mad musings of me

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

Concert performance by Zürich Opera at the Festival Hall last night. Not an opera I had previously heard before, but one said by many people to be amongst the greatest. It's long - it started at 5pm and finished at 10.30 with two intervals just short of half an hour each. And it's difficult to maintain concentration for the entirety of that time. Towards the end of Act 1 I found myself nodding, and in the beginning of Act 3 I was distracted by the need to update my Wap page to see how England were doing vs Croatia...!

The acoustics are not good at the RFH, so I was a little disappointed that at times the singers were drowned by the orchestra, especially Peter Seiffert, who played Walther, the main tenor role. The programme notes describe him as 'one of the world's leading tenors'. I can't say I've heard of him, but, despite the lack of volume (and I'll blame the RFH for that - but you do know that it will be refurbished, don't you, as a result of the enlightened decision of Lambeth Planning Committee in Spring 2002! Have I mentioned my legacy to London, the World?), I did very much enjoy his warm rich voice.

It's a lovely story. The translated dialogue was on a Dot Matrix indicator above the stage, so no trouble in following. It's by Wagner, so I didn't notice any instantly hummable tunes, but I just adored the lush orchestra. Special mention to the triangle player, who was outstanding.

The cast was, I think, on the whole good. Matti Saminen was the most famous; he sang the small but important role of Veit Pogner. Michael Volle was excellent as Sixtus Beckmesser - even in a concert performance he conveyed strutting blustering arrogance. Petra-Maria Schnitzer as Eva was beautiful; Brigitte Pinter as Magdalene had a sumptuously rich voice and fiesty portrayal. But the real star was José van Dam as Hans Sach, whose singing was always impressive and his portrayal dignified.

It may seem somewhat contrary to say so, but I didn't particularly notice the orchestra, well conducted by Franz Welser-Möst. The music, yes, but not the orchestra. Which, I think, is a positive statement.

There are some exquisitive momemts - for me the highlight was in the first (or second?) scene in Act III. The programme says "In a moving scene it becomes obvious that Sachs too has feelings for Eva but, recognising Walther's unique qualities, blesses her intended union with the young knight".

I found the finale to Act III both deeply disturbing and intensely moving. A stirring chorus,

Beware! Evil tricks threaten us:
if the German people and kingdom should one day decay,
under a false, foreign rule
soon no prince would understand his people;
and foreign mists with foreign vanities
they would plant in our German land;
what is German and true none would know,
if it did not live in the honour of German Masters.
Therefore I say to you:
honour your German Masters,
then you will conjure up good spirits!
And if you favour their endeavours,
even if the Holy Roman Empire
should dissolve in mist,
for us there would yet remain
holy German Art!

Listening to the music, I thought "Nuremburg Rally". And it troubled me.

In one of the interval, I penned the following vague thoughts:

Sometimes I think it would be fun to stop people and ask 'Why are you here?' The people I tend to talk to at Opera tend to be passionate or fanatic or both - it's an addictive costly habit. I look at other people and think - you don't look capable of passion. You look humourless. You probably think that Wagner was vulgar. Is it an intellectual pursuit, because you don't look intellectual - right, like I know.

From feeling old at Carmen, I'm feeling young again. Is it Wagner, or is it merely the logistics of the 5 pm start deters the thirty-something working parent?

The concert hall was only about two-thirds full, a shame. But it suited me, because my proper seat was behind a very tall person, so I was able to sidle along to find the optimum viewing position.

I did a quick escape at the end to answer a pressing call of nature, and when I emerged from evacuating everything I had drunk all weekend, the enthusiastic applause was still going on, so I rejoined it

Quite a lot of people - especially the very elderly - were dressed up, but many more had clearly come straight from work. I wore a blouse and semi-smart trousers. There were quite a few people in jeans and t-shirt. No one in a football shirt, though!

Two lovely people

Troubled 'Mike mike' Diva is squatting over at Sasha's place

Accents

If you live in a country whose language - French, German, Spanish, Italian - contains a lot of accents, does the keyboard have extra characters to cope, or do you have to keep doing contortions with the ALT button?

This living together thing

We have always joked about shift-sleeping. Yesterday afternoon he retired to bed in order to stay up late to watch Portugal-Spain. At 7pm he sent me to bed, because he could see that I was fading. As promised, he came to wake me up. "It's eight o'clock," he said. "Morning or evening?" I asked. The next thing I knew it was 9.15 and I had missed most of the game. Of course, he went to bed at 9.45.

