeyer Award, among other accolades. Those commissioned by the ensemble include Michael Torke, Aaron Jay Kernis, Augusta Read Thomas, Kevin Puts and Derek Bermel. According to the reporter, along with the fact that the Youth Symphony offers tuition-free instruction to talented musicians ages 12 to 22 it also presents a new piece at each of its Carnegie Hall concerts. On Sunday afternoon it was the premiere of John Glover’s “Natural Systems,” performed as part of the orchestra’s 50th-anniversary celebrations.

Further the author reports that the music director of the ensemble was Joshua Gersen. He led a confident performance of Mr. Glover’s appealing work, scored for ensemble and solo baritone.

It is interesting fact that the libretto byKelley Rourke was inspired by the life and writings of the 18th-century Swedish scientist and botanist Carl Linnaeus.

What is more, Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 was loudly denounced after its 1889 premiere. Mr. Gersen, an assistant conductor of the New World Symphony, where he works with Michael Tilson Thomas took part in this programme. A complex work lasting almost an hour, Mahler’s First Symphony is an ambitious piece for a youth orchestra.

The reporter concludes that the performance was plenty of fine playing throughout, and that Mr. Gersen managed effectively illuminate many details, beginning with the mysterious opening passages. I think this performance is really worth seeing as it received favourable review and was described as nature awakening after a winter’s sleep.

Rendering 1 (Music)

The title of the article is "Star-studded gala opens new Mariinsky in St. Petersburg". The article was published on the site euronews on 23 May, 2013. The article is about a new opera house, Mariinsky II, which is going to be the hub of an ambitious cultural complex among the biggest in the world.

According to the reporter, it had been longed for by its General Director, the charismatic conductor Valery Gergiev. As he said the opening of the new Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg would be a tremendous opportunity to shine for young artists as well as singers.

We also got to know that though the new theatre was built just across from its “older brother” Mariinsky I, it was designed by a prestigious Canadian architectural firm headed by Jack Diamond.

Further the author reports that Spanish tenor and conductor Placido Domingo was a guest at three of the inaugural performances.He was glad to be part of the opening gala at Mariinsky II. For him it had been a great honour to sing there, because only a few foreign artists were invited to perform.”
What should be mentioned is that the cost of building Mariinsky II was more than 500 million euros.

For many theatre-goers it would be useful to know that Valery Gergiev’s new opera complex opens its doors in St. Petersburg to the 21st International Festival ‘Stars of the White Nights’ from 24 May to 28 July. ome of the world’s leading musicians and dancers will be appearing as part of the festival – among them, Anna Netrebko, Joshua Bell, Pinchas Zuckerman, Yuri Bashmet, Ildar Abdrazakov, Alexander Toradze, Magdalena Kožená and prima ballerina Diana Vishneva. There will also be performances from guest ensembles such as the London Symphony Orchestra, Netherlands Dance Theatre, Venetian Baroque Orchestra and Batsheva Dance Company.

To sum it up I would like to say that the teatre building is funded by the central government.I am glad that our government understands the importance of cultural heritage. I'd like to visit this theatre but unfortunately I have no opportunity to go to Saint Petersburg. However, I hope that one day I would go there and I would surely visit Valery Gergiev’s new opera complex.

Pleasure Reading Virginia Woolf "Mrs. Dalloway" summary 5

When Mrs. Dalloway is left by her husband alone with her thoughts she cannot understand what worries her. There is not only one reason but many of them: the behavior of her daughter, the oncoming party, lady Bruton’s dinner and of course the return of Peter Walsh. The latter makes her to think about her life and about choices she has done. She remembers herself in the youth and cannot but admit that she changed a lot. This fact is noticed by Peter Walsh and her husband too. It seems to her that they are laughing at her and the parties she arranges. 

Her thoughts were interrupted by Elizabeth, her daughter. She has just ended her lesson with Miss Kilman and they are going for a walk. Clarissa and Miss Kilman dislike each other because of jealousy: Doris Kilman envies of Clarissa’s wellbeing and happy married life while Mrs. Dalloway is jealous her daughter to Doris as they spend much more time together than Clarissa with Elizabeth.

