Classical music, too expensive?

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

The music industry evolved much more in the past 10 years than in the past 50 years. In deed Internet changed a lot the way we buy or listen to music. Of course it also developed the piracy around exchanging music illegally. And this would be another subject. If we focus on the “legal”channels, we can see that there are different prices for different sort of music and unfortunately Classical music is much more expensive than other categories. In deed, if you compare for example different kind of music in the iTunes store, we can see that classic music is much more expensive in general than Pop, Rock, Folk or even than world music. A good classical album can cost between 15$ up to 50$ depending on the artist and the orchestra. At the contrary, a Pop album will cost between 7$ up to 20$. So this makes things hard if we want people to listen to what we call the “Great music”. Fortunately, more and more resources are available, some of them for free and others for soft prices.

Let’s start with one of the biggest database for classical music online. It is called http://public-domain-archive.com. It is a great music database containing public domain recordings from classic music at least 50 years old. You can listening to the files online or download the music files in MP3 format for free.  Most of record files are from 1930’s to 1950’s recordings, so quality is not always available but it is a great FREE source for classical music. It has some precious treasures like the 1955 Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor by Herbert von Karajan and the Philharmonia Orchestra. It is a great source for discovery and exploration of different composers. More than 60 different classic composers from Beethoven, to Mozart, Paganini, Wagner… The website is quite simple in terms of navigation and layout but the essential is there.

Another option is the iTunes store. I must say that if you look well, Apple tried to make a lot of efforts to make Classical music available at a soft-price. In some countries the offer is not available. In Switzerland for example, the iTunes store does not propose cheap prices for classic music. Maybe Apple thinks swiss people are rich 🙁
But in another countries, you can find very interesting offers. I took the example of the US and the French iTunes stores.

In the US, we have an offer called “50 of the Best…Classical music”.

It represents a large choice of albums at 5,99$ by composers like Chopin, Debussy or Beethoven, Verdi and Handel. It is a great way to discover the great classics. The price is even cheaper than in Europe.

In France, they have a more “ironic” offer name, called “Classique pour les Nuls” which in french means Classical music for dumbs, like the famous collection of books.

Also, Apple proposes a quite interesting catalog in the french store, in which you can discover all the classic compositors but also, “Maria Callas for Dumbs” or “Opera for dumbs”. These albums are great introducers to the big classics.

So, there are no reasons to not discover classical music. To learn more about contemporary artists, one of the best places is the official website of the Deutsche Grammophon. A part of being a historical great institution, the Deutsche Grammophon presents a great choice of new contemporary singers and composers. Do not hesitate to take a tour there.

LA

info sourced at iTunes, Deutsche Grammophon

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image: Danilo Rizzuti

Visionaire, larger than life

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Reading Time: < 1

Let’s start the year with something greater than usual. It is the last edition of Visionnaire magazine. It is called the Larger than life special edition.

According to Karl Lagerfeld, “Life should be larger than life”, which means that life should be greater than normality. So the Visionnaire magazine made a special edition that is literally larger than life. This means 2 different Extra-over-sized magazines.

The biggest one is 79h x 57.8w inches (2 meters high x 1,50m large) and was edited in 250 copies. It entered the World guinness book of records for the biggest magazine. The edition costs around 1,500$ which finally is not that expensive when you see how big the magazine is! Another version, slightly smaller is also available (49.5h x 36w inches) and was edited in 1,500 copies. The Cover reveals Lady Gaga, shot by Inez and Vinoodh. We can see her as an amazing “oily” mermaid. As surprising as sexy it can be 🙂

Here is the promotional video about the giant version:

So, for this year, just be BOLD.
LA

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image: Tungphoto

Info sourced at visionaire.com

Lubin, making history in Perfumery

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

parfums Lubin-logoPerfumery is an Art since the ages of times. Some names are for ever connected to Perfumery history and one of them is Lubin. One of the oldest Perfumery houses in the world, still in activity since 1798.

