See Hear Podcast Episode 134 - Interview with producer Christine La Monte about the film Viva Verdi

 

Those of us fortunate enough to have employment in our chosen field should have (in theory) a pension / superannuation plan to take care of us in our autumn years. Sadly, some professions including ones that bring us most joy don’t always look after the practitioners. Opera composer Giuseppi Verdi knew that so he did something about it.

 

Welcome to episode 134 of See Hear Podcast.

 

It’s our first episode back after a hiatus, and what a film we have to talk about. Kerry and I were thrilled to have film producer Christine La Monte join us. She and director Yvonne Russo have brought into the world a film guaranteed to bring happiness to all who see it – Viva Verdi!

 

Giuseppi Verdi seems to have been a rare beast in the arts world – he was financially secure into his later years. He realised that many of his fellow travellers however (composers, musicians, singers) did not have a pension in their later years when they could not work. Verdi had a philanthropic background, and so he decided to develop a retirement home for musicians.

 

The documentary Viva Verdi takes a look at the residents of Casa Verdi over the last few years. All these musicians (mostly in their 80s and 90s) are still vital and have stories to tell and work to do. Keeping musically active in the retirement home helps keep dementia at bay, and makes the residents feel as important as they ever were. Christine tells us about her childhood love of opera when her peers were into rock and roll, the wonderful people she and Yvonne met, Verdi’s generosity….and Kerry and I agree that Viva Verdi was robbed at the Oscars.

 

We also briefly explore another opera related documentary Christine produced “Ai Weiwei's Turandot”. As opposed to Viva Verdi which celebrates the individual, the Aiweiwei documentary looks at the themes of opera to celebrate the collective. It’s social commentary in a world gone mad.

At the time of posting this, Viva Verdi is only available for streaming in North America, though, Christine is working on a wider distribution method. It's having limited cinema screenings in the US, or it can be streamed at https://www.jolt.film/ (if you're outside the US, you'll need to turn on your VPN...don't get me started on these archaic region rules....) It's a wonderful film and worth the effort. Our conversation, however, is self contained, so you can listen and enjoy without having seen the film.

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com

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You can download episode 134 from here.

See Hear Podcast Episode 133 - Get Crazy

 

Aaaaah, 80s cinema. When asked to think about films from the 80s, chances are you recall blockbuster adventures featuring an archaeologist carrying a whip or dancing as a form of rebellion or taking a day off from school and getting into hijinks. If the backers of a film by Allan Arkush hadn't decided to go adopt the Bialystock principle to film production, it's possible that a chaotic comedy about a rock concert on New Year's Eve at a theatre modelled on the Fillmore East may also have been fondly recalled by many people.

Welcome to episode 133 of See Hear.

In 1983, film director and music nerd (and previous See Hear guest) Allan Arkush wanted to make a film mildly recalling his days working at the Fillmore East while studying at NYU. He had to make certain changes to get it financed, but the backers did everything they could to get that film sunk for tax reasons. That film was Get Crazy. The story behind it is as frustrating as the film itself is entertaining...and Kerry, Charlie and I get into both aspects.

The film is a live-action cartoon with the old-fashioned elements of “let's put on a show” and villains who want to destroy the theatre the show is playing in at any cost. It's a film that could only have been made at this time....Malcolm McDowell, Lee Ving, and Bill Henderson show how to be a front man for a band. There are so many jokes that don't land...and many more that do. That doesn't matter. The backers wanted this film to ride the popularity of Airplane / Flying High....and despite Arkush's original plans for the film to be a more serious consideration of his early memories, it works a treat as a musical comedy of bizarre proportions.

If you haven't seen Get Crazy, there's a beautiful blu ray available from Kino Lorber, or it's on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrIRmMNi800&t=504s

It's wonderful to have Charlie of the Stinking Pause podcast on an ongoing basis while Tim is taking a well needed break.

All the best to our listeners as we say farewell / piss off to 2025. Happy new year to us all.

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour (except Spotify).

You can download episode 133 from here.

See Hear Podcast Episode 132 - Nashville

 

Backstabbing, faux-sincerity, clawing one's way to the top, class division, those at the top thumbing their noses at those further down the ladder....all political concepts, right? Actually, all of this is in reference to the 1975 Robert Altman film “Nashville” about the country music scene....which in itself serves as a political allegory.

Welcome to episode 132 of See Hear.

In the early seventies, Robert Altman was becoming known as a director of ensemble pieces without the usual approach to narrative. He could be seen as being part of the New Hollywood that emerged in the late 60s, but truth is, he was a film maker unto himself....as different from everything else that was going on as other directors that emerged in this period were to what came before. He already had some hugely important films like M*A*S*H and The Long Goodbye, but to many, Nashville is considered his masterpiece.

