I'm home again, but not sure I'm really back, if you get my drift. I'd hoped to kick off a new year of blogging with a stunning photo of myself sipping a green coconut through a straw on Copacabana Beach - and yes, I have such a photo - but I arrived home after two glorious weeks in Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires to find major computer problems waiting for me. Partly the result of abruptly dead Entourage, partly too the result of outdated operating system.
To mend or not to mend, that is the question. Whether tis better in the end to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous Microsoft Entourage, pay someone to come out & try to mend it & buy an upgrade to newer operating system, or to take arms against a sea of computer problems and by buying an entirely new machine, end them?!
Anyway, I have had the most wonderful holiday of my life, so I shouldn't complain. If I can find some way of loading the pictures onto my outdated computer, I will post them...Here's a quick summary.
In RIO, we:
Ate a lot of tropical fruit;
Sipped caipirinhas by the beach, watching the sunset;
Went up Sugarloaf Mountain, started chatting to a fellow English speaker at the top & then discovered he was Nitin Sawhney;
Walked around Santa Teresa and almost didn't return, it was so beautiful;
Went to intimate venue in Ipanema to hear bossa nova singer Ricco Duarte, who has a voice like a bass saxophone;
Felt safer than in New York or even London.
in BUENOS AIRES, we:
Had two tango lessons;
Bought leather jackets & the most sensual of all tango shoes, in multiples of 3 (Argentina is cheap leather land);
Ate steak, steak and more steak;
Drank fabulous local red wine;
Met up with some friends whom Tom got to know during his tour there a couple of years ago & went with them to a real tango Milonga, where we watched the experts and realised that none of them were doing the one basic move we'd mastered...
Walked around La Boca, where the tango was born;
Poked about the antique shops of San Telmo;
Were glad to escape with our lives from the taxis....
That's the summary. Off to solve computer situation now. Don't forget that Solti is blogging too! Go to my website's Links page and click on the Solti blog box to access Paws for Thought.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Sunday, January 01, 2006
NEW YEAR! NEW WEBSITE!
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!
I'm celebrating the new year by launching, today
my new permanent website, www.jessicaduchen.co.uk
There you will find:
All the latest news about forthcoming events, including the imminent publication of my novel RITES OF SPRING;
Details and reviews of my books, with links to Amazon in case anyone wants to buy them;
A large selection of my articles in downloadable PDF format in the Archive;
Links to friends and favourite websites;
Unique access via the Links page to a new blog, PAWS FOR THOUGHT...? chronicling the tribulations of a certain resident ginger feline...
Business here at JDCMB continues unimpeded, of course, but I will be rationalising the sidebar a bit.
I am, however, decamping for a short break. While I'm away, please have a dekko at the new site and enjoy exploring some of the links and the blogroll!
All the best to everyone for 2006!
I'm celebrating the new year by launching, today
my new permanent website, www.jessicaduchen.co.uk
There you will find:
All the latest news about forthcoming events, including the imminent publication of my novel RITES OF SPRING;
Details and reviews of my books, with links to Amazon in case anyone wants to buy them;
A large selection of my articles in downloadable PDF format in the Archive;
Links to friends and favourite websites;
Unique access via the Links page to a new blog, PAWS FOR THOUGHT...? chronicling the tribulations of a certain resident ginger feline...
Business here at JDCMB continues unimpeded, of course, but I will be rationalising the sidebar a bit.
I am, however, decamping for a short break. While I'm away, please have a dekko at the new site and enjoy exploring some of the links and the blogroll!
All the best to everyone for 2006!
Friday, December 30, 2005
Bring on the sunshine
It's so grey and wintery here in London that I thought I'd try and cheer everyone up with ten of the sunniest records I can find.
1. Haydn: The Creation. If you want to smile, this should do the trick. I've had some trouble finding a recording I like, though: the choice seems to be Old, Earnest, Stately But Beautiful or New, Period-Instrument, Sparky But Train-Chasing. In the end I stick with the old Karajan recording on DG because the tenor is the unmatchable Fritz Wunderlich.
2. Ravel: Daphnis and Chloe. Not only the dawn episode, but the whole score oozes Mediterranean azure. You can almost hear the sun sparkling on the sea. I am extremely fond of the Pierre Boulez recording with the NY Philharmonic. It was given to me years ago by a friend who knows what to recommend, and I've not found one I like better.
