Sex In The Symphony
Say what you will about the liberties the bond string quartet takes with a piece of classical music, you can't fault its sexually charged performances for being off key. 1 Off color, yes. A bond concert is a melodic lap dance: the four sylphs do energetic things with their orchestral instruments, not to mention their hips, which would compel Stradivari to order an exorcism. 2 One does not learn to straddle a cello that way at a conservatory.
Ever since Thai-Chinese violin sensation Vanessa-Mae was featured on a 1995 album cover as if she had just won a wet-nightgown competition, record companies have been prowling3 for accomplished female musicians capable of playing fiddle at a high, steamy pitch. In bond, U. K. -base Decca Records has found its own variation of Sex in the Symphony.
Released in 2000, the group's first album, Born, topped clssical music charts around the world, selling more than 1 million copies to date . The genre's popularity is due in part to the fact, with classical music," there are no language barriers. "Vanessa-Mae and her acolytes reduce the fuddy-duddy4 factor. Kids can relate . In the hand of a group like bond, a classical piece sounds like a palatable pop song that won't frighten away the folks while pulling in the kids. It makes the music accessible.
And then there are the cool clothes. Bond members deny their slinky nightclub attire and libidinous onstage posturing has much to do with their fame. "Our success is not based on our outfits, "says Ecker, the quartet's lead violinist."It goes beyond our image. We play great music. "Indeed, we should give the prodigies their props. Bond's music is not warmed-over Bach. The playlist for their Asian tour contains but one classical cover: Tchaikovshy's 1812 Overture .
练习题:
Ⅰ. Make sentences with the following words and phrases:
take liberty with — prowl —slink — sneak —
Ⅱ. True or False:
1. The genre becomes popular partly because that there are no language barriers and Vanessa-Mae reduces the fuddy-duddy factor.
2. Bond members agree that their fame has much to do with slinky nightclub attire and onstage posturing.
3. The play list for their Asian tour contains classical music.
4. Vanes-Mae is a Thai-Chinese musician capable of playing fiddle at a high and steamy pitch.