Miss Kilman and Elizabeth go shopping. Doris recalls her tough times when she found consolation in God and met Elizabeth in church who has become very important to her since then. Doris worries that the girl will be as her mother or any other pompous and silly rich women. That’s why she tries to dissuade her from going to the party. That puzzles a young girl and she finds an excuse to go away.

Pleasure Reading Virginia Woolf "Mrs. Dalloway" summary 4

Mr. Dalloway goes to visit Mrs. Bruton. She is a very respected and influential woman, that’s why it is a great honour to be invited by her. There also are the prime minister and Hugh Whitbread. Lady Bruton says that Peter Walsh is in the city and remembers how he was madly in love with Clarissa. Soon their conversation returns to the business at the end of which mr. Dalloway invites lady Bruton to her wife’s party.

Richard and Hugh continue their talk outdoors. Mr. Whitbread wants to buy his wife a new necklace and boasts how many presents he gives her. It makes Richard think about his love to Clarissa and he decides to give her flowers and once more say about his feelings about which he is not used to say. He runs home and presents the flowers but he cannot bring himself to tell her about his love. He just holds her hands and listens what she is talking without understanding even a word as he troubles and worries about his cowardice and shame. However he has to go to work. He takes care about Clarissa and asks her to have a rest as her doctor advised. Then he goes away leaving his wife with her thoughts.

Jackie Chan: My Stunts (Review)

Director: Jackie Chan
Genre: Documentary
Lead actors: Jackie Chan, Ron Smoorenburg, Kwan Yung, Yuen Biao, Danielle Chau, Reuben Langdon
Release Year: 1999
Country: Hong Kong
Run Time: 94 minutes

Main characters:
Jackie Chan
Ken Lo
Brad Allan
Paul Andreovski (making of Who Am I?)
Mars
Anthony Carpio
Nicky Li
Rocky Lai
Johnny Cheung
Louis Keung
Sam Wong
Chan Man-ching
Andy Cheng
Rocky Cheung

Plot:

Jackie Chan: My Stunts is a 1999 documentary about Jackie Chan's stunts, fights and other related things and how he performs them. Throughout the film Jackie gives quick tutorials on how to execute various fight scenes under a budget.

I really enjoyed this film.This is a great documentary about the world of movie stunts. Jackie Chan takes you behind the scenes of two of his famous films, and shows you how he made the fights look as good as they do in the finished films.

As I ever wondered how he does all his stunts, this film is found out to be the best documentary to find out. Jackie Chan took us into the lots of his locations, and showed the innovative techniques he had used to create some of the best stunts in movie business. It also showed us how hard these people work to deliver the scene. I was shocked learning that in one sequence it took 348 takes to get one scene right. That's why now I am sure that all fantastic action scenes in Jackie Chan's movie, it's not an accident.

Of course I knew that all his stunts he did himself but I didn't supposed that he dared to take risk of his own life. My heart gave a leap when he jumped from one bus to another and then broke a glass sign-board. He was all in blood and even his bones were injured.

I think he is worth beeing respected for his work and for his selflessness and dedication to it. I also like how he treated his stunt team: for him it is his family in which everybody cares about each other and entirely trusts
in every member of the team.

Rendering 4 (Cinema)

The title of the article is “Star Trek goes into the darkness”. The article was published on the site euronews on 3 May, 2013. The article is about new Star Trek sparkling 3D sequel directed by JJ Abrams.

According to the reporter, the film’s world premiere in London was a suitable setting as the action in the film begins there with a terrorist attack against the Star Fleet, led by the enigmatic one-man killing machine John Harrison, who was played by Sherlock Holmes star, Benedict Cumberbatch.

According to the text early review of the film gained a lot of praise for both Abrams's glistening visuals and his renewed commitment to the emotional politics which have thrilled so many life-long Star Trek fans.

Further the author reports about Abrams' future plans about the Star Trek film production and he was coy about the degree of his involvement, suggesting this may be his last outing as director.

When the actor Chris Pine was asked whether he would consider a return as Captain James T Kirk, he was eager to leave no room for doubt and said that he surely would play his role over and over again as he couldn’t wait to see what this story, characters and franchise held.

Well, I think, this film would be interesting for Star Trek fans though Abrams changed a little bit the style of the story and now everyone can enjoy the shimmering pop romanticism of new Star Trek