Pierre François Lubin founded the company at the end of the 18th century. Very fast, the Fragrance house became one of the most fashionable brands at that time. In deed, by producing scented ribbons, rice powderballs and masks, Lubin seduced women called at that time “Les Merveilleuses”, “the wonders” in French. Les Merveilleuses were part of a trend in France characterized by a certain dissipation and extravagance, in response to the Terror period.

They were the trendsetters of the time and Lubin their preferred brand. The fragrance won over the Imperial Court, and was worn by the likes of Josephine and Pauline Bonaparte. When the Bourbons were restored, Lubin dedicated his fragrances to Queen Marie-Amelie. Eventually, Lubin’s perfumes were worn by all the crowned heads of Europe, and were imported to America in 1830.

Les Merveilleuses

Lubin was still a major perfumery in the 1940s, but abandoned high-end perfume making in the 1980s. A financial reorganization took place at the House of Lubin in 2001. Its wares and antique documents can be found displayed in Musées de Grasse’s International Perfume Museum in Grasse, France.

Olivia Giacobetti is the current fragrance designer and today the company is also very present in the USA where the relaunch of the brand was a great success.

In 2011, Lubin (re)launched Marie Antoinette’s fragrance called Black Jade. Historically, it was created by the Queen’s personal perfumer, Jean-Louis Fargeon. Now it is relaunched under the Lubin brand.

For more information, you can visit the brand official website: http://www.lubin-parfum.fr

I find important to keep alive what made history possible and especially when this means keeping great fragrances alive. I still have in mind Lubin’s Vetiver… just amazing. You can also rediscover IDOLE, in a re-invented version by Olivia Giacobetti, the current inHouse perfumer.

Lubin-parfums

Tempted?
LA

Info sourced in Wikipedia and www.lubin-parfum.fr  

Peter Harrison, the Divergence Table

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

NY designer Peter Harrison has designed and built a really cool hall table for those seeking a clean, modern look and excellent hand craftsmanship.  Known for his use of nontraditional joinery in fine, handmade, limited production furniture, the award winning designer has taken his work to a new level with the introduction of his latest design, the Divergence Table.

divergence_peter_harrison

The Divergence Table is an evolutionary step in Harrison’s embrace of nontraditional furniture fabrication, as it uses an aluminum corner bracket to join the legs to the top. The bracket, which is hand fabricated from a massive block of aluminum, is the first time when the mechanical joinery of his work surpasses the complexity of traditional joinery.  Although the Divergence Table represents a distinct step from Harrison’s previous pieces, it remains true to his aesthetic vision which celebrates materials and maintains a pure feeling that is modern without being devoid of details.

The Divergence Table is 60” wide, 12” deep and 36” tall in standard form; custom sizes are available.  The one piece aluminum corner brackets have a brushed finish, and are attached with exposed stainless inserts.  The brackets define the table’s design plus complement the stainless steel cables and jet black Sapele hardwood. The cables are quite striking and can be found in many Harrison pieces as a key visual element.  Specially manufactured for the rigging of sailboats, the cables are quite flexible, and will not kink.  Each cable is individually attached to the table with a seamless aluminum fastening system that is simple yet elegant.

divergence_detail1_peter_harrison

Peter Harrison is known for design and craftsmanship that celebrates materials and maintains a pure feeling that is modern without being devoid of details.  “In my work the visual function is as important as the actual function”, says Harrison.  “I strive for my furniture to entice the viewer from across the room and captivate them upon closer inspection.”  The Divergence Table certainly meets this criteria.  For more information on Peter Harrison and his designs, go to www.peterharrison.com.

 

Peter_harrisonPeter Harrison was born in 1973 and grew up in New York city. He graduated with a BFA from the woodworking and furniture design program at RIT in 1996. Upon graduating he began producing his art full time. In 2008, he completed a new studio just outside of Saratoga Springs NY. In 2007 he participated in the prestigious International Turning Exchange residency sponsored by the Woodturning Center in Philadelphia. He was awarded a NYFA (New York Foundation of the Arts) grant in 2001. His work has journeyed from one-of-a-kind furniture, to sculpture, to his present line of handmade limited production furniture.

Great pieces of contemporary design.

