Friday!

[tamaranth]

I've had two days off this week, and it's rained on both of them ...

At Novacon I was talking to Steve Jeffery WINOLJ about The Baroque Cycle, apropos of which he mentioned a play he'd seen reviewed in Chemistry World. It's Calculus, by Carl Djerassi, about Liebniz and Newton: the review is here. If anyone knows of a performance, I'd love to see it!

Had unpleasant first-half-of-evening yesterday (crowds and alarming lights, both part of the Armistice Day commemoration) which culminated in my sitting in the RFH bar writing haiku and swigging pink drink. We were supposed to be seeing Arcadi Volodos (+ London Philharmonia) playing Rach 3, but he couldn't make it. I decided to give Freddy Klempf (former Young Musician of the Year) the benefit of the doubt, and he made it more than worth my while. If anyone ever wants a picture of a modern-day Romantic pianist, he is it. I'm sure they don't let him out in daylight. He did the fast bits very spectacularly; the slow bits very distractedly; all in all, watching him play (from right behind the tuba -- I swear I caught the tuba-player's eye, reflectedly) was a wonderfully voyeuristic experience.

Sibelius Symphony #5 (anyone remember Strawberry Switchblade?) also lovely, though rather restful.

Slept a lot. Now going back to bed to attend my wordcount.

Comments

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

after Rach 3, practically anything would be restful: I find that finale very emotionally draining. But the Sibelius, all that lovely swooping bass (evocative, apparently, of swans in flight): perfect antidote to crowds!