Composer, conductor, Buddhist and model: Inside the restless mind of Eric Whitacre
'It would be Vangelis meets Thomas Tallis,″ he says.
To his surprise, his proposed marriage of electronica and 16th-century vocal music got the thumbs up. Eternity in an Hour debuted at the Royal Albert Hall last year and is poised to make its Australian premiere with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.
Whitacre is a musical rarity: a popular, highly regarded composer, conductor and performer who straddles the divide between classical and contemporary music.
He has an aura of rock star glamour as crosses his Sydney hotel foyer in black jeans and sweater. With collar-length hair and chiselled good looks – he could be Sting's much younger brother – he looks more the techno band member he once was than a conductor at home on podiums around the globe.
It's the third time he has worked with the Philharmonia's young adult ensemble VOX, who co-commissioned the piece with the Proms and Flemish Radio Choir. Whitacre will perform a range of electronics while conducting the work also scored for choir, piano and cello.
Its title is based on a stanza from William Blake's poem Auguries of Innocence:
To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.
Whitacre first read the poem in his early 20s and admires its eloquent meditation on impermanence and the interconnectedness of all things.
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Courier-Mail
an hour ago
- Courier-Mail
Legendary Australian film critic David Stratton dead at 85
Don't miss out on the headlines from Entertainment. Followed categories will be added to My News. Legendary film critic David Stratton has died at the age of 85. Stratton was best known to film fans for appearing alongside Margaret Pomeranz for decades on numerous movie review shows. The writer's family announced his death on Thursday afternoon, saying he died peacefully in hospital near his home in the Blue Mountains. 'David's passion for film, commitment to Australian cinema, and generous spirit touched countless lives,' said his family in a statement. Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton. Picture: Getty. The pair rose to fame on The Movie Show together. Picture: Supplied. 'He was adored as a husband, father, grand and great grand father and admired friend. 'David's family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support from friends, colleagues, and the public recently and across his lifetime.' Stratton's family has asked for privacy in the wake of his death, but they shared a heartwarming request with his fans as a way of paying tribute to the beloved critic. Something To Talk About At the movies with David Stratton Before he retired last year, David Stratton spent nearly six decades reviewing movies. And millions of Australians came to know and love him thanks to an on-air partnership with fellow critic Margaret Pomeranz, which turned them into household names and one of the most beloved double acts in the country. On the show today, David joins Sarrah from his home – where he is still watching one, and often two, movies each day – to discuss his latest project, a book that chronicles three pivotal decades in Australian film; his enduring friendship with Margaret; his thoughts on some of his most infamous reviews – including an initially lukewarm reaction to comedy classic The Castle, and another that landed him in hot water with Julie Andrews - and the one film he thought was so awful he walked out of the cinema. David Stratton's new book Australia At The Movies is available to purchase here. Something To Talk About is a podcast by Stellar, hosted by Editor-In-Chief Sarrah Le Marquand. Find more from Stellar via Instagram @stellarmag or pick up a copy inside The Sunday Telegraph (NSW), Sunday Herald Sun (VIC), The Sunday Mail (QLD) and Sunday Mail (SA) Something To Talk About At the movies with David Stratton 00:00 41:07 '[We] invite everyone to celebrate David's remarkable life and legacy by watching their favourite movie, or David's favourite movie of all time — Singin' In the Rain.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is among those who have paid tribute to Stratton. 'With dry humour and sharp insight, David Stratton shared his love of film with our country,' he wrote on Twitter. 'All of us who tuned in to 'At the Movies' respected him for his deep knowledge and for the gentle and generous way he passed it on. May he rest in peace.' Stratton, along with Pomeranz, stepped down from At the Movies in 2014, an end of an era for the beloved duo after nearly three decades. The film critic retired in 2023 due to his declining health. Picture: Supplied. He retired from work in December 2023 after suffering health problems, having spent a month in hospital with a spinal fracture. 'It's been a very good innings,'' he told The Australian at the time. The beloved media personality was celebrated for his insightful critiques and deep understanding of film history, as well as his contribution to promoting Australian cinema both nationally and internationally. He was a well respected figure within the industry, serving as a jury member at various international film festivals throughout his career. The pair's on-screen chemistry became a huge part of their success. Picture: Supplied. Stratton's career in Australia began in 1963 when he first became involved in the local film industry. In 1966 he became the director of the Sydney Film Festival, and the role became the catalyst for his decision to remain Down Under for the rest of his life. Later on in his career he shared that his decision to ditch England for Australia left him with feelings of 'guilty' as it meant he was abandoning his family's tradition of working at their grocery store which had been open since the 1820s. Bizarrely, in 2014, Stratton hit headlines when it was revealed that he had been under surveillance by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation while he was director of the Sydney film festival, due to a visit he made to the USSR in the late 1960s. He received numerous awards for his contributions to film criticism and the film industry, including the Order of Australia for his services to the film industry as a critic and reviewer. Originally published as Legendary Australian film critic David Stratton dead at 85
Perth Now
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- Perth Now
Taylor Swift tears up as she reveals her family's role in getting the rights to her masters back
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Renowned film critic and presenter David Stratton dies