LA

 

info sourced at Peter Harrison Presskit and peterharrison.com 

Queen Elisabeth, the jubilee of the last monarch

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Reading Time: 3 minutes60 years in a throne needs celebration. In deed our dear Queen Elisabeth will celebrate 60 years of reign next year, which we called Diamond Jubilee. On the 6th February 1952, Queen Elisabeth the II, took the throne of the seven countries of the Commonwealth after her father died, King George VI. Only Queen Victoria, in 1897, is thus far the only monarch in the histories of Britain and a few other commonwealth countries members to have celebrated a Diamond Jubilee.

Following the tradition of past jubilees, a Diamond Jubilee medal will be issued in various countries. Here above, the canadian medal. A 300$ in pure gold with a real diamond inserted on the gold mass. We can also see Queen Elisabeth with an elegant, delicate and firm gesture from her hand. Very Royal! So it will be a great year for the United Kingdom as they also have the Olympic games.

On this occasion, several books will tell the Queen story and I picked up one that seems very interesting in terms of content, writing style and interest. It is called Elisabeth the Queen, The life of a modern monarch.

The book is written by New York Times bestselling author Sally Bedell Smith. She spent her early career working at Time magazine, TV Guide, and The New York Times. She won the Sigma Delta Chi Distinguished Service Award in 1982, and became a fellow at the Freedom Forum Media Studies Center in 1986. In 1996, Smith joined Vanity Fair as contributing editor, where she remains as of October 2009. She is also the author of 3 interesting books:

  • Diana in Search of Herself: Portrait of a Troubled Princess (1999)
  • Grace and Power: The Private World of the Kennedy White House (2004)
  • For Love of Politics: Bill and Hillary Clinton in the White House (2007)

About the new book, we discover Queen Elisabeth’s life. From the moment of her ascension to the throne in 1952 at the age of twenty-five, Queen Elizabeth II has been the object of unparalleled scrutiny. But through the fog of glamour and gossip, how well do we really know the world’s most famous monarch? Drawing on numerous interviews and never-before-revealed documents, acclaimed biographer Sally Bedell Smith pulls back the curtain to show in intimate detail the public and private lives of Queen Elizabeth II, who has led her country and Commonwealth through the wars and upheavals of the last sixty years with unparalleled composure, intelligence, and grace.

So many years of an amazing life deserves a lot of pages, so here it is a big book, 688 pages and will be available from the 10th of January 2012.

If you wish to buy this book, you can already pre-oder it here below:

For the US, click here.
For Europe and the rest of the world, click here.

Definitely the perfect book companion for traveling.
LA

info sourced on Barnes&Nobles, Wikipedia and Amazon. All images copyrighted, no rights for reproduction allowed without further authorization.

Jaquet Droz, coded luxury

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Reading Time: 5 minutesJaquet Droz is one of the most confidential, yet brilliant Manufacture horlogère from Switzerland. With the launch of their 2011 Tourbillon, here are some clues to decode this prestigious House, part of the Swatch Group since 2001.

Jaquet-Droz-LOGO

This year, the Swiss Timepieces industry shows a great growth. No “time for crisis”. Here some interesting key figures YTD October 2011.

– 16,8 Billion CHF Export sales (already the level of 2010)
– October 2011 = 1,87 billion CHF (which is +18,6% vs october 2010) and 2,8 million Timepieces exported (+4,7% vs oct2010).
– The entire industry should end up the year >17 Billion CHF, the record level of 2008.
– Mouvements exports also grows by 9% in volume vs YTDOCT 2010.

With such a great health, the Swiss watchmaking is one of the leading luxury industries in the world, together with high-jewelry. And when we talk about luxury timepieces, we need to talk about Jaquet Droz.

Jaquet Droz is one of the most elegant, luxury and confidential Timepieces houses in Switzerland. You need to be an expert and passionate to have heard about it.

Pierre-Jaquet-Droz

After his studies in University, Pierre Jaquet Droz founded his first watchmaking workshop in la Chaux-de-fond in 1738. Until 1791, the Jaquet Droz Family builds the foundation of what will become a multi-century business. Since 2001, the prestigious brand belongs to The Swatch group that started an international roll-out yet on the respect of the Brand heritage.
In 2009, Mr. Nicolas G.Hayek takes over the reins of the Brand, supported by a board and in 2010 they install themselves in their new headquarters, called “Atelier de Haute Horlogerie”.

