Latest news with #Chopsticks
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Mithila Palkar looks ravishing, radiant in first poster of her Tamil debut 'Oho Enthan Baby'
Actress Mithila Palkar , who is known for 'Little Things', 'Karwaan', 'Chopsticks', and others is making her Tamil cinema debut with 'Oho Enthan Baby', the first poster of which was unveiled on Wednesday. Mithila Palkar looks ravishing, radiant in first poster of her Tamil debut 'Oho Enthan Baby' Mumbai, May 28 (IANS) Actress Mithila Palkar, who is known for 'Little Things', 'Karwaan', 'Chopsticks', and others is making her Tamil cinema debut with 'Oho Enthan Baby', the first poster of which was unveiled on Wednesday. The poster shows the actress dressed in a red outfit, as she looks down to pose for the camera held by the film's male lead, Rudra . With 'Oho Enthan Baby', Mithila is ready to make her mark in Kollywood. Directed by Krishnakumar Ramakumar (popularly known as Five Star Krishna), this Tamil rom-com is expected to bring a fresh and quirky take on love and relationships. She stars opposite Rudra who is also making his debut in Tamil industry with this movie making them a fresh pair to watch out for. The poster hints at a breezy, feel-good vibe promising laughter, chemistry, and heart. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Quem tem TDAH está chamando isso de 'Pílula da produtividade' Mind Drops - Pílulas Inteligentes Saiba Mais Undo For Mithila fans and Tamil film lovers alike, this crossover is one to look forward to. Earlier in February this year, Mithila wrapped up the shooting of 'Oho Enthan Baby', and was overwhelmed with joy and excitement. Expressing her happiness, Mithila shared at the time, "Wrapped my first Tamil film, and I cannot wait for everyone to watch it! It feels like just yesterday that we shot the Muhurtam shot, and now, we've wrapped, it's such an amazing feeling. This journey has been truly special, not just because it's my first Tamil film, but also because of the incredible people I got to work with". "Learning my lines in Tamil was definitely a challenge, but I absolutely enjoyed every bit of it. My co-star Rudra, my director Krishnakumar Ramakumar, and the entire cast and crew made me feel so welcomed and at home, even though I don't speak the language. Their constant support and warmth made the process so much smoother and even more enjoyable", she added. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Stoke Ferry piano prodigy invited to Royal Academy of Music
A self-taught piano prodigy has been invited to a prestigious London music school to develop his performing 11, has only been playing since the end of last year, but has already reached a high of Harvey, of Stoke Ferry, near Downham Market, Norfolk, playing have been posted online by his mother Jen and have gained thousands of Royal Academy of Music has invited him in for an induction day, to spend time with professionals to explore what he can do with his talent. Harvey said he started to play the piano because he found learning the music "satisfying".He has performed at the care home where his mother works and on public pianos at railway stations."It is really nice when you get applause from people. It makes you feel like your performance has been accepted," he said he had not inherited his ability from her, joking that while she could play "Chopsticks", she would not describe herself as musical. "He's taught himself off YouTube," she said."[He has] just decided 'Yes, that's what I want to play' and since then, he's on there for hours a day". Jen said she was very proud of Harvey and keen to explore what his musical talent might mean for his future. Previously he had been very interested in computers and design but she said his pivot to playing music was a surprise. Harvey has just started lessons at formal lessons at The Norfolk Academy of Music. His teacher Bekki Smith said Harvey was already playing at the top Grade Eight level. Ms Smith said: "My first reaction was 'Wow, we've got something special here' and yes, playing to that standard after only a few months is rather amazing. "He has brilliant dexterity for his age and his capability is amazing." Ms Smith said she would be working with Harvey on filling in some of the gaps in his knowledge that came from learning online. She said practice was key to progress like his. "Harvey does at least two hours of practice a day and is very keen to learn which makes a huge difference from a lot of pupils that 'don't have the time' or can only play for 10 minutes a day. "Sadly, a lot of pupils will find hours for social media but not for practice." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
ABC News
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
A brief history of the piano in music
Most of us have tried our hands at the piano at some stage. Maybe that's playing Chopsticks with a friend, picking out our favourite song, or more dedicated learning. The piano features across all western music traditions, from classical music, through jazz and into the popular music we listen to today. If the internet is to be believed, as many as 40 million people play piano. The data is sketchy, but there's no doubt it's one of the most popular instruments in the world. And the instrument means a lot to people. "It's been a powerful emotional and artistic touchpoint for me throughout my life," says ABC presenter Jeremy Fernandez, who started learning the instrument when he was seven. Australian concert pianist, Tamara-Anna Cislowska started learning when she was about 18 months old and recorded her first music for the ABC when she was just three. She thinks that people connect so strongly with the instrument because "the piano can read and interpret real emotion." Photo shows A dark blue piano from birds eye view with