Category Archives: Art

A Night at the Country Opera

Opera Tickets

I’m not an Opera critic, merely and enthusiastic consumer of the art form – and unashamedly biased in the southerly direction of  WAM. This opera was one of the best and most exciting productions I’ve seen and the best at Clonter by far.  The music of course is what holds this Opera together – the story simply adds to the sheer enjoyment. I spotted a small but highlt apreciated few bars of Figaro towards the end of the second act and I rather hoping that was a subtile invitation for Figaro coming to Clonter next year.   If it is I’l be there for every performance! 

Don Giovanni may not be the most upstanding of operatic characters – but surely he is the most interesting! 

A journal and then some

This is taken from the journal of LORD BYRON – 28th March 1814

“This night got into my new apartments, rented of Lord Althorpe, on a lease of seven years. Spacious, and room for my books and sabres. The last few days have been abstemious, regular in exercise, yet unwell. Yesterday, dined at the Cocoa with Scrope Davies – sat from six till midnight – drank between us one bottle of champagne and six of claret, neither of which wines ever affect me. Offered to take Scrope home in my carriage; but he was tipsy and pious, and I was obliged to leave him on his knees praying to I know not what purpose. No headache, nor sickness, that night nor today. Got up, if anything, earlier than usual and have been much better in health than for many days. I have heard nothing more from Scrope. Yesterday paid him £4,800, a debt of some standing. My mind is much relieved by the removal of that debit.”

This does much resonate with me!

Blog at the Ballet

Last night I went to the ballet at the Royal Opera house in Covent Garden. The ballet in question was Onegin -based on Pushkins novel and performed by the Royal Ballet Company.

I would tend to be more inclined to opera, however Onegin is truly stunning in every possible way. In three acts this ballet tells the story of a woman’s unrequited love, dueling-to-the-death noblemen and the tables being turned on the unrequited love.

I wont bore you with details of the story – its all well known http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Onegin –

The performance was truly stunning – both a visual and auditory treat. Leaving the dancing aside, the sets were visually stunning and the lighting was world class. The music is drawn from Tchaikovsky – and I think is fairly bland throughout, however that simply makes the aspect of the dancing all the more enticing, passionate and very engaging.

There was not one second through any of the 3 acts that I was not totally and utterly enthralled – two intervals meant a glass of champagne in the bar and even with that, I was still eager to get back to my seat.

I am not an expert in or on ballet and I didn’t know if the performances were good or just really good but from what I saw, the dancing was truly stunning – effortless – especially between Onegin and Tatania – the scene where she dreams of her lover and the end scene where he pleads for her love and – she – following duty banishes him forever – but not without emotional upheaval – which was totally palpable when the curtain went down.

All in all – a superb evening and I’d recommend it to anyone. I always thought ballet might be a little inaccessible if you didn’t understand the complex nature of the dance. I was wrong – it moved me immensely.

Ticket to the Ballet