My mobile rung, but before I could answer it, it had stopped ringing. Caller display said it was Jimmy. Then the house phone rang, so I went downstairs to answer it. All the clocks said it was quarter past five. I'm panicking, I'm supposed to be at the Festival Hall at five. Then there's a knock on the door. "Who is it," I shout. It's Jimmy. I warn him I'm entirely naked, and I open the front door. He's left his keys in the house. "What time is it?" I ask. "Quarter past five," he says. "Have I slept all this time? I'm supposed to be out before four." "In the morning," he says and leaves me.

I go to have a shower. Next I hear his voice. I nearly fall down in the shower with shock. He's shocked at seeing me naked again. Coming into the house and hearing no reply, he assumes I'm asleep upstairs, so goes to the shower room to rinse off the worst of the bacon smell. Despite the sound of running water, he didn't expect to find me in the shower...

He's decided to give up smoking. Today. Bastard. I got him reading the evangelism of Naked Blog. He's cleared off down the pub. It won't last. Not on a day that England play Croatia.

Somebody should do a doctoral thesis on why Spain never live up to expectations. Maybe they should learn that football isn't played on paper...

Faust from Covent Garden

Last night's TV. I had been building up my internal hype all week, reaching nearly fever pitch yesterday, assisted by nymerous relevant searches to this site, and an increasing number of posts on rmo. Mother phoned about midday, worried about the apparent lack of interval flagged in the Radio Times. I told her to get a downstairs loo installed before 6.30pm. Sister phoned at 6.31 pm fretting about the spanner in the works to our logistics for our Irish reunion next weekend - I told her it was a bad time to phone.

Jimmy was supposed to be going to some blokes do, but Bobby neer got back to him onit. If the weather had looked better I would have proposed going to the Covent Garden Piazza. In the event, it rained there, but not here...!

My initial thoughts were posted elsewhere last night and this morning:

But my opinion of Alagna has increased exponentially - if, for no other reason, the way he flung himself around stage.

If I just wanted to hear high 'C's I would go to a recital of...high Cs. But
I want the total experience, which is why I go to opera - or watch it on the
telly. Fortunately, I have my opera-ignorant-novice fiance to explain the
story as we go along...(we make a great team...!).

And I just lurved Bryn Terfel's evening gown...

And Angela's blond wigs.

Excellent entertainment for telly - I was surprised that I knew all the
tunes, even though I thought I didn't know the opera. If I were being picky,
I would find lots of minor flaws. But trying to look at it through the eyes
of someone who's tuned into a terrestrial TV programme by chance, or was
wandering through the Piazza, I would say it was a fun spectacle. And we
felt that RA's cartwheel was at least the match of Wayne Rooney's (England
football star).

But my fave bit was the ballerinas in tutus - I'm on the wrong NG here,
aren't I?

Okay, to be serious, I am not a great fan of Roberto Alagna's voice. I
always think of him as competent - highly competent? - rather than 'doing it
for me'. There wasn't anything in the singing that stood out as a show
stopper, and in the duet with Mephisto at the End of Act 1, it was obvious
even to me, that Bryn was seriously outsinging RA volume wise - unless it
was poor miking.

I also thought that BT took a while to warm up - in Act 1 he sounded flat
(even though I don't know the opera - but had read the reviews). Even I
could work out that AG's French was rubbish. She had moments of pure beauty,
and was generally competent throughout. I don't rate her acting, but I do so
like her voice.

I've just remembered - Alagna as the old Faust was, to me, absolutely
startling - certainly on TV - how it would have come over in the cheap
seats, I'm not sure. But very very impressive - and with the make up he
actually looked at least, ooh, forty...

And I've also just remembered a startling homoerotic interplay between RA
and BT, in IIRC, Act 5.

It was an extravagance of entertainment, an excellent story, some sterling performances, not just from the three principles but also from Simon Keenlyside in particular.

Bryn was marvellous as Mephistopheles. Perhaps a bit of a pantomime baddie - bu tit worked. I just adored the fact that everytime something was about to happen, he appeared. And I thoroughly enjoyed watching all the different costumes.

Roberto was marvellous - opening as the old Dr Faust was amazing. AndI did so like the way he flung himself around stage. I do not agree with what that woman from the Evening Standard said in the interval about him being the 'best acting singer around' but I will concede that he is one of the best. Jimmy said that the silly woman didn't know what she was talking about.

I'm tempted now to get ticket(s) for the Autumn revival - although it will be without Gheorghiu, Alagna, Terfel and Keenlyside.

