The passage of time in Wellington and elsewhere
A grown up family event, though by rights one should be taking children to Panto. I am not sure that Joe still counts. However there were plenty of other ‘unaccompanied adults’.
Shaz enjoyed the event with her shouting at the stage, hissing the baddy and clapping along.
It was all very traditional and fun, just as was expected. Paul Merton was very good both in his portrayal of Widow Twanky and his ability to ad-lib in general.
As ever Shazz is hooked.
A trip to see the classic play in the flesh.
This was a you persons twist on the play with more young actors plus the use of woman to play male characters.
I found the words hard to follow at times which I take as typical- it is after all a different version of English. However a review does promote the energy of youth but complain of the lack of clarity in the spoken word. I am not sure what the change in gender of roles was set to achieve other than balancing of opportunity.
I good night out which Shaz enjoyed a lot a little to her surprise.
Not a cheap way to spend an evening but we will keep in mind again for the future.
Another performance of the Messiah and this time back to the original venue. Is it fifteen or more times now?: from the small churches to the international venues.
The chorus comprised 130 people this time and it showed. The volume overall was impressive and as Shazz noted, the balance was better between male and female voices. More man with a better balance and power.
The soloists dod well with projecting in such as venue which maybe was helped for us being in seas quite low down though not the stalls.
I really enjoyed the experience and would probably rate it as number 1 in the hit parade of Messiah performances. Maybe we will have the opportunity of listening to the Huddersfield Chorus again sometime.
Thursday night after work and we were at Westminster Cathedral; the Catholic version.
Shazz wanted to go to a big carols event and the evening here was available. It was a paid event but full all the same. I suppose used to help with the upkeep of the building and support the musical infrastructure: choir, musical directors and I assume and organ that is not cheap to keep in ideal condition.
The evening was a combination of music and readings. The latter delivered by a variety of well known individuals.
There were German language carols and traditional English language ones. Maria wiegenlied was beautiful whereas the arrangement for Wachet auf did not seem to work so well for me. Sometimes the choir was difficult to appreciate. O come all ye faithful and Hark! the herald angels sing were winners as to be expected.
I loved the John Betjeman poem ‘The Advent wind begins to stir’ which was read by one of EQ’s favourite actors.
Keep the music flowing!
A trip for Shaz and I again to the RAH seeking musical entertainment.
This is a classical ‘pops’ show of many well known pieces from the classical and opera worlds.
We had better tickets this time than for the Proms which for the most part made a difference. However at times the sound seemed a little off; the choir did not seem quite clear or powerful enough at times and the orchestral sound seemed a little muted at times.
The audience were supplied with Union Jack flags to wave during ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ and ‘Rule Britannia’ but also managed to do so during the ‘1812’ maybe not knowing it does not celebrate a British victory! I found the patriotism come jingoism too much really during these songs. Why do the British need this stuff? However, I can appreciate the beauty and sentiment of ‘Jerusalem‘, which also received a warm welcome from the audience.
The content of the night was:
GRIEGMorning and In the hall of the mountain king
ROSSINILargo al factotum from The Barber of Seville
JENKINSBenedictus from The Armed Man
BIZETDuet from The Pearl Fishers
HOLSTJupiter from The Planets
SUPPÉLight Cavalry Overture
TCHAIKOVSKYWaltz of the Flowers
SOUSALiberty Bell March
VERDILa donna è mobile
HANDELZadok the Priest
PARRYJerusalem
SIBELIUSFinlandia
PACHELBELCanon
LANDOF HOPEANDGLORY
RULE, BRITANNIA!
NESSUNDORMA
HORNPIPE
1812 OVERTURE
With
THUNDERINGCANNONSANDINDOORFIREWORKS
So much good stuff with the addition of dancing and the general spectacular add ons of balloons and light show. The music was good but maybe there was a little too much ‘cheese’.
Ireland players celebrate the win over New Zealand in Chicago. Photograph: Phil Walter/Getty Images
Rory Best is confident Ireland can repeat their history-making efforts in Chicago by claiming a maiden win over New Zealand on home soil despite suffering more late injury dramas.
Already without the Lions flanker Sean O’Brien, who broke his arm against Argentina last week, Ireland suffered another major setback on the eve of the match with the loose forward Dan Leavy ruled out. Leavy’s absence adds to a growing injury list which includes O’Brien, the influential half-back Conor Murray and Robbie Henshaw.
Planned back in New Zealand as a Christmas present.
As ever better late than never. Last weekend we made our usual trip to see in the Messiah performed and here are my thoughts.
As Joseph would say we have our traditions, and going each year is one of ours. Has become relatively easy in recent years as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra has made The Messiah part of its regular season. It is difficult to be precise aboutWhich yearsThe betterThis years performance change be a good one.
All four soloists were strong and were able to sustain their voices.The Orpheus choir I think was about 140 strong and seemed to be enough to give sufficient volume to the choral music. The orchestra play some sections that I have not heard before which were beautiful and worthwhile to hear.
As ever, it was a lovely activity to listen to and see.
Next year which performance will we watch? We will be in London so will it be an opportunity to revisit the Royal Albert Hall to see the masters in action?
Festival is in full flow.
The most appreciated film so far has been God’s Own Country.
The film is set in Yorkshire and concerns a sheep farming family, particularly the son and how he changes with the arrival of a farm worker from Romania. The development of their relationship and the impact on his sexuality- from purely physical to emotional. With this comes the change in the dynamics of the family and the portrayal of the local racism.
Good film.
In Times of Fading Light is a German film set in 1989 just before the wall came down. I am not sure I completely understood all of the aspects but it was an interesting to see the portrayal of the communist world and its structures, culture and politics while the world is changing. The regime did not cater for the young who did not have a future while the older generation continued to look backwards and justified their world through the lens of WW2 and before.
Maybe a reflection of current politics with the generation gap of what is important- Brexit etc?
Yesterday included seeing a film early after work; the first of our New Zealand International Film Festival excursions.
The Party was appreciated more by SQ and EQ than me. A play in film format showed the various selfish and unpleasant characters and their interrelationship. Despite fine acting, an interesting format and clever twists it did not grab me.
Plenty more to come.