It featured multiple storylines surrounding musicians, hangers on, lovers, and political strategists. The film takes place over 5 days leading up to a concert supporting a presidential candidate. In between, we musical performances that reflect the political era – some in bars, some in the Grand Ol' Opry, some in hotel rooms. The film shows many of these people in a poor light – some are greedy, some are deluded, all are desperate. Many of the songs in this film were composed by the actors, leaving the Nashville music fraternity annoyed that they weren't consulted, and that these pesky Northerner actors thought they could understand what country music was about. Altman must have been forgiven as his final film many years later was A Prairie Home Companion (a very early See Hear podcast focus).

Tim is taking a few shows off, so wasn't available, but Kerry and I were thrilled to be joined by co-host of the Stinking Pause Podcast (and occasionally Reel Britannia) Charlie Mahoney. He's a confessed Altman fan and brought some wonderful conversation and insight. We look forward to welcoming him back to future shows.

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour (except Spotify).

Download episode 132 from here.

See Hear Episode 131 - Deliver Me From Nowhere (first reaction)

 

So many biopics feature the story of an artist from cradle to grave....all in 2 hours. Those of you who know me or have listened to the show before know I'm....uh....not a fan of these types of pods. They're often a cherry picked list of moments in the artist's life until the moment of triumph – artistically and in overcoming personal obstacles.

Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere does it backwards.

Welcome to episode 131 of See Hear Podcast.

In Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, we find Bruce at an artistically satisfying place and being hugely popular (though not as popular as he would get). What does an ambitious artist do following a number 1 record with one of the greatest working bands in America? He goes into a bedroom with a 4 track recorded (new technology for the day), records a bunch of dark personal songs about troubled people....and insists on putting these songs (FROM A CASSETTE) out as his new LP. The film follows the book by Warren Zanes “Deliver Me From Nowhere” which covers the period in exquisite detail. It covers Springsteen's fascination with a serial killer and classic cinema, and how they helped influence his songwriting of the period. The story behind Nebraska is not what you'd expect from a Hollywood film...not about the man who was simultaneously recording the biggest album of his career while he was recording the most personal. The film starts with a superstar who has mental health issues, and needs to deliver something small.

If we were doing bonus / Patreon shows, this would most likely be classified as one of those. Instead of badgering my partners Kerry and Tim into seeing this new Springsteen biopic, I went with 4 willing folks to a local cinema, then adjourned to a nearby cafe'. Loaded up with coffee and cake, I plugged in an external microphone into my phone, turned on the voice recorder software, then had a conversation about with my wife Joanne, and our friends Kate and Geoff about the film we had just watched – no time to fashion our thoughts....just an instant gut reaction. Sadly, Joanne couldn't be picked up on the mic with the constant background noises one hears in a busy cafe, so she's been edited out. This episode is short, and we surely missed out salient points that further contemplation might have bought – that doesn't matter. This is an honest reaction. Next month, Kerry, Tim and I will return to the style of show you're familiar with.

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at ⁠http://pantheonpodcasts.com

Send us feedback via email at ⁠seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour (except Spotify).

Download Episode 131 from here.

See Hear Podcast Episode 130 - Interview with Ido Fluk, director of Koln 75.

 

History is full of famous tales that are told from one perspective. As we all know, everyone has their own version of how something went down....even if it doesn't contradict the popular narrative, there's always something that happened in the background whose importance is diluted or not told at all.

Welcome to episode 130 of See Hear Podcast.

In 1974, a German teenage jazz fan named Vera Brandes was inspired to book jazz pianist Keith Jarrett to perform at the Koln Opera House. This seemed like a gigantic task however you look at it. Vera had gained a little experience in helping touring musicians perform around Germany (already a big task) but getting one of the then new leading lights in jazz to perform a large venue like the Koln Opera House at the age of 18???? Adding to the degree of difficulty, Jarrett arrived in Koln to discover that there was only an out of tune, broken pedal baby grand with stuck keys. Things happened, the concert was recorded, and the resulting album sold more than any other solo piano jazz album in history.

The thing is....everyone talks about Jarrett's ability to improvise on a (partly repaired) piano for an hour and create wonderful art. The part that is often missing or diluted from the story is how Vera Brandes made this happen at all. If she hadn't been so inspired to promote this show, the biggest selling piano jazz album ever, belongs to someone else.

Director and writer Ido Fluk was so inspired by this story, he decided to make a film to tell it from Vera's side of the tale. Sure, Jarrett is a strong part of the filmed version of events, but make no mistake – this is Vera's story. She went on to be a successful album producer and music promoter, but this is the tale she wanted told. As the analogy is made in the film, sometimes you have to tell the story of the scaffolding to appreciate the story of painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

On the latest episode of See Hear, Tim, Kerry and I were thrilled to chat with Ido about what the definition of success is, how making great art is not always about the artist solely, and how his own journey to write the tale in some ways reflected Keith's approach to improvisational music composition. Mala Emde as Vera and John Margaro as Keith are real revelations. Both actors reveal their characters as 3 dimensional in a way that may not have been in lesser hands. Ido is an incredible director who really knows how to tell a story and how to get the best out of his cast.

