tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post7442488713649716631..comments2024-03-26T07:58:59.761+00:00Comments on I'll think of something later: Ten years of the 12 Star GalleryDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-47747147376381833922016-01-09T17:33:50.293+00:002016-01-09T17:33:50.293+00:00Honoured to have a hunch confirmed by a far more d...Honoured to have a hunch confirmed by a far more developed eye than mine, Deborah. And what a valuable discovery you've made about the rose 'alba'. Of course Goya was especially attached to the Duchess of Alba, so that little detail would have taken his fancy, like the Haydn score the Duke of Alba is holding - four songs, apparently, which could have been performed in the National Gallery. But we got a real treat last night - all six of Granados's Goyescas shared between two young pianists in one of the big domed rooms. I've written about it at rather too much length on The Arts Desk. I've been waiting to hear these pieces live for years.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-21807899566352872202016-01-09T17:20:12.510+00:002016-01-09T17:20:12.510+00:00So agree about Ai Weiwei and Anselm Kiefer, in fac...So agree about Ai Weiwei and Anselm Kiefer, in fact said much the same to a friend. And Liotard v Goya...they simply don’t compare. But Liotard is interesting. I saw that first, which was the right way round, and was amazed I’d never heard of him. He had a huge technical skill, and I was very interested in the way that he didn’t always flatter his subjects but gave them the unfashionable noses they really had, meaning he often achieved a photographic likeness. This was enhanced by using pastel rather than oil, a far more realistic effect. And I loved the ones of children – that fragilty, that delicate skin tone. But then Goya! They have souls, depth.<br /><br />In the Goya, there was a lovely portrait of an old lady: the Dowager Marchioness of Villafranca. Being a gardener, I noticed she had a pink rose tucked into her dress. It was carefully painted, so I tried to identify it. Could be one of several, but one thing I felt was certain – the rounded, very grey leaves make it an Alba rose. Delighted to notice in my little booklet that the splendid old lady was mother of the Duke of Alba...so Goya knew his roses too!Deborah VdBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-46214501190036426412016-01-09T11:40:15.341+00:002016-01-09T11:40:15.341+00:00An oversimplification. Films can 'do' psyc...An oversimplification. Films can 'do' psychology, too, by virtue of the minutest reactions that can be seen on the face of a fine actor. That struck me watching the luminous Seoirse Ronan in Brooklyn. Anthony Hopkins' Pierre in the former, far from perfect but much more substantial BBC serialisation, conveyed much of the complex thought in the book. And Prokofiev's War and Peace, by concentrating on key scenes, captures so much of Tolstoy's complexity in human relationships. <br /><br />Ultimately the book has to be the first port of call ('xxx has read all xxx words of Tolstoy's novel,' trumpeted the Standard yesterday, 'so that you don't have to'. Have to? Obnoxious). But having other great folks' response to it can be valid. I certainly wouldn't count Andrew Davies, who'd never read the book before undertaking the dramatisation, among them.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-82686427277506640892016-01-09T11:01:26.347+00:002016-01-09T11:01:26.347+00:00The trouble with films of great novels is that the...The trouble with films of great novels is that they miss the point. War and Peace is not a story, or rather the story is only the skeleton, on which is hung the analysis and the picture of the human predicament. Making it a story devalues it ( though no doubt there are a few exceptions). Reluctant as one always is to agree with F R Leavis, he was right about thisDavid Damantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-80330943362790166302016-01-09T10:28:40.674+00:002016-01-09T10:28:40.674+00:00Might sound rather arrogant to say I know that her...Might sound rather arrogant to say I know that heroic tale all too well and will pass, because I'm sure there were more penetrating interviews with survivors of the Siege of Leningrad: a dying breed. Staving off watching the six-part BBC War and Peace for more nervous reasons: blandness seems to be its abiding quality, say those who know the book. Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-37079506469821882802016-01-09T07:32:31.521+00:002016-01-09T07:32:31.521+00:00On Shostakovich, I was rather impressed by the TV ...On Shostakovich, I was rather impressed by the TV programme on BBC2 on January 2nd ( still available) about the Leningrad Symphony and 1942. I thought ( as an amateur of course) that the way the development of the symphony was described was intelligent, and though the history of the Leningrad siege was pretty standard stuff it was sensibly handled, only a little melodramaDavid Damantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-21469307247419096822016-01-08T23:34:56.335+00:002016-01-08T23:34:56.335+00:00Thanks for your generosity of response as ever, Su...Thanks for your generosity of response as ever, Sue. A hard copy of what is a really treasurable and beautifully produced book awaits you on your next visit - or, if that's not to be soon, then I'll post it. <br /><br />I trust your January BBCMM arrived some time ago, as February came through the post here today. I waver about Currentzis, but he got off to a good start conducting Weinberg's The Passenger at Bregenz - again, disconcerting to watch him on the excellent DVD, which has just resurfaced for wider distribution, but the results are razor sharp. <br /><br />Currentzis is also the supposed star of an as yet unreleased Russian film made over years with people living out the lives of staff in a 1920s factory for months at a time. I went for an interview as possible consultant on the music used, but it was all so weird and I still don't quite trust in the reality of the project (I didn't feel comfortable with the director and sure enough, they didn't want to take me on straight away, but then it all receded). If the film never appears, a book could be written about the making of it (or not...)Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-86121419656189535272016-01-08T17:17:54.118+00:002016-01-08T17:17:54.118+00:00In line with J's not wishing to take center st...In line with J's not wishing to take center stage, we had no idea, on our visit in his delightful company, that the 12 Star Gallery was his creation, and what a marvelous creation it is! Ever since, I've enjoyed being able to get a glimpse of what's on offer through the 12 Star's posts, and I treasure my copy of the commemorative booklet celebrating the first 10 years. A great deal of wonderful art has passed through the gallery, and I've no doubt but the same will pertain in the decade to come. With that and your other offerings (I would have loved to see that Goya exhibit, particularly), you have enough for several posts, as I suspect you know. <br /><br />On other "fronts," I have in hand as of yesterday the Jan BBC Music Magazine and very much enjoyed your Stravinsky article. Your commentary on the 5 Stravinsky selections you discuss is terrific, bearing, as always, the hallmarks of your writing, notably your ability to draw interesting musical comparisons and to put each work in context. I particularly enjoyed the references to Tchaikovsky and of course the Shostakovich comment on Symphony of Psalms, a favorite for listening in our household. I also read with particular interest your review on the MusicAeterna Rite of Spring. I'd only recently come across this group's recent Rameau CD and have been curious about the group, but the conductor's "style," shall we say, had put me off further explorations. I was glad to see I'm not alone and also appreciated how deftly you were able to distinguish the performance from the man.Susan Scheidhttps://prufrocksdilemma.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-80488533291127357742016-01-08T16:12:38.698+00:002016-01-08T16:12:38.698+00:00There is an interesting article on Callas in the l...There is an interesting article on Callas in the latest Opera magazine ....pretty good ( I suppose that would be my view as it agrees with me.......)David Damantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-47822298658876648502016-01-08T14:05:08.631+00:002016-01-08T14:05:08.631+00:00Agreed - though of course it all had to be approve...Agreed - though of course it all had to be approved through EC channels, and everyone there seems to think it's marvellous. How could they not?<br /><br />We liked Maria too but she was a little too expensive for our modest pockets.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-92138898477917899322016-01-08T14:02:50.730+00:002016-01-08T14:02:50.730+00:00I was quoting Truman ( Harry S)
I think that the ...I was quoting Truman ( Harry S)<br /><br />I think that the underlying meaning is that if one maintains a low profile one does not run into the envy and divisiveness that you mention, but also and perhaps more usually bureaucratic obstruction etc etc - people raising difficulties, etc. Not that I am saying that these might have obstructed J<br /><br />I went another day. I liked Callas but I did not steal it as it was rather large<br /><br />David Damantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-74920867548286017682016-01-08T11:07:44.960+00:002016-01-08T11:07:44.960+00:00Not quite sure why, Sir D. Are you suggestinig tha...Not quite sure why, Sir D. Are you suggestinig that being a backstage operator leaves one less open to envy and divisiveness?<br /><br />Reminds me you weren't there. Dare I ask why not?Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-9193329435652675642016-01-08T10:22:04.817+00:002016-01-08T10:22:04.817+00:00As for the contribution by J, if one does not mind...As for the contribution by J, if one does not mind who gets the credit it is amazing what one can achievednoreply@blogger.com