Friday 28th September

Nostalgia possibly isn't the right word to use because I didn't live in the days when organists played before the start of a film in the cinema and the screen rose majestically and gracefully from the stage but I can call it romantic.  I have just had the most romantic evening of my life in a long time.

"Captain Corelli's Mandolin" was on at The Philharmonic in Liverpool.  They have a season of classic films from a wide variety of genres, mainly foreign films.  Surprisingly it only costs about the same as going to a multiplex but the surroundings of the theatre are much more charming and traditional.  We were lucky to get the front row seats in the circle, the best view in my opinion.  The seats are unreserved so it's on a first come first served basis.  It was so enjoyable to have an organist play before the film while everybody took their seats.  He welcomed everyone and told us a little about the screen, it is the only rising cinema screen in the world:

"Join our resident cinema organist Dave Nicholas. Grip your seats and marvel at the world's only rising cinema screen!  

The Screen
Philharmonic Hall's cinema screen is unique, the only surviving Walturdaw Cinema Screen in the world. The hall itself was built in the style of the grandest picture houses of the 1930s, so it was almost inevitable that a screen should be included. The screen features a unique, antique counter weight system, still working perfectly, which raises the screen proscenium - an ensemble of over 7 tons - a full 19ft through the stage. The screen was rejuvenated during Philharmonic Hall's refurbishment, with new screen and drapes. Dolby stereo surround was added, with specially made flush speakers hidden in the fabric of the building itself.

Introducing Dave Nicholas
Dave Nicholas is in the unique position of being the only resident organist left on Merseyside. Undoubtedly one of the most accomplished and best known theatre organists in the country, the inimitable kilt-wearing Nicholas is an institution in himself, and as much a part of the Classic Film nights at The Phil than the films themselves, having been associated with them since their inception in 1988."

Everybody applauded as the film was about to start and it truly was an experience.  I'll certainly be going again, I'm a sucker for a bit of romance and old fashioned elegance ;-)

 

Monday 17th September

I don't know about turning Japanese but I think I'm turning French ! :-)  Went to see Moulin Rouge on Friday with RW, starring  Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman.  Very funny film, so funny in fact that it was hard to feel any sympathy for Nicole Kidman's character when she dies at the end.  How wonderful it must have been to be in Paris around that time, full of artists, writers and full of passion but then of course they only show the romantic side in films like that.

Saturday, RW and I ventured into Liverpool and braved the Saturday throng.  Mooched about in Bold Street, it's been years since I looked at the shops at that end of town.  Must explore it a bit more some time.  Bought enough books to keep me going for a while at Waterstones (which has a nice little café) and The Bluecoat chambers who were having a second hand book fair.

Had lunch at "The Egg" which didn't quite live up to my expectations having seen the web site.  It reminded me of a dingy bed sit with dirty sofas and uncomfortable, mismatched wooden chairs and tables.  The food was ok but I don't think I'll be going again.  Why can't someone open a coffee house like the one in "Friends" or "Frasier" where I could sit for hours on end drinking lattes, in comfort and reading!??   One can dream!

Sunday, Ian and I went to lunch at our local pub "The Four Topped Oak" which has just had a re-fit and it was a very pleasant surprise to find cosy nooks with leather wing back chairs, the days papers, an open fire and the decor was reminiscent of the Mediterranean crossed with an English study, it worked well and gave the place an intellectual feel (unusual in Widnes) without being pretentious.  The food was very nice too, I hope it doesn't change because it's just round the corner from me :-)  Sunday evening we watched "Quills" and "Les Misérables" both starring Geoffrey Rush.  Not good looking by conventional standards but certainly very attractive.  In both his roles as De Sade and as Javert,  one could not help but feel sympathetic towards him even though both characters were perverted in their own way.   Fine performances by all the cast which included Ed Tudor Pole in both films, I used to have such a crush on him,  I think I've got a thing for men with long faces!  Both films were excellent and highly recommended.  If only there was a place that combined the culinary talents and ambience of the Four Topped Oak, had screenings of selected films and served a good milky coffee, I think I'd be heaven :-)  Oh, and if it was close by so I could pop in regularly!  Ian, is the kettle on?? :-))

 

Wednesday 5th September 2001

Opera, performed well, is one of the most moving events a music lover can experience.  Julia Migenes-Johnson and Placido Domingo in Bizet's "Carmen" is passionate, fiery, entertaining and a joy to watch.  Having seen their performance on video, it was with great excitement that I awaited my first ever "live" performance of Carmen at the Liverpool Empire theatre performed by the "Chisinau National Opera company".  Chisinau is in Moldova in case you were wondering :-) 


Our seats, which were in the circle, had been pre-booked by RW and were supposedly very good seats, the most expensive apparently.  I think they were the most uncomfortable seats I have ever had the misfortune to sit on!  I am 6ft 1" so leg room can be a problem but the seats were so cramped and close together that I couldn't stretch my legs and had to sit so rigidly that before the curtain had even gone up I was already in pain.  However, I focused my mind on the stage and away from my incapacity :-)

Habanera is one of my favorite pieces of music.  I have it on CD performed by no other than Maria Callas!  Whenever I play it, I feel the music go through me and uplift me.  The orchestra that accompany her play with such passion and "oomph" for want of a better word, that I can't help but be carried along.  I can almost feel the Seville sun on my back :-)  
The orchestra in the theatre began, where was the oomph???  "Perhaps that comes later?"  I thought.  I was to be disappointed, the music was what can only be described as diminutive and weak.  I wanted to feel the vibrations of the instruments, all I could feel was the cold draught in the auditorium!  I was leaning forward to ease my discomfort when I felt a sharp tap on my shoulder, it was an elderly lady sitting on the row behind me who was quite perturbed and asked me to sit back with a very unfriendly edge to her voice.  Later on, she told my friend "do stop fidgeting!"  He had the same problem as me, he is tall also.

There we sat, feeling slightly sorry for ourselves.  The curtain went up and I waited with baited breath for the appearance of Don José.  Enter stage left, a quite ordinary, quite chubby man.  He didn't fit my ideal of Don José at all and most importantly, I didn't fancy him !!! :-(  Then came time for Carmen to enter,  she wasn't sensual, she wasn't fiery, she wasn't cheeky!!  I couldn't fault the actual singing talents but the performances didn't move me.

I kept getting fits of the giggles throughout the performance, mainly because of the sub-title machine above the stage making reference to "bugles down below, lances, donkeys and broomsticks"........  you had to be there!

By the time the final act came round I was quite relieved to be nearing the end.  Some of the girls were throwing oranges on stage and one of them rolled off and hit the cornet player in the face.  The orange, not the girl!  :-)

When it came time for Don José to stab Carmen I found myself silently urging him on!  In the aforementioned film, in the ensuing skirmish in the final scene, Carmen falls onto the blade and Don José can't quite believe the crime he has just committed.  In this performance, it was more like the shower scene in "Psycho"!  He was like a man possessed!

I hate to be so critical, perhaps I was expecting too much??  I have high standards and when one pays £34 for what is supposed to be one of the best seats in the house for what I considered to be quite an amateurish performance in a very uncomfortable environment, I think I am entitled to feel aggrieved.  I shall choose my next venue and performance with more care!

 

HOME