Jaquet-Droz-headquarters

In order to better understand the brand, we need to analyze the different aesthetic codes that makes Jaquet Droz so unique.

CODE #1: The Grande Seconde, “its elegance is a promise of eternity”.
Jaquet-Droz-Grande-Seconde

On a single dial, the hours and minutes counter, off-centered at 12 o’clock, embraces the seconds counter, situated at 6 o’clock, with echoes of Avant-Garde poetry, aesthetics at the very core of the identity of Jaquet Droz. From the 18th century to the third millennium, the Grande Seconde has been the eternal source of inspiration for the Manufacture of La Chaux-de-Fonds: a timeless icon in extremely exclusive interpretations which evolve with time and with each new collection.

CODE #2: The 8, “Representing infinity and eternity”.

Jaquet-Droz-the8
Formed by two subdials on the watch face, this symbol suggests the rarity of limited editions and exclusive models produced in small numbers. Manufacture’s most distinctive and magical numerological references. Jaquet Droz subdials play with Arabic and Roman numerals, treating each passing moment as unique. In other words, they offer a new perception of Time.

CODE #3: The Grand Feu, “Once a piece is finished, it is inalterable”.

Jaquet-Droz-Feu
Grand Feu enameling is one of the expert techniques that constitute the signature of a Jaquet Droz watch. Combining traditional production methods with latest-generation technology, the dial-makers at Jaquet Droz have kept up with the latest developments in timepieces and the technical constraints that they involve.  Relying on the subtle interaction of ultra-fine powders and precision kilns, our dial-makers are the sole guardians of the formula that yields these magnificent dials, whose color and graining are absolutely unique.

CODE #4: The Watch case, “a treasure chest full of mechanical wonders”.

Jaquet-Droz-boitiers
Handsomely curved and perfectly sized, it was carefully conceived to contain remarkable movements. This design expresses choices, desires and yearnings in the strength of steel, the majestic gleam of white or red gold, the unalterable elegance of the ceramic material, or the lightness of the titanium. Each one undergoes no fewer than 80 different operations. That’s why Jaquet Droz prizes the hands of its master craftsmen above any manufacturing tool.

CODE #5: The Mouvements, “cutting-edge watchmaking technology”.

Jaquet-Droz-mouvements
Jaquet Droz mechanical self-winding and manually wound movements are all engraved with a clover, the secret signature of the founder of the Manufacture. The bridges and plates are adorned with Côtes de Genève ribbing, while the luxurious sunray motif on the oscilling body is visible through the transparent case back: a sunburst or spiral motif for classic timepieces or those with complications, hollowed out for sports watches.

CODE #6: The Complications, “the pride of their possessors”.

Jaquet-Droz-complications
Jaquet Droz specialized from the start in ultra-luxurious timepieces that featured musical mechanisms, automata or Grand Complications. This precious sunburst harbors sophisticated complications: tourbillon, minute repeater, equation of time, perpetual calendar, jumping hour or chronograph. Time does not express itself in one dimension alone. This inspired Jaquet Droz to focus on all of the codes connected with its plurality, from the retrograde date hand to the indication of moon phases.

CODE #7: The Numerus Clausus, “real luxury is rare”.

Jaquet-Droz-numerus-clausus
With its one-of-a-kind creations and its Numerus Clausus editions limited to 8, 28 or 88 pieces, Jaquet Droz also masters the art of exclusivity. This is truly the world of Haute Horlogerie, an eternal quest for elegance and technical perfection.

CODE #8: The Minerals, “treasures drawn from the depths”.

Jaquet-Droz-minerals
These dials offer the poetry of meteorites crossing galaxies, the geometry of rutilated inclusions in quartz, the mystery of onyx, aventurine, spectrolite, pietersite….Minerals are like the memory of the Earth and our galaxy. Whether they come from deep within the earth or the far reaches of space, they transform each watch dial into a fabulous journey through the infinity of time.