The film has already had festival screenings in Europe and the US, and is about to get a wider cinema release there. Hopefully, it gets wider worldwide release, before landing on streaming or physical media in the not too distant future. Trust me – you can listen and enjoy this conversation independently of seeing the film....but rush to it first chance you get.

Our huge thanks to Ido for his generosity of time and conversation, and to publicist Sasha Berman for making it happen.

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at ⁠http://pantheonpodcasts.com

⁠

Send us feedback via email at ⁠seehearpodcast@gmail.com

⁠

Join the Facebook group at ⁠http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour (except Spotify).

You can download episode 130 from here.

See Hear Podcast episode 129 - Bad Brains: A Band In DC

 

Punk music branched out in the late 70s / early 80s into a harder, faster, thrashier style than its earlier predecessor. If (as is often claimed) the original wave of punk was a reaction to the complexity of prog and the lack of danger in other forms of popular music, then hardcore was the next phase of that during the era of post-punk. It was about catharsis and screaming out about injustice.

Then there was Bad Brains.

Welcome to episode 129 of See Hear Podcast.

Tim has selected the 2012 documentary Bad Brains: A Band In DC for round table discussion. Bad Brains brought something different to the table for their time. In America in the early eighties, punk bands generally weren't playing reggae music as a regular part of their sets. Certain British bands were combining punk energy with a reggae outlook in their music. Bad Brains had gone from being influenced by the jazz fusion stylings of Return To Forever to being converted to punk via the Sex Pistols (already making them unique). Seeing Bob Marley perform made them convert to Rastafarianism and incorporate reggae as well as hardcore punk into their music – not a hybrid, but two sides of the same coin.

The documentary goes back and forth between current day events (at the time of filming) and archival footage of the band to tell their story. We get a worrisome start with a “how-did-we-get-here?” approach to the rest of the film.....a trope I'm quite fond of. In a way, the Bad Brains tale could be the story of millions of bands, but they're seen as hugely exciting pioneers of what they do. Many important bands that followed sang their praises as an influence (Beastie Boys, Nirvana....)

HR, their “lead throat” gradually became more and more unstable in his behaviour, and in a time where no one was using the expression “mental health”, his behaviour was probably explained away as “that's just HR”, rather than investigating if there was something wrong.

Sadly, Kerry wasn't available, but Tim and I discussed positive mental attitudes, wearing motorcycle helmets on stage, not showing up to gigs, punk that wasn't nihilistic, and much more. The film may be found online at: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6e5wnw

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at ⁠http://pantheonpodcasts.com

⁠

Send us feedback via email at ⁠seehearpodcast@gmail.com

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Join the Facebook group at ⁠http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

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You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour (except Spotify).

You can download episode 129 from here.

See Hear Podcast Episode 128 - Interview with Francois Girard about "Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould"

 

There’s a moment in Mel Brooks’ “History of the World Part 1” where we’re told that shortly after the first artists came the first art critics…..I’ll leave you to determine what happens….

The music world is certainly not short of people with opinions in regards to others’ ability to perform and provide nuance to the work they present for us as music lovers to listen to. In the classical world, interpretation of the canon of baroque, classical, romantic and modernist music can be a mystery to some of us who are not classically trained musicians.  There’s no shortage of classical soloists who’ve captured the wider public’s imagination, yet have their critics as well.

Welcome to episode 128 of See Hear Podcast.

Glenn Gould is regarded as one of the great pianists of the 20th century, known in particular for his love of and heavy focus on the composition of J.S. Bach. However, he wasn’t unanimously revered. Pianist Alfred Brendel was vocally not a fan. Even Leonard Bernstein who did love Gould’s approach  covered himself before a TV broadcast of a Brahms piano concerto by saying Gould’s approach was not going to be for everybody. Therein lies the heart of the matter – when you depart from an accepted orthodox style of playing of the canon, you’re going to upset people. Glenn Gould upset some people.

BUT….the reason he is still being talked about was for what he DID, not what he didn’t do. He’s most famous for his first and last released recordings, Bach’s Goldberg Variations (1955 and 1981). Even there his recordings are wildly different, and the latter upset some who championed the earlier recording. He’s also remembered for his intellect and could discuss may other issues outside of music – something he did on radio and TV specials.

In 1993, film director Francois Girard released a brilliant biopic / documentary called “Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould”. Like its subject, the film takes a wildly different approach from the accepted norm of musician biopic. As the name implies, the film comprises of 32 shorts featuring narratives, interviews, performance and experimentation that provide a strong sense of Gould’s character. There is a 3 act structure, but not in the usual way that you get in a conventional musician biography.

June 2025 sees the reissue of the film by Criterion, and I was thrilled to welcome Francois to the podcast to talk about this film and Gould in general. Unfortunately, we couldn’t coordinate the timing to have Tim or Kerry available, but I still had a fascinating conversation with Francois that I hope you find illuminating.

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at ⁠http://pantheonpodcasts.com⁠

Send us feedback via email at ⁠seehearpodcast@gmail.com⁠

Join the Facebook group at ⁠http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast⁠

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour (except Spotify).

Download episode 128 from here.