I'm rather 'under the snow' at the moment, hence lack of posting, but wanted to present a few essentials while I can:
The Nigel Osborne opera I went to see in Mostar, Differences in Demolition, is absolutely wonderful: a work full of heart and soul, with hardline modernism set beside glorious lyrical melody in a way that feels entirely natural. Goran Simic's libretto - the first work he has undertaken in English - is so full of wonderful poetry that I'm thinking of framing the copy that I now have. The production is poetic too, and the singing and playing superb - amazing how many different sounds can emerge from an accordion. The work as a whole seemed to have grown out of the soil of Bosnia itself. It will be at Wilton's Music Hall, near Tower Bridge, on 10, 11 and 12 July, as part of the City of London Festival, performed by Opera Circus. Do yourself a favour: go and see it.
The Pavarotti Centre in Mostar, however, is in financial difficulty. It opened its doors in 1997 and still offers the only clinical programme of its type in the world specialising in treating war-traumatised children and PTSD. But as things stand, the entire music therapy programme may have to close due to lack of funding. As Nigel Osborne explained during our trip, this treatment is very cheap and very effective and does a huge amount of good, but it doesn't 'fit into any boxes' and bureaucratic purse-string holders simply don't understand it - even though the methods pioneered there are being applied now in many other countries. They need support, both moral and financial.
Finally, my current snowdrift involves rewriting a play - with three months to go till the premiere - and a novel in one month flat. See you soon, I hope...
Now, have a look at the sensational young Chinese bass Shen Yang, who has just scooped the Cardiff Singer of the World prize.
And gluttons for punishment can read in today's Independent what I really think about English National Opera doing Kismet.
2 comments:
I think your observations on the Kismet production are wholly on the mark. Splendid article. Sad that so many people know "This Is my Beloved", but not the string quartet from which it was nicked. Al Jolson, oddly enough, once launched a quite virulent attack on song composers who steal their melodies from classical composers. An ally in an unexpected quarter. I didn't know Edward Knoblock wrote the original play. His name reminded me of a story John Gielgud told about himself re his famous capacity for faux pas. Lunching with Knoblock (I tend always to assume these things lunches are in the Ivy), he was wilting under the tedium of EK's conversation when he saw someone he knew enter the restaurant. He pointed the newcomer out to EK, saying, "That's Edward Knoblock, the most boring man in England." Hearing this come out of his own mouth, he immediately added, "I mean the other Edward Knoblock, of course."
I wonder if I might pose here a question on another subject altogether. I've just looked at the Birthday Honours List, and the question that occurred to me is: WHAT THE HELL DOES VERNON HANDLEY HAVE TO DO TO GET A KNIGHTHOOD? There has never been much justice in honours for musicians. Myra Hess got a DBE for organizing concerts. Solomon got a CBE for services as an air raid warden. Clifford Curzon and Moura Lympany, though richly deserving, only got their knighthood and damehood because Ted Heath was in power. It seems that instrumentalists are infra dig. Singers, on the other hand, have always done well, and knighthoods for conductors, which in some cases came with the particular post, have been chucked about far too liberally in recent years. And yet, not to Vernon Handley, the most obvious candidate Britain has produced in fifty years. For one thing, who has ever done more for British music? (Or is that part of the problem?) I can feel my blood pressure going up, so I won't broach the matter of KBEs for pop singers and rock guitarists. Handley got a CBE in 2004 (at age 74!), so I don't think he's offended Tony Blair or whoever. Can anyone explain this? Or help rectify it?
Post a Comment