the words Classic 100 Piano written on top, on a background of colourful swirls Voting is now open in the Classic 100: Piano. Tell us your favourites and we'll be counting down Australia's top 100 choices across June 7 and 8 on ABC Classic and the ABC listen app. ABC Classic is celebrating the piano in its annual poll to find Australia's favourite classical music, the Classic 100. Every year the network asks Australians to vote for their favourite music in a particular theme, counting down the top 100 across two days. 2025's theme is the piano. To honour this versatile and beloved instrument, we explore a brief history of the piano in music. Music for the piano before the instrument even existed Pianos as we know them today are a relatively recent invention. Bartolomeo Cristofori invented the piano in Padua in 1700. ( Wikimedia Commons ) The piano itself was invented around 1700, evolving into an instrument more like the one we know today in the 1800s. But keyboard instruments, and the music written for them, have been around a lot longer. Possibly the most famous and beloved by pianists is the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, who was writing for keyboard instruments like the organ, harpsichord and clavichord during the late 1600s and early 1700s. This music is still inspiring pianists today, such as the now centuries-popular Well-Tempered Clavier collections and the Goldberg Variations. The musical foundations in Bach's music lay the groundwork for most of the music we enjoy today. You can even find excerpts of Bach's music in songs by The Beatles, Lady Gaga and others. Cislowska also calls out Domenico Scarlatti, who was composing during a similar period. She credits Scarlatti with demonstrating what the piano might be capable of. "He did all these innovative things like showing you could repeat notes, or cross over the hands. No-one crossed over the hands before Scarlatti." The piano as the rising star of the orchestra Bach primarily wrote his music for God, but it was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart who moved the piano to rockstar status during the last half of the 18th century. Mozart was a child prodigy. He was considered one of the best keyboard players of the time and played for some of Europe's most famous figures. During Bach's era, the keyboard was often found supporting other instruments in ensemble or orchestral music. We can thank Mozart for making the piano the star of the show and making the piano concerto so popular. Mozart's sister Nannerl was also reported to be an exceptional pianist, touring with her brother when they were young. None of her music survived, but there's evidence that she did compose, and some scholars believe she contributed to some of Mozart's music. While he was just 35 when he died, Mozart wrote 27 piano concertos and swathes of piano sonatas and other music for the keyboard that is still loved today. This includes pieces like his sonata 'Rondo alla Turca', or his variations on the popular French children's song Ah! vous dirai-je, maman. You might recognise this as the tune to Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Hot on Mozart's heels was Ludwig van Beethoven, also an incredible keyboard player. His piano music, along with new advances in the instrument, like stronger frames and a bigger sound, stretched the piano to new places. Some of his music was written for his piano students in the early 19th century, and that music is still a staple for music students today. Almost anyone who's had piano lessons has tried to play Beethoven's Für Elise or the Moonlight Sonata. But his music could also be explosive and passionate like his later piano sonatas. Much of Beethoven's later, and more difficult, music was written when he was completely deaf. Fainting and fan frenzy As we reach the 19th century, the drama of Beethoven's late piano music unfolds in a new way. Music becomes freer and more expressive. And more virtuosic, leading to the rise of pianist celebrities. The reclusive Frédéric Chopin wrote music that still pushes piano technique today and brought a new poetry to the instrument. His music ranged from the introspection lyricism of his Preludes and Nocturnes to the fireworks of Waltzes, Polonaises and Etudes. Cislowska credits much of Chopin's innovation to his use of the sustain pedal, which lets the notes of the instrument ring for longer. "He found the soul of the piano because when you use the pedal with the piano and you play it in a certain way you can make it sound more like the human voice," she says. " Without the pedal, the piano is not alive. " Around the same time "I think Liszt contributed more to music, and to every aspect of music and performance than probably anyone else has," says Cislowska. Liszt paved the way for the concert pianist as we know it today, but Cislowska says "he was much more than just a pianist." His piano transcriptions helped spread music like Beethoven symphonies and Wagner operas to new audiences and he was also a champion for his peers, like Chopin and Clara and Robert Schumann, performing them alongside his own music. Clara Schumann was a champion of composers like her husband Robert, Liszt and Chopin, playing their music before they were household names. ( Getty Images: Hulton Archive ) Around the same time, a young Clara Wiek (who would go on to marry another pianist, Robert Schumann) was a renowned touring pianist. She is credited with popularising the practice of memorising music for concerts. A respected composer herself, Schumann's music mostly fell into obscurity after her death. Her music is gaining popularity again as contemporary artists champion her work. Following a little later was the Russian composer Rachmaninov. His music can be daunting for players, comprising of huge stretches of the fingers