September Events

Lang Lang – Sept 26
He was on fire again in recital with a full house at Roy Thomson Hall. Sporting a little bling on his lapel, Lang Lang's delivery was uniformly flawless, his interpretation utterly compelling and his flamboyant style infectious. He opened the show with Schubert and moved onto Bartok following intermission. I was mesmerized. We heard lot of Debussy then ended with Chopin's Polonaise. Magic! He even stuck around after the show to sign CDs but I'm sure he's not shaking hands anymore like he did with me in Ottawa last year. (Incredibly soft)

Mid-Autumn Spectacular – Sept 27
The Divine Performing Arts show was...well, spectacular. It was a series of discrete tales, often drawn from legends, and introduced by two bilingual and charming MCs. Mongolian Bowl Dance was a delicate exercise in balance and the Drummers of the Tang Court vigorously lead us into intermission. The show included a multitude of exquisite costumes and full backdrop that provided supplementary images that often morphed into the action on stage. A visual delight. A new show will be staged Jan 8-14, 2009.

Toronto International Film Festival - Sept 4-13/08
I'll remember the 33rd annual TIFF as The Year of the Close Up, with more than half my selections displaying intimate moments with the characters. Well...that, and all the pirates in the audience yelling "aaarrrrg" when the anti-piracy message flashed on the screen prior to each film. (you had to be there)

Most of my 15 films were great, with a couple sinking to the bottom of the list by default and one abysmal stinker. Regret missing? The Wrestler, Slumdog Millionaire and It Might Get Loud, but I'll catch them when they are released later in the year.

(below - Q&A for Religuous with Bill Maher and Larry Charles)

Did You Know? Toronto Film & Television Office issued
3,437 location filming permits in 2007.