And let's face it, when it comes to 'savage breasts', they don't come more savage than mine when I'm in a grouchy mood - as I was yesterday with my 'frozen shoulder' and my scab-itching leg (see somewhere below for the tedious details if your social life is that bereft!) Anyway, slumped motionless in my armchair, not out of my usual sloth but because it hurt to move, I flicked idly amongst the 3,762 TV channels that nice old Australian man sends me - well, it seems like 3,762 - when I chanced upon Sky Arts 2. This channel is frequently an oasis in a desert of Poirot repeats, shopping programmes, a repeat of the winning match in the Outer Mongolian curling competition and, of course, the news which is always bad and getting worse! Yesteday I caught a filmed recording of a concert at the Waldbühne arena in Berlin from 2006 featuring Anna Netrebko, Placido Domingo and Rolando Villazon. Suffice to say that two hours later I felt as 'soothed' as could be!
I seem to remember reading somewhere that that old misery, Plato, with his daft notion of being ruled over by philosophers - philosophers, heh! - wanted to ban music because it had the power to stir men's emotions rather than their minds. Well, the old Greek was right, of course, because my emotional mood was certainly different after listening to that concert. And, incidentally, I think I would actually spend money (if I had any to spare - all contributions gratefully received - sound of rattling tin cup) to go to Berlin and sit in the Waldbühne for a concert, it looks like perfection.
Not being an opera buff I had never heard of Netrebko and Villazon but to my untrained ear they sounded as superb as the old master, Domingo, himself. What I enjoyed was the sense that these three consummate performers were enjoying themselves as much as the audience sitting enthralled in the beautiful setting. The only irritation - well, there was bound to be one given my inbuilt grumpiness - was that my choice - if anyone ever asks me, that is! - of eight Desert Island Discs has grown somewhat. It already stood at around twenty-seven but hitherto I had not considered opera for inclusion. It now stands at thirty-four! (Yes, yes, I know you are only allowed eight but for a famous old 'actor' chappie like me, to say nothing of my eminence in the world of Blogdom, I'm sure an exception can be made.
Anyway, if you are stuck for Christmas gift ideas you could do no better than buy that DVD set from Amazon - and then give it to yourself! And send a copy to me - natch!
Additional: I thought I would show you this so you could appreciate just what a beautiful voice she has!
Never heard of Anna Netrebko?
But my dear fellow, whatever have you been doing all these years.
Oh, oh....excuse me; I come over all faint just thinking about her.
Posted by: Peter MacFarlane | Wednesday, 21 September 2011 at 13:31
Peter, I share your, er, well, you know ... whatever! She is hot, as a singer, I mean.
A friend much given to this singing lark tells me that Netrebko and Villazon have been world famous, and deservedly so, for years and that I am a pig-ignorant, know-nothing and that I should extract my head from the Complete Works of Shakespeare and there-by get a life! With friends like that etc, etc!
Anyway, I'm embarrassed - again!
Posted by: David Duff | Wednesday, 21 September 2011 at 13:59
"Not being an opera buff I had never heard of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown but to my untrained ear they sounded as superb as the old master, Domingo, himself."
Oh come now David, the "Memsahib" isn't about to fall for that malarky too much longer - It's time to re-arrange the bachporch lawnloungers!
(Yes I realize it Memsahib - but without my bickering from over here, how're we ever gonna collect on the policy?)
Posted by: JK | Wednesday, 21 September 2011 at 15:29
JK, once again I am lost in the subtleties of your prose!
Just take a look at the photo I have added!
Posted by: David Duff | Wednesday, 21 September 2011 at 15:43
He's NOT Australian.
Posted by: Andra | Wednesday, 21 September 2011 at 18:54
Ah, Andra, you can take the man out of Australia but you can never take Australia out of the man!
(Glad to hear from you, your sudden silences are un-nerving!)
Posted by: David Duff | Wednesday, 21 September 2011 at 19:23
I've been sulking but I've forgotten why so I came back.
Posted by: Andra | Thursday, 22 September 2011 at 03:39