Essential Music of England

One of those little gems from Decca. CD 1 is called The Spirit of England; CD 2 is The Pastoral England. Performers include: Sir Georg Solti, Sir Adrian Boult, Sir Neville Marriner, Benjamin Britten, Joseph Cooper, Sir Winston Churchill and Dame Vera Lynn.

You can stop laughing now. At the Winston/Dame Vera, I mean, the rest are gods and not to be laughed at under any circumstances.

The composers include Elgar (x8), Holst, Britten (x2), Walton (x2), Alford (Bridge on the River Kwai aka Colonel Bogie), Coates (Dambusters), Parry (Jerusalem), Vaughan Williams (x5), Grainger (x2), Delius (x2), Warlock and Butterworth. Probably music for my parents' generation.

And yet - Elgar is fixed in my pantheon of heroes; Britten, Walton and Vaughan Williams are at least hon menshes. And Britten's Playful Pizzicato is one of the Great Tunes of all time. I listened to Disc One the night before England played Switzerland, and it fair stirred the soul, especially to hear Walton's "The Battle of Agincourt" - with an actor (sadly not Kenny Branagh nor dear Larry) reciting:

Once more into the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead!
In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility;
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger...
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game's afoot!
Follow your spirit; and upon this charge,
Cry, "God for Harry! England and Saint George!

Although, I have to say I prefer

Ladies and Gentlemen

The Best of George Michael

I know as soon as the first notes of the first track - A Moment with You, on random play - begins that this is undoubtedly one of my favourite albums.

George Michael, arguably the ultimate icon for Eighties Pop Tarts. Once upon a time, he was the singer in a trivial, if deeply pleasant, pop group. And, somehow he developed into a sophisticated and talented writer and singer of songs for grown ups. I never fancied him. And, like many of my friends I was utterly shocked and confused when he came out. We all assumed he had done so years before.

This album is forever associated with my 31st birthday. It was on my 'wish list', but I set off to Geneva to spend my birthday weekend with my friend Helen. On my actual birthday, it was snowing too heavily to ski, so we drove to Annecy in France. We drank cafe au lait and cheered on Ireland in the rugby - against France. Then we browsed record shops, and she bought this album. I so wanted to, but didn't dare, because I suspected it would be sitting on my doorstep when I got home (in actual fact I received record vouchers).

Driving back from Annecy to Geneva, it again began to snow heavily. Helen slowed to approx 60 kmh and pulled into the inside lane. She commented that it was possible to tell who had chains on their tyres, because they continued to speed along over 100 kmh - she merely had snow tyres. Then the car began to make a funny noise, which worried - panicked - Helen. "Don't worry," i said soothingly, "it's not like we're in the middle of nowhere."

"Gert," she said. "We are crossing the Alps. In the dark. In February. They are the highest mountains in Europe."

But what has this got to do with George Michael? I am tempted to list the very very good tracks, one by one, as they come on, but won't. I am absolutely certain that you have it in your collection. But I do especially like Different Corner, You Have Been Loved, Father Figure, The Strangest Thing (I could dance all night to this...) and Outside.

Careless Whisper stands out. To me, it marked George's transition from teenybopper to maturity, although, ironically, but perhaps tellingly, he wrote it whilst still at school. It reminds me of my summer holiday in 1984. Following O-Levels, there were no jobs to be had anywhere I (half-heartedly) looked, so I just lay in the garden working on my tan. Most of all, it reminds me of our family summer holiday near Brixham in Devon, which despite my occasional teenage moods, I actually really enjoyed and remember fondly, espeically for the company of my family.

The best email...ever

Well we knew the world's most powerful people were going to be in County Clare next weekend but now it seems we are to be joined by George Bush and all the premiers of the EU countries!!! The summit was scheduled to take place in Washington but, maybe with an eye on the Irish vote in November, it has been moved to Drumoland Castle in County Clare.

Michael rang me this morning with the news that the road from Shannon to Ennis will be closed from 3 p.m. on Friday 25 until 3 p.m. on Saturday 26. The Guardai have warned that , because of security checks, people may be delayed by 2 hours or so. He recommends theat anyone travelling from Dublin should leave the Nenagh to Limerick road 7 miles after Nenagh ...3 lines snipped...
If you have queries on this you can ring Michael. Please bear in mind that his daughter is getting married on Friday 25 June so he will be busy that day!!

Michael reports that every man,woman,child, dog and cat in the vicinity has been security checked in the last month and it will only get worse next week!!!

