What are you listening to?

[Jared]

Hi lads,
I have been "out of sorts" of late, primarily as a result of a car accident. Our car was stationary at a red light when an eejit ran into the back of us in his Ford van, our car is a write off, my lovely wife is shaken but is otherwise okay and yours truly has whiplash, so I haven't spent much time online and merely visit Facebook from time to time in the evenings. I am in work am fine, poor and browned off!

Sean, I'm really very sorry to hear about this, and hope for a speedy recovery for you both. If he rear-ended you (and being as you have a witness) I'm hoping it should be a straight-forward case Insurance-wise.. although I know that isn't the point.

Try and take the opportunity to rest up a little and spend some quality time with your loved ones, my friend... :-)

[Jared]

The Covent Garden Carmen is thrilling, but I hope you don´t have elderly gentlemen with a heart condition because super hot Anna Caterina Antonacci can raise blood preassure to the roof.
The Teatro Real Barbiere di Siviglia only has Juan Diego Florez on the plus side. Maria Bayo used to be a lovely soprano, but by the time of this production the voice was gone. The Teatro Real production is unlovely.

The Zürich Rigoletto is enjoyable though. Soprano Elena Mosuc should be better known.

I know the selection isn't perfect, Pepe (and I would agree that Ruggero Raimondi's voice in the Rossini is really quite suspect!) but I'm afraid I have to show what I have in my collection. This is improving in quality one stage at a time, but as you know it's a costly business.

Putting it into perspective, we are talking about a small group of Octogenarians who are unable to get out in the evenings through infirmity (two of them have lost their partners within the past 12 months and won't go out on their own, one is on a mobility scooter, another has to walk with a zimmer frame for anything more than 200 yards, and the other is 93!) and recollect attending Theatre & Opera events as an increasingly distant memory... I can't imagine they'll complain too much about the choice of soloists... ;-)

On a personal note, I have added three new Operas to my collection recently... Humperdinck's Hansel & Gretel & Koningskinder and R Strauss' Die Frau Ohne Schaten... which I'm looking forward to viewing over the coming weeks...

[fergus]

Hi lads,
I have been "out of sorts" of late, primarily as a result of a car accident. Our car was stationary at a red light when an eejit ran into the back of us in his Ford van, our car is a write off, my lovely wife is shaken but is otherwise okay and yours truly has whiplash, so I haven't spent much time online and merely visit Facebook from time to time in the evenings. I am in work am fine, poor and browned off!

Hi Seán,
Sorry to hear about your problem. I have been there, had it done to me and had the whiplash too so I both empathise and sympathise with you. Hope you get well soon!

[fergus]

I have been making my way through this set recently....





....wonderfully musical performances.

[fergus]

A definite nod in the direction of Simon; a recital by John Dexter on the organ of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin....





....but I know that he will not see this because he is too busy rehearsing for his own upcoming gig!!!

[Diapason]

LOL. After a late night last night, I'm too 'fatigued' to face the organ console today...

[mcq]

Hi lads,
I have been "out of sorts" of late, primarily as a result of a car accident. Our car was stationary at a red light when an eejit ran into the back of us in his Ford van, our car is a write off, my lovely wife is shaken but is otherwise okay and yours truly has whiplash, so I haven't spent much time online and merely visit Facebook from time to time in the evenings. I am in work am fine, poor and browned off!
Anyway, I was prompted to return and post a response to Jared's lovely, heart-warming message on his plans for opera nights with the residents, that is a splendid idea. Jared, I hope that you get a great response to it, well done.
Talk soon.
Seán

I am very sorry to hear about your recent accident, Sean.  I hope that you make a very prompt and speedy recovery.  Take care.

[Seán]

Hi lads,
I have been "out of sorts" of late, primarily as a result of a car accident. Our car was stationary at a red light when an eejit ran into the back of us in his Ford van, our car is a write off, my lovely wife is shaken but is otherwise okay and yours truly has whiplash, so I haven't spent much time online and merely visit Facebook from time to time in the evenings. I am in work am fine, poor and browned off!

Hi Seán,
Sorry to hear about your problem. I have been there, had it done to me and had the whiplash too so I both empathise and sympathise with you. Hope you get well soon!

Thanks Fergus.

[Seán]

Hi lads,
I have been "out of sorts" of late, primarily as a result of a car accident. Our car was stationary at a red light when an eejit ran into the back of us in his Ford van, our car is a write off, my lovely wife is shaken but is otherwise okay and yours truly has whiplash, so I haven't spent much time online and merely visit Facebook from time to time in the evenings. I am in work am fine, poor and browned off!
Anyway, I was prompted to return and post a response to Jared's lovely, heart-warming message on his plans for opera nights with the residents, that is a splendid idea. Jared, I hope that you get a great response to it, well done.
Talk soon.
Seán

I am very sorry to hear about your recent accident, Sean.  I hope that you make a very prompt and speedy recovery.  Take care.

Hi Paul, thank you.
Seán

[Seán]

Over the past few days I have been enjoying my very own Schubert Fest starting with his symphonic works and a feast of five Firsts.


Philharmonia Hungarica
Peter Maag - conducting.


Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Herbert von Karajan - conducting.


Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Nikolaus Harnoncourt - conducting.


The Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Claudio Abbado - conducting.

and my favourite performance of the First:

Orchestra of the 18th Century
Frans Bruggen - conducting.

What a marvellous work from a 16 year old, I love it.