and a lot of notes. "A lot of people think it's very virtuosic music. It's not at all. It's just that we're not able to play it because we don't have hands like Rachmaninov…he could play fingering that no-one else could ever play," says Cislowska. Piano music to convey a mood Half a century after Liszt was making audience members swoon with his pianistic pyrotechnics, composers in France were taking the piano in a new direction. Fernandez couldn't pick a single piano favourite, but "I do love Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel for how dreamy their music is," he says. Inspired by other artists working around them, like painter Claude Monet, composers like Erik Satie and his friend Debussy focused on conveying mood and atmosphere more symbolically. They also borrowed musical languages from non-western traditions and ragtime. The music took advantage of modern additions to the piano, like the sostenuto pedal (the middle pedal on most grand pianos that allows only select notes to ring after they're played), to create washes of sound and musical colour. Leading the charge was the eccentric Satie, who drew on ancient and esoteric influences for music like his beloved Gymnopédies and Gnossiennes. Loading YouTube content Debussy's evocative music often used highly descriptive names like "The Sunken Cathedral" and "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair." Even if you don't think you know anything about classical music you would probably recognise his Clair de lune [Moonlight]. The music has had countless features on screen from that awkward conversation between Edward and Bella in Twilight, to the surreal foot performance by Jamie Lee Curtis in Everything Everywhere All at Once's hot-dog finger universe. Embracing new musical styles in the New World Around the same time in North America, pianists like Scott Joplin were popularising music with African American roots. The piano was central to the sound of ragtime and is credited as a distinctly American music. Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag was one of the early hits of published music, with some claiming it was the first piece of instrumental music to sell over a million copies. Ragtime and the music of Joplin went on to influence early jazz and American composers like George Gershwin. Gershwin's iconic Loading Facebook content You might know it from Disney's Fantasia, or Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby. It also featured in 1984 Summer Olympics in LA, performed by 84 pianists. Searching for the sound of Australia The first piano made its way to Australia in 1788, and the instrument has been a firm part of musical life since. Many composers have looked to the Australian landscape, such as Miriam Hyde's Reflected Reeds, evoking the Sydney Landscape, or much of Peter Sculthorpe's music. Fernandez says he also sees these influences in the music of pianist Nat Bartsch. "Her compositions are, to me, vivid renderings of the Australian landscape, and a heart full of love and tenderness." Many composers have brought influences from multicultural experiences, like Uzbekistan-born, Russian, Australian and German trained Elena Kats-Chernin, whose music is flavoured with the multitude of her lived experiences. Just one example is her Russian Rag for piano, which draws on the ragtime traditions of composers like Joplin, but Kats-Chernin has said it also references Russian café music. The music of Australia's First Peoples has also been a frequent inspiration for Australian piano music, but in recent years more First Nations artists are telling their own musical stories through the medium of the piano. In 2020, Four First Nations composers brought their perspectives to 250 years of shared Indigenous and European history in music for a 250-year-old square piano in The piano and the screen The piano has been there since the dawn of the silver screen. Once providing soundtracks live to silent movies, it's still an essential part of scores for film, TV and video games. The French classic Amélie wouldn't be the same without the joyful, whimsical piano score and Michael Nyman's The Heart Asks Pleasure First has become a repertoire staple. And the piano is central to Joe Hisaishi's scores for the beloved Studio Ghibli films. "The piano is very sensitive," he told ABC Classic's Dan Golding in 2020. "It sings the melody line, and the screen world comes alive much more easily." A new love affair with the piano In the last decade the piano has seen a resurgence in popularity. You're just as likely to see sold-out concerts by pianist-composers like Ludovico Einaudi, Max Richter, Yiruma, and Hania Rani as you are the latest indie-pop sensation. Einaudi is the most streamed classical artist of all time, ahead of the likes of Bach and Beethoven. Cislowska thinks that in our "cacophonous world" it's interesting that audiences are gravitating to these pianists who use a lot of repetition in their music. "When you gravitate towards hearing repetitive sounds it's because it helps you to turn inward. You can go within instead of being forced to be without all the time," she suggests. There's always more to explore Cislowska believes that with the piano "the possibilities are endless.". There is always so much more piano music to explore. What we often hear and talk about, like in this brief history, barely scratches the surface. "There's just a handful of composers that we play from and then it's just a handful of their works," she says. The Classic 100: Piano is your chance to discover some new favourites. Vote is now open in the Classic 100: Piano. There are over 400 pieces to sample on the voting list, many of which you will hear over the next month on ABC Classic. You can hear what made the top 100 across June 7 and 8 on ABC Classic and the ABC listen app.
