Blog
Michael Spiro/Wayne Wallace La Orquestra Sinfonietta Welcome You to "Canto America" (REVIEW)
Actor Killed by Prop Sword in Play Rehearsal in Japan
Why is it that most all of the truly strange or stupid events in pop or serious culture stand a good chance of coming from Japan as a point of origin? That unique country seems to have a special mojo that attracts weird incidents.This weekend it was revealed that a Japanese actor by the name Daigo Kashino age 33 was rushed to the hospital and later died after being stabbed in rehearsal by a samurai sword. This was a stage prop samurai sword being used in rehearsal. This is the second bizarre death of a performer this year. An actor in Italy was choked in a stage hanging scene and died earlier in February. Jean Derome, Scott's Trombone and 'Art of the Fugue' -- Kurt Gottschalk's Weekend in Montreal
A weekend in Montreal--at least one like that of November 20, into which I was fortunate enough to air-drop--can seem like a build-your-own festival. Canada loves its fests. And Montreal has more of them than any other city in the country, with over 100 arts, comedy, food and fashion fêtes across the year. While the premiere of the Opéra de Montreal's production of Elektra was the reason for my visit, I was also able to attend the opening concert of the city's Bach Festival and a couple of concerts in the city's fertile (and under recognized) jazz scene. Most everything happens within walking distance of downtown. And meal breaks at Foodlab in the impressive Société des Arts Technologiques building (an excellent gnocchi with roasted Brussels sprout leaves) and the tasty Qing Hua Dumpling in nearby Chinatown, a weekend in downtown Montreal proved to be as enjoyable as it was easily navigable.
