Interview meme (2)

[tamaranth]

Questions from sbisson


1) Why opera?What is it that makes it such an important part of your life?

I think it's the combination of gorgeous classical music, unintelligible lyrics (i.e. make up own plot, no one will mind, original plot makes zero sense anyway :)) and stunning vocal pyrotechnics -- plus the (often imaginary, mind's-eye) theatrical presentation. I find myself doing something quite creative simply by listening -- an attempt to imagine / reconstruct / construct the actual performance, whether a real performance of the opera as written, or an imaginary production of something that fits the plot I've just made up.

2) How did you cope when you were unable to read a book?

I could read on the Visor, because of being able to change font size and resolution -- also it didn't have the mental associations of 'book' which I suspect I talked myself into being put off by!. I read e-books -- including making my own from anything I could find text for -- and I started writing again, which actually puts me off reading, except for research / inspiration ...

3) Someone offers you a million ponds on the condition that you spend it on other people, and must spend it in a year. What do you do?

If you really mean 'ponds', I don't know that many amphibians :)
... Let's see. Would fix debt problems of immediate family, not that they would appreciate it. Would buy larger house for residentevil666 (and his cohabitees). Large anonymous donations to various charities, from Amnesty to National Art Collections Fund to Cats' Protection League. Massive donation to get Music Theatre London out of debt (not anonymous, I want free tickets to their next show!) Air tickets to exotic locations for friends. (One-way tickets for some of 'em :)) £10 to every beggar who asks politely for money, for a limited period (a day? a week?)

Suspect £1,000,000 would not actually last very long!

4) Where in the world would you be now, if you had the choice?

On a (private) beach in, hmmm, Northern California (or the state north of that, which I forget the name of): with a coolbag containing pink drink, a couple of good books, a decent PDA and a mobile with infrared to provide dial-up access.

5) How does it feel to be one of the people who has done the most to draw London fandom onto LJ?

Am ridden with guilt and no doubt to blame for the imminent collapse of many companies :)

I'm really surprised, and very pleased, that so many people seem to like it here so much! Just worried that my ability to convey enthusiasm (see previous enthusing about Handspring Visor, Gwyneth Jones, etc etc) means that I will be reborn as a door-to-door salesperson.

Comments

[the-gardener.livejournal.com]

Northern California (or the state north of that, which I forget the name of)

Oregon.