Denmark wins Eurovision on ABBA's turf with folksy ballad

Saturday, May 18, 2013 8:01pm

Denmark's De Forest smiles at a news conference after winning the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in MalmoBy Mia Shanley MALMO, Sweden (Reuters) - Denmark's Emmelie de Forest won Eurovision on Saturday before an international TV audience of around 125 million, clinching the coveted crown of euro-pop with a folksy ballad backed by a wall of fire, flutes and drums. The barefoot 20-year-old blonde stole the show as predicted by bookmakers with "Only Teardrops" in a final that saw 26 countries battle it out in the southern Swedish city of Malmo for the top prize in glitzy European pop music. ...


Beatles' guitar auctioned to the tune of $408,000

Saturday, May 18, 2013 10:33pm

Julien's Auctions photo of custom-made electric guitar played by the late John Lennon and George Harrison of the BeatlesBy Alex Dobuzinskis LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A custom-made electric guitar played by the late John Lennon and George Harrison of the Beatles sold at a New York auction on Saturday for $408,000, said officials with the company behind the event. The semi-hollow-body guitar, manufactured by the VOX company, was sold to an unidentified U.S. buyer at the "Music Icons" event organized by Beverly Hills, California-based Julien's Auctions and held at the Hard Rock Cafe in Manhattan. ...


Vocal acrobatics of "La Donna del Lago" an "Olympic" challenge

Saturday, May 18, 2013 10:11am

Mezzo soprano Joyce DiDonato poses as she arrives at the Grammys in Los AngelesBy Josie Cox LONDON (Reuters) - Even with one of the world's most athletic opera singers at her side and plenty of practice, American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato reckons the latest London production of Gioachino Rossini's "La Donna Del Lago" is the challenge of a lifetime. DiDonato and Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Florez told Reuters at the Royal Opera House production's opening on Friday night that performing their technically demanding roles in the John Fulljames interpretation is almost like an elite sport. ...


U.S. 'Idol' winner shines light on South's Gullah culture

Friday, May 17, 2013 1:23pm

Winning contestant Candice Glover reacts following her performance at the Season 12 finale of "American Idol" in Los AngelesBy Harriet McLeod CHARLESTON, South Carolina (Reuters) - "American Idol" winner Candice Glover, whose powerful voice clinched the title of the popular TV singing show, comes from a sea island culture made up of descendants of West African slaves. "I speak another language," she said during the Fox TV show. "It's called Geechee." Some 14.2 million TV viewers tuned in to watch Glover beat Kree Harrison to win the season 12 "American Idol" crown on Thursday. Glover, 23, is a native of rural St. Helena Island in the coastal South Carolina Lowcountry. ...


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