Veteran film critic David Stratton, whose partnership with Margaret Pomeranz made him a beloved figure on Australian TV screens, has died aged 85. His family announced his death on Thursday, telling the ABC he died peacefully in hospital near his home in the Blue Mountains. "David's passion for film, commitment to Australian cinema, and generous spirit touched countless lives," his family said. "He was adored as a husband, father, grand and great grandfather and admired friend." Stratton retired in 2023 because of ill health, after a celebrated career as a film critic, writer, educator and historian that spanned 57 years. An English migrant who arrived in Australia as "ten pound Pom" in 1963, Stratton worked for SBS from 1980 as their film consultant and introduced the SBS Cinema Classics on Sunday nights. His best known role was co-hosting the long-running SBS TV program The Movie Show with Margaret Pomeranz, from 1986 to 2004, when they moved to the ABC to co-host At the Movies with Margaret and David. They retired from the show in 2014. He wrote six books and lectured in film history at the University of Sydney's Centre for Continuing Education until 2023. He also served as a jury member at many prestigious international film festivals throughout his career. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese celebrated Stratton as someone who had shared his love of film with the country "with dry humour and sharp insight". "All of us who tuned in to At the Movies respected him for his deep knowledge and for the gentle and generous way he passed it on," he posted on social media. Stratton's family issued a special request to moviegoers, asking that they celebrate his "remarkable life and legacy" by watching their favourite movie, or David's favourite movie, Singin' In the Rain. "David's family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support from friends, colleagues, and the public recently and across his lifetime," his family said. Details of a public memorial service are expected to be announced soon. Veteran film critic David Stratton, whose partnership with Margaret Pomeranz made him a beloved figure on Australian TV screens, has died aged 85. His family announced his death on Thursday, telling the ABC he died peacefully in hospital near his home in the Blue Mountains. "David's passion for film, commitment to Australian cinema, and generous spirit touched countless lives," his family said. "He was adored as a husband, father, grand and great grandfather and admired friend." Stratton retired in 2023 because of ill health, after a celebrated career as a film critic, writer, educator and historian that spanned 57 years. An English migrant who arrived in Australia as "ten pound Pom" in 1963, Stratton worked for SBS from 1980 as their film consultant and introduced the SBS Cinema Classics on Sunday nights. His best known role was co-hosting the long-running SBS TV program The Movie Show with Margaret Pomeranz, from 1986 to 2004, when they moved to the ABC to co-host At the Movies with Margaret and David. They retired from the show in 2014. He wrote six books and lectured in film history at the University of Sydney's Centre for Continuing Education until 2023. He also served as a jury member at many prestigious international film festivals throughout his career. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese celebrated Stratton as someone who had shared his love of film with the country "with dry humour and sharp insight". "All of us who tuned in to At the Movies respected him for his deep knowledge and for the gentle and generous way he passed it on," he posted on social media. Stratton's family issued a special request to moviegoers, asking that they celebrate his "remarkable life and legacy" by watching their favourite movie, or David's favourite movie, Singin' In the Rain. "David's family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support from friends, colleagues, and the public recently and across his lifetime," his family said. Details of a public memorial service are expected to be announced soon. Veteran film critic David Stratton, whose partnership with Margaret Pomeranz made him a beloved figure on Australian TV screens, has died aged 85. His family announced his death on Thursday, telling the ABC he died peacefully in hospital near his home in the Blue Mountains. "David's passion for film, commitment to Australian cinema, and generous spirit touched countless lives," his family said. "He was adored as a husband, father, grand and great grandfather and admired friend." Stratton retired in 2023 because of ill health, after a celebrated career as a film critic, writer, educator and historian that spanned 57 years. An English migrant who arrived in Australia as "ten pound Pom" in 1963, Stratton worked for SBS from 1980 as their film consultant and introduced the SBS Cinema Classics on Sunday nights. His best known role was co-hosting the long-running SBS TV program The Movie Show with Margaret Pomeranz, from 1986 to 2004, when they moved to the ABC to co-host At the Movies with Margaret and David. They retired from the show in 2014. He wrote six books and lectured in film history at the University of Sydney's Centre for Continuing Education until 2023. He also served as a jury member at many prestigious international film festivals throughout his career. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese celebrated Stratton as someone who had shared his love of film with the country "with dry humour and sharp insight". "All of us who tuned in to At the Movies respected him for his deep knowledge and for the gentle and generous way he passed it on," he posted on social media. Stratton's family issued a special request to moviegoers, asking that they celebrate his "remarkable life and legacy" by watching their favourite movie, or David's favourite movie, Singin' In the Rain. "David's family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support from friends, colleagues, and the public recently and across his lifetime," his family said. Details of a public memorial service are expected to be announced soon. Veteran film critic David Stratton, whose partnership with Margaret Pomeranz made him a beloved figure on Australian TV screens, has died aged 85. His family announced his death on Thursday, telling the ABC he died peacefully in hospital near his home in the Blue Mountains. "David's passion for film, commitment to Australian cinema, and generous spirit touched countless lives," his family said. "He was adored as a husband, father, grand and great grandfather and admired friend." Stratton retired in 2023 because of ill health, after a celebrated career as a film critic, writer, educator and historian that spanned 57 years. An English migrant who arrived in Australia as "ten pound Pom" in 1963, Stratton worked for SBS from 1980 as their film consultant and introduced the SBS Cinema Classics on Sunday nights. His best known role was co-hosting the long-running SBS TV program The Movie Show with Margaret Pomeranz, from 1986 to 2004, when they moved to the ABC to co-host At the Movies with Margaret and David. They retired from the show in 2014. He wrote six books and lectured in film history at the University of Sydney's Centre for Continuing Education until 2023. He also served as a jury member at many prestigious international film festivals throughout his career. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese celebrated Stratton as someone who had shared his love of film with the country "with dry humour and sharp insight". "All of us who tuned in to At the Movies respected him for his deep knowledge and for the gentle and generous way he passed it on," he posted on social media. Stratton's family issued a special request to moviegoers, asking that they celebrate his "remarkable life and legacy" by watching their favourite movie, or David's favourite movie, Singin' In the Rain. "David's family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support from friends, colleagues, and the public recently and across his lifetime," his family said. Details of a public memorial service are expected to be announced soon.