The Guardian
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The moment I knew: he bared his soul in a performance, and I fell for his sensitive side
Nobody spoke about being gay in Ireland. I come from a big Catholic family – six kids, millions of cousins – from a rural part of the country, and I didn't think there was anyone like me. Although my parents and family have been unwavering in their support from the day I came out in 2001, they also understood my need to leave a country where, back then, a religion that didn't recognise me was so dominant. Cities like Sydney are queer beacons, and when a career opportunity arose I moved to a job at St Vincent's hospital. That's when I met Mitch, at a Mardi Gras party. I'm a cardiologist with a specialist interest in the cardiac effects of HIV/Aids. Mitch is an HIV research scientist. In the 80s, St Vincent's pioneered HIV/Aids treatment and care in Australia and I'm proud to work in the country's first HIV cardiac clinic. Mitch and I were friends for years before we started dating. One day, when he picked me up in his old banger of a car to go on our third date, I noticed sheets of music among dumped takeaway cartons in the footwell. I asked: 'Do you play an instrument?' He dismissively said he sometimes played piano. I didn't think anything of it until a year later, when Mitch's housemates threw a party for his 30th birthday. He had an electric keyboard that he played while wearing headphones, but not even Mitch's best friends or mother had heard him play. After a lot of drinks and cajoling, Mitch reluctantly sat down at his keyboard. We were expecting something simple like Chopsticks. Mitch casually played the entire opening prologue of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, The Enchantress version. Everyone was gobsmacked. I remember sitting there overwhelmed, thinking, this is the person I've got to marry. Mitch had been quietly training himself since he was six years old. He composes too. Mitch bared his soul in that performance. I completely fell for a sensitive side I'd never seen. Later, when we got engaged, I bought Mitch his first grand piano. I think growing up gay, you become good at hiding things. Although Mitch had grown up in a relatively gay-friendly city, queer rights in Sydney were hard fought, and he had struggles too. We've both stood in front of a mirror at some point practising saying, 'I'm gay.' We both know how it feels to be ignored by society, government, institutions and even the health industry. Surprisingly, same-sex marriage was legalised in Ireland in 2015 – two years before Australia. When Mitch first came back to my hometown of Cashel in Tipperary with me, he understood how special it is. He loved the sing-songs, the little house parties with all the relatives. He said he'd love to have a big Irish wedding. We chose the gardens of the Cashel Palace hotel for the ceremony. Ironically, back in the 17th century, it was the archbishop's residence. Its grandness is dwarfed by one of Ireland's most famous castles – the Rock of Cashel – which sits above on a limestone outcrop and was once the seat of Celtic kings. A couple of days before our wedding, I arranged a traditional music session at my local pub to welcome Mitch's family and friends from Sydney. All the local farmers lined up to shake our hands. I thought they would tiptoe around us. I was completely wrong. Then, when we arrived at the Palace, a massive rainbow flag was flying at the gates between Irish and Australian flags. A sight I never thought I'd see. While we were getting ready, my mum said loads of people from the town gathered and were taking pictures of the flag. To top it all, as night fell, the Rock of Cashel lit up in bright pink. I still don't know who made that happen. As a teen, gayness wasn't visible. Maybe underneath it all, people were always accepting. Now I see pride flags flying in towns everywhere. Mitch composed an original piece about it all for our first anniversary. It's called Sunrise. We've been living together in Sydney for six years now, with our dog Joleen. Mitch no longer wears headphones to play the piano. Our neighbours sometimes sit outside with a glass of wine to listen, until Joleen decides to 'sing' along. Do you have a romantic realisation you'd like to share? From quiet domestic scenes to dramatic revelations, Guardian Australia wants to hear about the moment you knew you were in love. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian.