3. Schubert: Trout Quintet. There aren't many Schubert works that are pure sunshine but for a few leafy shadows - this, however, breaks the mould. I haven't yet heard this recording by the Hagen Quartet with James Levine, but the cover looks summery. Smell the country air, see the fish playing in the stream, then eat them in the open air with parsley, lemon and lots of butter...
4. Mozart: String Quintet in C major, K515. Mozart feeling spacious, relaxed and generous. Hear the opening and feel the clouds clear away. Alban Berg Quartett with Markus Wolf is a good option.
5. Dvorak: Violin Concerto. Dvorak is generally one of the most cheerful, sunny fellows in the catalogue - try keeping your feet still to the last movement of the violin concerto, among his loveliest 'Furiant' compositions. There are some super recordings, of which just two are Tasmin Little, Royal Liverpool PO/Vernon Handley (Classics for Pleasure) and Philippe Graffin, Johannesburg PO/Michael Hankinson (Avie).
6. Mendelssohn: Symphony No.4, 'Italian'. Felix kicks in with something that vaguely resembles a tarantella but goes much further in evoking the total thrill of arriving in Italy, soaking up the atmosphere and hitting the Chianti. Two minutes and you're basking in joy. Barbirolli conducts the Halle Orchestra in a classic.
7. Bizet: Carmen. Tragic the story may be, but if you want to feel the heat in Seville without getting on a plane, this is the best possible way. Try Cotrubas & Domingo with Abbado conducting and don't forget to sing along with the Toreador's Song.
8. Album 'Una furtiva lagrima' - Juan Diego Florez. Genuine Italian sunshine with Bellini and Donizetti, but the voice alone is enough to make you melt. Isn't he a dreamboat?
9. Manuel de Falla: The Three-Cornered Hat (with Albeniz Iberia, orchestral excerpts). If Carmen is just too, well, French, then go for the real Spanish McCoya. Falla stomps and sparkles his way through his irresistible ballet score, and the Albeniz makes this recommendation a neat two-in-one job. Find it here.
10. Abba Gold. Oh yes. It starts with Dancing Queen which brings out the sunshine like there's no tomorrow, if only because it makes me think I'm 13 again. (What am I doing? I hated being 13. Making up for lost time? Or mid-life crisis??...nah. I just like Abba.)
1. Haydn: The Creation. If you want to smile, this should do the trick. I've had some trouble finding a recording I like, though: the choice seems to be Old, Earnest, Stately But Beautiful or New, Period-Instrument, Sparky But Train-Chasing. In the end I stick with the old Karajan recording on DG because the tenor is the unmatchable Fritz Wunderlich.
2. Ravel: Daphnis and Chloe. Not only the dawn episode, but the whole score oozes Mediterranean azure. You can almost hear the sun sparkling on the sea. I am extremely fond of the Pierre Boulez recording with the NY Philharmonic. It was given to me years ago by a friend who knows what to recommend, and I've not found one I like better.
3. Schubert: Trout Quintet. There aren't many Schubert works that are pure sunshine but for a few leafy shadows - this, however, breaks the mould. I haven't yet heard this recording by the Hagen Quartet with James Levine, but the cover looks summery. Smell the country air, see the fish playing in the stream, then eat them in the open air with parsley, lemon and lots of butter...
4. Mozart: String Quintet in C major, K515. Mozart feeling spacious, relaxed and generous. Hear the opening and feel the clouds clear away. Alban Berg Quartett with Markus Wolf is a good option.
5. Dvorak: Violin Concerto. Dvorak is generally one of the most cheerful, sunny fellows in the catalogue - try keeping your feet still to the last movement of the violin concerto, among his loveliest 'Furiant' compositions. There are some super recordings, of which just two are Tasmin Little, Royal Liverpool PO/Vernon Handley (Classics for Pleasure) and Philippe Graffin, Johannesburg PO/Michael Hankinson (Avie).
6. Mendelssohn: Symphony No.4, 'Italian'. Felix kicks in with something that vaguely resembles a tarantella but goes much further in evoking the total thrill of arriving in Italy, soaking up the atmosphere and hitting the Chianti. Two minutes and you're basking in joy. Barbirolli conducts the Halle Orchestra in a classic.
