On this day in 1775, one of the greatest novelists in the English language, Jane Austen, was born. In celebration of the great lady’s birthday, here are some excerpts from her novels: From Sense & Sensibility: “They gave themselves up wholly to their sorrow, seeking increase of wretchedness in every reflection that could afford it, and resolved against… Read on
Last night at the Barbican Centre, my husband and I were entranced by the mesmerising beauty of Philippe Jaroussky’s voice and the talented ensemble of Concerto Koln (Cologne). What a great night for Baroque music it was! With an impressive opening with “The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba” by Handel, the evening went from strength to strength.… Read on
Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680) was a major, highly influential sculptor of the Baroque. His most famous work was involved with the Vatican as his patrons were rich and powerful members of the Roman Catholic Church. The passionate sculpture above tells the tale of Apollo and Daphne of Greek mythology. Daphne was a nymph who did not return Apollo’s… Read on
Yesterday morning, I travelled to the British Museum in the Borough of Holborn, where I attended the anthropological conference Reviewer Meets Reviewed. There was a better turnout than I had expected and the subject was on the ethnographical book entitled Uncertain Vision: Birt, Dyke and the Reinvention of the BBC by Dr. Georgina Born, who I found to… Read on
My husband and I saw this recently in Paris at the Opera Bastille, where it was performed by Tatiana Lisnic (Adina) and Charles Castronovo (Nemorino) along with an impressive, equally talented chorus. While not as grand and traditional as the Opera Garnier, the Opera Bastille has great acoustics and is very modern (for those who like that sort… Read on
Since I was a little girl, I had dreamed of visiting this opera house. The Paris Opera was founded in 1669 by the Sun King, Louis XIV, and was housed at various venues throughout the beautiful city of Paris. The structure behind me in the photo below was made in the nineteenth century and is called the Palais Garnier,… Read on