Finally, here is a beautiful video about Jaquet Droz, a nice journey into the Brand’s story. Check it out:

When uniqueness becomes an Art, Time seems eternal.
LA

Info sourced at www.jaquet-droz.com, Businessmontresenvideo and FB official fan page.

Bentley Continental GT V8, feel your heart race.

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Reading Time: 3 minutesThis month Bentley motors announced the launch of its new Continental GT V8. A pure adrenaline car with the british elegance touch. They just revealed a new video showing a very interesting story-telling around this new beauty.

In the Automobile industry some names are associated to history and some of them become legends. Bentley Motors Limited is a British manufacturer of automobiles founded on 18 January 1919 by Walter Owen Bentley (known as W.O. Bentley or just “W.O.”). Bentley had been previously known for his range of aero-engines in World War I, the most famous being the Bentley BR1 as used in later versions of the Sopwith Camel. Since 1998, the company has been owned by theVolkswagen Group of Germany. The firm is based in Crewe, England with their Central Production Facilities being based there.

The new GT V8 is as powerful as elegant. The clues are there. The dark mesh radiator grille, ringed by bright metal. The aggressive lower bumper with its three air intakes. The dark rear valance, with its twin exhaust tailpipes shaped into an elongated, side-on figure eight. And one further small, but significant detail: a red enamel Bentley winged ‘B’. These are the tell-tale signs of an all-new Bentley, powered by a 4.0 litre V8 engine.

From the distinctive backbeat of its eight cylinders at idling speed to the glorious snarl of full-throttle acceleration, the new V8 offers an exhilarating, involving and passionate route to Bentley Continental ownership. All-wheel drive and an eight-speed transmission transmit its power to the road with unshakable precision. This is a Bentley that can both stir the soul or calm the spirit, according to the mood of the driver or the conditions.

In terms of performance:

– 4.0 litre V8 engine
– A massive 660 Newton metres of torque at the comparatively low engine speed of 1700rpm.
– 60 miles an hour in just 4.6 seconds.
– 188mph (303 km/h).
– 8 speed transmission and accounts for 6% of the total 40% efficiency gain achieved by the new V8.
– Real time monitoring of tyre pressures.
– 8 sound speakers system with 15GB of storage for music, iPod, MP3, 6 disc CD charger and SD card.
– Navigation system with online access points, 30GB disc drive + Satellite landscape imagery.
– Touch screen with finger zoom in and zoom out.
– Bluetooth connection for phones or Sim Card insertion.

Check here the beautiful emotional video. A brilliant imagery for automobile passionate people.

Do you feel your heart race? I do.
LA

Info sourced at Bentleymotors.com and Bentleymotors youtube channel

YSL Opium new TV ad… just pure class.

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Reading Time: 2 minutesThis month, Yves Saint Laurent Parfums launched the new TV advertising for its incredible fragrance for women, OPIUM.
It is by far the most elegant, luxury, divine, amazing and incredible high-class Tv Ad that came across my eyes and my ears on the past 2 years…. minimum!

The Ad features british actress Emily Blunt, best known for her roles in The Devil Wears Prada, The Young Victoria, and The Adjustment Bureau. She has been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, two London Film Critics’ Circle Awards, and one BAFTA Award. She won a Golden Globe Award for her work in the BBC television drama Gideon’s Daughter.

opium_emily Blunt

The print ad here above was shot by Patrick Demarchelier. We can see an amazing Emily Blunt with magnetic eyes. You could give your soul to the Devil for her… Beautiful.

Ok, back to the Tv Ad. The film is totally on the path of sulfurous and subversive Saint Laurent style. In an intense play role with a panther, Emily Blunt walks dressed in an amazing elegant YSL outfit. The soundtrack is just sublime. It is the Lacrimosa of Mozart. For those who knows his Requiem, The Lacrimosa is part of the Dies Irae sequence in the Requiem mass.

The film was directed by Romain Gavras, french cinema director (Sheitan). His films and music videos are often portrayed in a gritty and realistic manner as well as using flashing images. I think here, Yves Saint Laurent creates one of the best advertising campaigns for Opium since years. Mr Saint Laurent would be proud.