7. Bizet: Carmen. Tragic the story may be, but if you want to feel the heat in Seville without getting on a plane, this is the best possible way. Try Cotrubas & Domingo with Abbado conducting and don't forget to sing along with the Toreador's Song.
8. Album 'Una furtiva lagrima' - Juan Diego Florez. Genuine Italian sunshine with Bellini and Donizetti, but the voice alone is enough to make you melt. Isn't he a dreamboat?
9. Manuel de Falla: The Three-Cornered Hat (with Albeniz Iberia, orchestral excerpts). If Carmen is just too, well, French, then go for the real Spanish McCoya. Falla stomps and sparkles his way through his irresistible ballet score, and the Albeniz makes this recommendation a neat two-in-one job. Find it here.
10. Abba Gold. Oh yes. It starts with Dancing Queen which brings out the sunshine like there's no tomorrow, if only because it makes me think I'm 13 again. (What am I doing? I hated being 13. Making up for lost time? Or mid-life crisis??...nah. I just like Abba.)
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Latest ENO indigestion
When I was a young girl, Enos was a remedy for heartburn. Now ENO is more likely the cause of it. Things are getting worse by the day at London's English language opera company, based at the capital's largest venue, the London Coliseum, and capable of great things when being properly run. After a dreadful run of rows, resignations and bad appointments that should have been investigated long ago, they've now dumped their recently appointed music director, Oleg Caetani, before he'd even begun. Whatever will they think of next?...oh, right...they already have: a strike over pay. Here's the latest as reported by The Guardian. And here by Norman Lebrecht.
Monday, December 26, 2005
The thingumyjig of Four
Apparently everybody's doing this and I have now been tagged for the MEME OF FOUR by Ariadne Obnoxious so thought I'd try it while the turkey goes down.
And I'm tagging Evelio, Helen and Jeremy.
Four jobs you've had (not in chronological order)
1. Piano magazine editor
2. Strad magazine assistant editor
3. Holiday assistant, school library
4. Proof-reading scale books
Four movies you could watch over and over
1. Annie Hall
2. Singin' in the Rain
3. Titanic
4. Intermezzo
Four places you've lived
1. London
2. Cambridge
3. London
4. London
Four TV shows you love to watch
1. Newnight
2. Newsnight
3. Panorama
4. Newsnight
Four places you've been on vacation
1. Switzerland
2. Australia
3. New York
4. Provence
Four websites you visit daily
1. The Independent
2. The Guardian
3. BBC Weather Forecast for Rio de Janeiro
4. Amazon.co.uk (to see what number my still-awaiting-publication book is on the sales register)
Four of your favourite foods
1. Chocolate
2. Fresh fruit, preferably tropical
3. Mixed Turkish mezze
4. Sushi
Four places you'd rather be
1. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Australia
2. Above Murren in the Bernese Oberland, looking across at the Jungfrau, Eiger & Monch
3. Listening to a recital by Krystian Zimerman
4. Le Gavroche, Mayfair.
And I'm tagging Evelio, Helen and Jeremy.
Four jobs you've had (not in chronological order)
1. Piano magazine editor
2. Strad magazine assistant editor
3. Holiday assistant, school library
4. Proof-reading scale books
Four movies you could watch over and over
1. Annie Hall
2. Singin' in the Rain
3. Titanic
4. Intermezzo
Four places you've lived
1. London
2. Cambridge
3. London
4. London
Four TV shows you love to watch
1. Newnight
2. Newsnight
3. Panorama
4. Newsnight
Four places you've been on vacation
1. Switzerland
2. Australia
3. New York
4. Provence
Four websites you visit daily
1. The Independent
2. The Guardian
3. BBC Weather Forecast for Rio de Janeiro
4. Amazon.co.uk (to see what number my still-awaiting-publication book is on the sales register)
Four of your favourite foods
1. Chocolate
2. Fresh fruit, preferably tropical
3. Mixed Turkish mezze
4. Sushi
Four places you'd rather be
1. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Australia
2. Above Murren in the Bernese Oberland, looking across at the Jungfrau, Eiger & Monch
3. Listening to a recital by Krystian Zimerman
4. Le Gavroche, Mayfair.
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