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Howard Shore on Judith Clurman and the Juilliard connection in casting Daniel Mutlu as the cantor in The Song Of Names: “He was able to learn the new piece and create the role with Judith's help. She was really instrumental in creating that scene. And particularly the congregation, so that the response was accurate.” Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

In the second half of my conversation at Sony in New York with three-time Oscar-winning composer Howard Shore, we discussed what director François Girard wanted for the Paganini battle of the violins in The Song Of Names, performed by the 'great virtuoso' Ray Chen, the help from Brooklyn Heights Synagogue conductor and choral director Judith Clurman in the casting of the cantor played by Daniel Multu, and where in the film Shore used a chamber orchestra with ten male singers when he recorded the score with the Orchestre Métropolitain in Montreal.

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God bless Luigi Cozzi; for fans of Italian fantastic cinema, no creator better represents the pure joy (and absurdity) of his craft. Now, thanks to Severin Films and their great new Blu, we have his first full foray into terror – Paganini Horror (1989), which is as forthright, ludicrous, and fun as the title suggests.

With Starcrash (1978) and Contamination (1980), Cozzi set a place for himself as a maker of derivative yet joyous excursions; no one would ever accuse Starcrash of besting Star Wars, yet it’s actually very different while still originating from the Saturday Serial style of filmmaking. Paganini Horror lays its head on the music video generation and a twisted tale of time travel and revenge. Very ambitious considering the budget, yet Cozzi’s enthusiasm carries through every moment of glorious excess.

We open with a little girl getting home from school via gondola in Venice. She goes to her...

“Most people see the world, but I hear it,” declared Marcin Patrzalek, an 18-year-old experimental guitarist, before stepping out on the Dolby Theatre stage during the live Quarterfinals 3 episode of “America’s Got Talent.” After his truly original take on both “Misirlou” and “Paganini,” the Polish entertainer received one of the best compliments ever when judge Gabrielle Union compared him to some of the greats like Carlos Santana and Jimi Hendrix. Did Marcin do enough to advance to the Semifinals? Watch the “Agt” performance video above, read the judges’ comments below and then make your predictions.

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Gabrielle Union: “Man, I’m blown away. This is what I imagine our parents and our grandparents felt when they first heard Carlos Santana and Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. What Marcin is doing is revolutionizing...

I know nothing about Kinski Paganini other than it was the last film role for Klaus Kinski, but the cover art alone peaked my interest.

The DVD will be released on November 8, 2011.

Witness the life and times of madman and genius violinist Niccolò Paganini. Haunted by the demons of lust and beauty, Paganini pursues his ideal of artistic creation while challenging the moral boundaries of his era. Ridiculed and feared, suspected to be a devil worshipper and still envied for his miraculous musical skills, Paganini created some of the most complex and astonishing music ever. And yet, for all his visionary art, the master of demonic violin playing was considered no more than a freak to be pitied. But his genius still lives today. Just as strong as Klaus Kinski’s final masterpiece.

Source: DVD Empire...