Here the video, long version:

To celebrate such creation, they redesigned completely their Youtube channel. Have a look here:
Opium Saint Laurent new ad
http://www.youtube.com/yslparfums

Heaven or hell?
Difficult to say, like Mozart’s Requiem…

Love it!
LA
Info sourced at YSL official youtube channel. All images are copyrighted and no reproduction is allowed without further notice.

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image: Ambro

India and luxury, new market.

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Reading Time: < 1 India, as many “In-development” countries represents a huge potential for luxury brands.

Check this video from ETNow TV about the importance of luxury Brands in India, especially among Men.

Here we can see interesting luxury people like Angela Ahrendts, CEO of Burberry in how she managed to highlight Burberry among Indian people and especially Men. Also, he can listen to Joshua Schulman, CEO of Jimmy Choo explaining the indian men taste:

” a blend of english elegance with italian style… all with a James Bond touch…”

After China, should luxury brands invest in India?
LA

Info sourced on Youtube at ETNOW official channel. 

Harman Kardon is a “Beautiful Sound”

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Reading Time: 3 minutesToday the high-tech sound company Harman announced a global collaboration with the world megastar Jennifer Lopez with a new campaign entitled “Beautiful Sound”.

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets — supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon and Mark Levinson. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 12,500 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported net sales of $4.0 billion for twelve months ending September 30, 2011.

Harman Kardon has everything of a true elegant and luxury experience. Perfect design, high performant materials, reliability and timeless lifestyle attitude. I have my HK670 for years and it fits perfectly the living room.

Now, with the “Beautiful Sound” campaign, Harman is getting to the next level as a luxury lifestyle brand. Sound systems are often presented as a technical object and we forget that these beautiful objects stands in the middle of our living rooms, so they are part of our way of living. With this new campaign, Jennifer Lopez represents the glamourous guide to help us understanding the sound art played by Harman Kardon.

We have found a perfect fit in megastar Jennifer Lopez to be a global ambassador for Harman Kardon’s Beautiful Sound message,” said Dinesh C. Paliwal, Chairman, President and CEO of HARMAN. “She personifies beauty, elegance, and style, and consistently delivers outstanding musical performances. The Harman Kardon name is synonymous with incredible sound and attractive design, and we are delighted that Ms. Lopez will help us share that message.”The campaign supports the presentation of HK BDS sound system. The new BDS series provides uncompromised performance, studio surround sound and enchanting visuals without all the clutter of components and cables. One sleek, space–saving design system (a compact receiver with an integrated 3–D Blu–ray/DVD/CD player and FM tuner), easily controlled with a single remote. From 3–D Hollywood blockbusters to digital files playable through the built–in Blu–ray Disc player and the USB port – the BDS reads a wide range of digital entertainment sources, including 3–D Blu–ray Disc, DVD, CD–R and MP3 formats, even iPod/iPhone content through the separately available The Bridge IIIP dock. It also has an intuitive on–screen menu to make setting up and using the system easy – even for novices. What’s more, its high–tech HDMI Audio Return Channel feature simplifies the delivery of sound from your TV to the speakers.

Here is a video presenting the new sound system:

And here the beautiful advertising movie starring Jennifer Lopez:

The film was directed by Martin Campbell. He is known by his sense of staging and showmanship. He was the director of 2 James Bond, Golden Eye and Casino Royal, but also the Zorro saga with Antonio Banderas and recently Green Lantern. With such spectacular director, you can imagine that this movie ad is definitely “rocking the house”. 🙂

Jennifer Lopez appears here in a very edgy and elegant outfit, the make up is perfect and the special effects are breath taking.

The agreement with Ms. Lopez continues a year of notable artist signings for HARMAN. Earlier, it launched the “Hear the Truth” brand campaign for JBL, with ads featuring Maroon 5 and international superstar AR Rahman. Additional prominent artist agreements will be announced in 2012.

Harman Kardon spices up the Sound system market. Convinced?

LA

Info sourced at Harman Kardon Press Release, harmankardon.com, youtube. All images are copyrighted and no reproduction is allowed without further authorization.