Two Words, One Answer.
Obradors
- Obradors + bio (12)
- Obradors + jacqueline (5)
 Mexican Messiah: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador $35.00 No scholar has followed Mexican electoral politics more closely than George Grayson, who capitalizes on that extensive knowledge to provide a readable, provocative, critical, extensively researched biography that sheds light on Mexico's most controversial politician. Grayson's challenging interpretations and revelations allow readers to more fully understand Lpez Obrador's personal and political motivations, his dramatic rise to national prominence, and his place in the recent wave of populist, left-of-center national political figures in Latin America.  Cultures of Mass Tourism (New Directions in Tourism Analysis) $99.95 With more than 230 million international tourists a year, the Mediterranean region is the largest tourist destination in the world. Indeed, it is now less united by olive, grain and vine cultivation than the fortnightly pulse of the package tour, the circulation of resort types and the shared culture of sun-seeking tourism. This book argues that its economic importance is matched by its significance as cultural and aesthetic phenomena. Mass tourism has brought about new social and cultural formations that mix global, national and local influences. There has, as yet, been little analysis of these new cultural formations. This book offers a series of insights into some of the key sites of mass Mediterranean tourism, including the beach, the island, the tourist resort and the coastal hotel. It also focuses on the 'mass' element and reflects on the 'banal' experiences of the package tourist, as well as the serial and depthless spaces that are mushrooming along the coast and the enchantments, dissolutions and dreams that saturate them. Moving away from the notion of authentic places corrupted by mass tourism, it examines new forms and spaces created, co-produced by locals and tourists, seeing them as postmodern with reworked meanings such as the recoding the ancient with irony and kitsch. It also develops an approach which is sensitive to social practices and embodied performances such as photography, hotel activities and nightlife. Finally, the book looks at the complex materilities of mass tourism, as well as the many networks that make it possible. All in all, this volume provides an up-to the minute key reference on the cultures of mass tourism.  Pasin! $21.98 You can use many adjectives to describe this artist, but one that you have to use is "versatile". On this magnificent recital disk, Joyce DiDonato treads into the Spanish song genre, offering the listener 30 songs by Obradors, Granados, Turina, de Falla, and Montsalvatge. After that you get a "bonus" track of "Canzonetta spagnuola" by Rossini. For those who were impressed by pianist Julius Drake in her Wigmore Hall recital disk, he is back for this project and is as great as ever. Being a Joyce DiDonato fan has made me a Julius Drake fan. The Obradors songs are quite short, with one ("Al amor") lasting just a minute. These songs are quite well done. The last of the songs (Chiquitita las Novia) has a beautiful cadenza on the word "Ah". My favorite of the Granados songs was "La maja dolorosa I". As usual, Joyce sings this with great intention. I was particularly impressed with one phrase, where she went from a long phrase ending with "...mi alma esta" to "Oh Dios!" . I'll wager that 99 out of 100 singers would take a breath before "Ah Dios", but she doesn't. The effect is marvelous, with the "Ah Dios" at a gorgeous pianissimo, like a prayer. Once again, dramatic intention dictates her musical choices. She also showed off an impressive chest voice in "La maja dolorosa III". The Turina songs kept the momentum going. One special treat in "Dedicatoria" was an extended piano solo by Julius Drake. It lasts about 3 minutes, and is fantastic. Joyce's intention was perfect on "Nunca olvida". The next cut, titled "Song" also features another cadenza on the word "Ay". The de Falla songs are well known, and brilliantly done. The tempi choices in "Jota" blew the dust off this warhorse. Even though there are so many recordings of these songs, you will be hard-pressed to find a better one. I wasn't familiar with the songs of Montsalvatge, but I loved them. I liked "Cuba dentro de un piano" the best. The beginning of this song has some tongue-twisting diction challenges, expertly executed by this great mezzo. Joyce defies categorization as "coloratura" or "lyric". She does all of it beautifully. A Rossini song (Canzonetta spagnuola) ends the CD. This song shows the composer's skill in writing in various styles, and the song springs to life in the hands of one of today's top Rossini interpreters. Brilliant work. Highly recomended. |
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