Chris Berg

Tristan und Isolde -- Tristan und Isolde (Tristan and Isolde, or Tristan and Isolda) is an opera, or music drama, in three acts by Richard Wagner to a German libretto by the composer, based largely on the romance by Gottfried von Stra burg. It was composed between 1856 and 1859 and premiered in Munich on 10 June 1865 with Hans von B low conducting. Wagner's composition of Tristan und Isolde was inspired by his affair with Mathilde Wesendonck and the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer. Widely acknowledged as one of the peaks of the operatic repertory, Tristan was notable for Wagner's advanced use of chromaticism, tonality, orchestral colour and harmonic suspension. The opera was profoundly influential amongst Western classical composers and provided inspiration to composers such as Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, Karol Szymanowski, Alban Berg and Arnold Schoenberg. Many see Tristan as the beginning of the move away from conventional harmony and tonality and consider that it lays the groundwork for the direction of classical music in the 20th century. Restaged for the Young Musicians Foundation by Stephanie Vlahos and translated for the silver screen by Chris M. Allport, The Young Musicians Foundation executive producers gave their 'Debut Orchestra,' conducted by Case Scaglione, the ability to conquer this incredibly difficult piece of Wagner. Exeuctive Producer, Edye Rugolo and producer Mieko di Sano were instrumental in re-crafting this most difficult work.

Genre: Thriller, Cast: Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Jeremy Piven, Danny Huston, Richard Jenkins, Directed by: Peter Berg Written by: Matthew Michael Carhahan Producers: Michael Mann, Scott Stuber Executive Producers: Steven Saeta, Mary Parent, Sarah Aubrey, John Cameron Synopsis: Director Peter Berg, who blisteringly reinterpreted the high-school sports drama with the celebrated Friday Night Lights, producer Michael Mann (Heat, The Insider, The Aviator, Miami Vice), and producer Scott Stuber (You, Me and Dupree, The Break-Up) join Oscar winner Jamie Foxx in a timely thriller about the explosive clash that happens when Middle East meets West: The Kingdom. Foxx stars as whip-smart FBI Special Agent Ronald Fleury, who has just received the assignment of his career: assemble an elite team (played by Jennifer Garner, Oscar winner Chris Cooper and Jason Bateman) and go to Riyadh to hunt down and capture the terrorist mastermind behind a deadly attack on Americans working in Saudi Arabia. The feds have only one week to infiltrate and cripple a cell bent on jihad to western society. No training could prepare Fleury and his team for the disorienting culture shock they face once inside this scorching foreign land-a byzantine maze of profiteering politicians and storefront terrorists. Bound by handlers who refuse to play ball with the U.S., the agents quickly find the local law enforcement more hindrance than help and soon grow uncertain of anybody's allegiance. But when a sympathetic Saudi police captain helps them navigate Riyadh politics and investigate the true cause of the attack, Fleury finds an unexpected comrade-in-arms. In their lightning fast attempt to crack the case, the partners' search leads them straight to the killers' front door. Now in a fight for their own lives, two teams on opposite sides of the war on terror won't stop until vengeance is found in The Kingdom.