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The Yale Whiffenpoofs

Have you heard the whispers that The Yale Whiffenpoofs will be performing here at the Library? I'm here to confirm this good news and bring the musical talk to full crescendo!

MUSIC FOR THE HOLIDAYS  

THE YALE WHIFFENPOOFS

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2009

Performances at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.  (See below for ticket information.)

The Yale Whiffenpoofs, the world's oldest and best-known a cappella singing group, have been entertaining audiences across the globe since 1909 with their diverse repertoire. Jazz standards, classic ballads, traditional Yale songs, and recent popular hits continue to delight audiences all over the world. 

This event is free and open to the public.

3 p.m. Performance - Tickets will be handed out at 2 p.m. at the Welcome Desk. 1 ticket per person. Doors will open at 2:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m. Performance - Tickets will be handed out at 4:30 p.m. at the Welcome Desk. 1 ticket per person. Doors will open at 5 p.m.

A limited number of Standing Room Only tickets will be available for each performance.

Latecomers cannot be admitted.

Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).

Friday at 7:30 p.m.

We've passed the midway point in our Foreign Film Series and it's been a smash! We've still got a few more up our sleeve and we're looking forward to sharing them. Our next film is considered a modern film noir and comes from Serbia. I loved it for its moral crisis, its urgency, and all the twists and turns. (Perhaps, most intriguing is the individual quiet question - What would I do?) It is convincing and makes for a wonderfully tense thriller.

Friday, November 20 at 7:30 p.m. - The Trap -- Serbia, Germany, & Hungary (2007) Not rated; In Serbo-Croatian with English subtitles; 112 minutes

A modern film noir reflecting the true face of Serbian "society in transition." It's a story that could happen to anyone. Mladen, an ordinary man, is forced to choose between the life and death of his young son. When the boy develops a serious heart condition, the doctors urge an expensive operation abroad. Just when the boy's parents give up hope of raising the money, a man contacts Mladen and offers to pay the whole amount; in exchange, Mladen must kill the man's business rival. The proposal repulses Mladen, but as his son's condition suddenly deteriorates, he begins to seriously consider the offer. If he accepts, he saves his boy's life but loses his soul; if he refuses, he will grieve as a righteous man until the end of his life. The trap is set...

For a preview, click on the image.

Chris Welles Feder

Last night, we had the honor and the pleasure of meeting and hearing from Chris Welles Feder, the oldest daughter of Orson Welles. Her new book is called In My Father's Shadow: A Daughter Remembers Orson Welles and we filled the house with an audience eager to learn more about her father, the icon, and the man. What a thrill it was to listen to her talk about this great man. We have seen Orson Welles through many angles - mostly brilliant camera angles of his own accord, but to be able to share in the personal reminiscences of his darling Christopher (yes, he named his daughter Christopher Welles...because he liked the sound of it) was a joyous and meaningful event. 

Her life in the unreal world of Hollywood (and Europe and South Africa and...) is well...bigger than life...just like her father. We learned how William Randolph Hearst tried to destroy Orson Welles because of Citizen Kane,  that Welles loved Croatia and Spain, that though he said he hated acting, she believed otherwise, and she described their banter - warm, cozy, comfortable, and fun. She talked about his character and how his beliefs and his actions helped, not only to shape her, but to make a difference in the world.

Her story about her father taking her to see The Third Man when she was 11 was fun and endearing, and we love that he howled with laughter at her response to his villainous character. When you read the book, you'll note that she often makes her father laugh. Do not assume that it was simply a father's indulgent laugh; this woman is smart and funny and fascinating and we are delighted that we got to spend time with her!

Click here to see photos from the event and check back soon to see the video.

Did you catch the great story about our next author visit in The Advocate? Click here to read all about it!

CHRIS WELLES FEDER - Author of In My Father's Shadow: A Daughter Remembers Orson Welles

Sunday, November 15, 5:30 p.m.

Orson Welles's oldest daughter, Chris Welles Feder, has written a revealing book about one of cinema's greatest icons. Click here for all the details.

 A book signing and wine and cheese reception will follow the presentation. Books will be available for purchase.

Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).

Friday at 7:30 p.m.

November 13 - Everlasting Moments -- Sweden (2009) Not rated; In Swedish and Finnish with English subtitles; 131 minutes

Sweden in the early 1900s was a time of social change and unrest, war and poverty. A young working class woman, Maria, wins a camera in a lottery and the decision to keep it alters her whole life. The camera grants Maria new eyes with which to see the world, and brings the charming photographer "Piff Paff Puff" into her life. Trouble ensues when Maria's alcoholic, womanizing husband feels threatened by the young man and his wife's newfound outlook on life.

"This exquisite film by the Swedish master Jan Torell is about seeing clearly, and fearlessly. It's also about subdued passion, the birth of an artists and a woman's struggle to live her own life." -- Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

"Rarely is there a film that evokes our sympathy more deeply than "Everlasting Moments." It is a great story of love and hope, told tenderly and without any great striving for effect." -- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

To view the film's theatrical trailer, click on the image at right.

Showtime is at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free. Please join us!

Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).

Last night, we continued our Fall Author Series with a visit from international bestselling novelist David Baldacci. His new book, True Blue, came out just last week and as expected, is already heading full-speed ahead to the top of the bestseller lists. 

Anyone who's read his books knows that he is smart, creative, and has a wonderful ability to create intriguing characters and page-turning plots. What our audience found out last night was that he's funny, very entertaining, thoughtful, and philanthropic. His presentation was wonderful and fun and inspiring. He talked about his family, his life as an attorney in D.C., and of course, his life as a writer. His stories of his encounters with fans, the mayor of Barga, Italy, his daughter's classroom, former bosses, and Amtrak police brought smiles and laughs to our audience in this great shared experience. 

If you missed last night's program, we'll have the full event available online as a videocast next week, but in the meantime, here's the smallest snippet from the presentation taken from my little (shaky) camera:

Thank you, thank you, thank you David Baldacci for a most memorable evening! (Truly.)

Friday, at 7:30 p.m.

We're now into Week 3 of our Foreign Film Series and so far, we're a hit! We've shown a French film (The Class), and a Mexican film (Sin Nombre) -- join us next for a film from the UK.

Movies begin at 7:30 p.m. They're free and open to the public.

November 6 - Somers Town -- United Kingdom (2008) Not rated; In English; 71 minutes

Two teenagers, both newcomers to London, forge an unlikely friendship over the course of a hot summer. Tomo is a runaway from Nottingham; Marek, a Polish immigrant lives in the district of Somers Town, where his father is working on a new rail link. When Marek agrees to let homeless Tomo move into his room (unbeknownst to his father), the pair forms a strong bond as they work odd jobs for an eccentric neighbor and become infatuated with and compete for the attention of Maria, a beautiful young French waitress.

Click on the image at right for a preview.