'Lost' pal is neighbour

I just love stories like this.

Eight year old boys, dontcha luv em

So funny are my nephew's comments.

Not...

Adrain 'Slaezy' Sevitz Rools

I thought I would tally up who has made the most comments on this site. Of course, I come top, with 594. but for you lot, the Real Stars are:

Mike 101
Daisy 102
Bluewitch 110
Jane 118
Vaughan 151
Zed 160
Karen (in her many personae) 180
Gordon 194
Scaryduck 233
Lyle 235

And the out-and-out winner is Adrian with 251.

Could we have predicted that?

(If I had included the old blog*spot comments, there would have been some additional names there. And I must give hon menshes to Lynn, and Lionel, who've been with me since Early Doors, and also to Jon, Paul and Stuart

Surprise twins

Woman goes to hospital with stomach ache, gives birth to twins

These stories occur on a perennial basis. Okay, this is me being really ignorant. But how can somebody not know that they are pregnant? Someone from my Primary School class gave birth at fifteen without knowing she was pregnant, but, to be honest, she was never the brightest button in the box, and, maybe, at fifteen, there's a whole element of denial.

A colleague had constant stomach upsets, and blamed the canteen at the Food Science Laboratory (yeah...?). Three of the chaps knew she was pregnant by looking at her face, but didn't like to say, assuming she wanted to keep it quiet. But even she knew at three months. I asked her why she hadn't realised earlier - she said she had very irregular periods, so didn't notice a missed one.

But, seriously, how can someone carry twins to (more-or-less) full term without knowing?

I'm not having a go - I'm simply baffled and curious.

Pssst...

Vaughan is doing football - in his inimitable style - at Wherever You Are.

So far, it's the best football blog I've read this tournament

(but don't tell him I sent you...!)

If...

...it were a Greece-Germany Final, who would the British Royal Family support?

Well...

...bugger me backwards with a traffic cone.

I turned off Croatia France at half time. My early rising other half was off to bed; I was getting fidgety on the sofa. Assumed that France would win. No, they and Croatia drew 2-2.

This bit's a local post for local people - there's nothing for you round here

A draw will be good enough for England on Monday. But they have to draw. I'm assuming the best we can hope for is second, because I'm assuming that France will beat Switzerland - although if our result against Croatia is better than Frnace's against switzerland, we would finish top. But, either way, it could be anyone of Greece, Spain or Portugal we play in the quarter-final.

My head hurts. It always hurts when just one group match remains...

Rooney

We had a bet. If Michael Owen scored more goals, Jimmy would do the washing up. If Wayne Rooney scored more, I'd be washing up.

sigh

But hey, we played crap, and we won. Engerland Engerland Engerland rep. ad nauseam

Switzerland aren't such big cheeses now, are they? Cuckoos.

Sorry, but despite a three-nil victory, England have yet to capture my imagination.

Group B

Switzerland has a set of brothers.

Croatia has a set of brothers.

England has a set of brothers (although Phil Neville hasn't played yet)

According to my better half, one of the teams has a father and son playing - which is quite something. It takes three quite separate conditions - for the father to be fit enough to play at International level in is mid thirties; for the son to be precocious enough to play in his teens; and for there to be a relatively small age gap between father and son. Which team is it?

Stupid things I say

Him: Switzerland were very good on the free kicks

Me: Well, they are a neutral country

What's the Fiction down In Brixton?

We've just been watching a bit of Balamory "What's the story in Balamory?"

We think there could be a version set in Brixton. We particularly like PC Plum who cycles around rescuing wildlife - I can see the Brixton equivalent now. I have to say I panicked when he returned Miss Hooley's handbag - I thought there had been a crime wave in Balamory (but worry not, she'd just lost it).

Rather than the brightly coloured houses, we could have the graffiti-daubed sink-estates. Rather than bright happy children turning up to nursery, we could have zombie children with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties due to their appalling diet turning up to the Pupil Referral Unit.

What's The Fiction down in Brixton?

Hiatus

I've updated my sidebar to annotate those currently MIA. Please let me know if I have omitted or wrongly included someone.

You may or may not have noticed I have recently been on hiatus myself - blogreading and commenting. Many apologies. I think the hiatus may now have been interrupted.

Has anybody any momentous news that I have missed. I know that Pewari, Tammy and Owen, and Joe have been delivered of children, and that Stuart and Krissa are now engaged.

But have I missed anybody else's life-changing news?