The ‘Faust’ or ’Lucifer’ Sonata? On Liszt’s idea of programme music as exemplifi ed by his Piano Sonata in B minor

The musicological tradition places Liszt’s Sonata in B minor within the sphere of compositions inspired by the Faustian myth. Its musical material, its structure and its narrative exhibit certain similarities to the ‘Faust’ Symphony. Yet there has appeared a diff erent and, one may say, a rival interpretation of Sonata in B minor. What is more, it is well-documented from both a musical and a historical point of view. It has been presented by Hungarian pianist and musicologist Tibor Szász. He proposes the thesis that the Sonata in B minor has been in fact inspired by Milton’s Paradise Lost, with its three protagonists: Adam, Satan and Christ. He fi nds their illustrations and even some key elements of the plot in the Sonata’s narrative. But yet Milton’s Paradise Lost and Goethe’s Faust are both stories of the Fall and Salvation, of the cosmic struggle between good and evil. The triads of their protagonists – Adam and Eve, Satan, and Christ; Faust, Mephisto and Gretchen – are homological. Thus both interpretations of the Sonata, the Goethean and the Miltonian, or, in other words, the Faustian and the Luciferian, are parallel and complementary rather than rival. It is also highly probable that both have had their impact on the genesis of the Sonata in B minor.

The law and custom of slavery in British India : in a series of letters to Thomas Fowell Buxton, Esq. by William Adam; Thomas Fowell Buxton, Sir

http://books.google.com/books?id=plhkPFrJ1QUC&dq=law+and+custom+of+slavery+in+British+India

THE DIVERGENT PATHS OF OPERA IN THE CLASSICAL PERIOD AS SEEN THROUGH THE OPERATIC WORKS OF CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK AND WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

Although evidence of Gluck's influence on Mozart is sometimes discernible, by examining the two operas I have performed and a recital of arias by these two composers we can see clear contrasts in their approach to and expression of classical opera. The two operas discussed are Gluck's Armide and Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro. Gluck and Mozart were both innovators but in very different ways. Gluck comes from a dramatic background (his principles have been compared to those of Wagner) and Mozart brings together dramatic excellence with the greatness of his musical genius, his gift of melody, and his ensemble writing, which is arguably unequaled in the repertory. A well-rounded performer strives to understand what the composer is really trying to say with his work, what the message to the audience is and what his particular way of conveying it is. The understanding of a composer's approach to drama and character interaction plays a huge role in character development. This applies no matter what role you are preparing whether it is baroque opera or late romantic. Discovering the ideals, style, and purpose of a composer contributes to an effective and rewarding performance experience, for those on stage, those in the pit, and those sitting in the seats.

Src and ADAM-17-Mediated Shedding of Transforming Growth Factor-alpha Is a Mechanism of Acute Resistance to TRAIL

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL/Apo-2L) has emerged as a promising anticancer agent. However, resistance to TRAIL is likely to be a major problem, and sensitization of cancer cells to TRAIL may therefore be an important anticancer strategy. In this study, we examined the effect of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) gefitinib and a human epidermal receptor 2 (HER2)-TKI (M578440) on the sensitivity of human colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines to recombinant human TRAIL (rhTRAIL). A synergistic interaction between rhTRAIL and gefitinib and rhTRAIL and M578440 was observed in both rhTRAIL-sensitive and resistant CRC cells. This synergy correlated with an increase in EGFR and HER2 activation after rhTRAIL treatment. Furthermore, treatment of CRC cells with rhTRAIL resulted in activation of the Src family kinases (SFK). Importantly, we found that rhTRAIL treatment induced shedding of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) that was dependent on SFK activity and the protease ADAM-17. Moreover, this shedding of TGF-alpha was critical for rhTRAIL-induced activation of EGFR. In support of this, SFK inhibitors and small interfering RNAs targeting ADAM-17 and TGF-alpha also sensitized CRC cells to rhTRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Taken together, our findings indicate that both rhTRAIL-sensitive and resistant CRC cells respond to rhTRAIL treatment by activating an EGFR/HER2-mediated survival response and that these cells can be sensitized to rhTRAIL using EGFR/HER2-targeted therapies. Furthermore, this acute response to rhTRAIL is regulated by SFK-mediated and ADAM-17-mediated shedding of TGF-alpha, such that targeting SFKs or inhibiting ADAM-17, in combination with rhTRAIL, may enhance the response of CRC tumors to rhTRAIL. [Cancer Res 2008;68(20):8312-21]

Chemotherapy-Induced Activation of ADAM-17: A Novel Mechanism of Drug Resistance in Colorectal Cancer

Purpose: We have shown previously that exposure to anticancer drugs can trigger the activation of human epidermal receptor survival pathways in colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we examined the role of ADAMs (a disintegrin and metalloproteinases) and soluble growth factors in this acute drug resistance mechanism.

Experimental Design: In vitro and in vivo models of CRC were assessed. ADAM-17 activity was measured using a fluorometric assay. Ligand shedding was assessed by ELISA or Western blotting. Apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry and Western blotting.

Results: Chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil) treatment resulted in acute increases in transforming growth factor-a, amphiregulin, and heregulin ligand shedding in vitro and in vivo that correlated with significantly increased ADAM-17 activity. Small interfering RNA–mediated silencing and pharmacologic inhibition confirmed that ADAM-17 was the principal ADAM involved in this prosurvival response. Furthermore, overexpression of ADAM-17 significantly decreased the effect of chemotherapy on tumor growth and apoptosis. Mechanistically, we found that ADAM-17 not only regulated phosphorylation of human epidermal receptors but also increased the activity of a number of other growth factor receptors, such as insulin-like growth factor-I receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor.

Conclusions: Chemotherapy acutely activates ADAM-17, which results in growth factor shedding, growth factor receptor activation, and drug resistance in CRC tumors. Thus, pharmacologic inhibition of ADAM-17 in conjunction with chemotherapy may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of CRC.