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Belters and bohemians: Opera Locos @Sadlers_wells

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At the start of the Opera Locos performance, the announcement says that they really are singing. You could be forgiven for wondering that, given the amplification turns up the backing track and the voices so loud that you can't always tell what's real. But this is a mostly harmless and slightly eccentric blend of opera classics fused with the occasional pop classic. However, recognising the pop tunes would help if you were over a certain age. The most recent of them dates back twenty years. It's currently playing at the Peacock Theatre .  Five performers play out a variety of archetype opera characters. There's the worn-out tenor (Jesús Álvarez), the macho baritone (Enrique Sánchez-Ramos), the eccentric counter-tenor (Michaël Kone), the dreamy soprano (María Rey-Joly) and the wild mezzo-soprano (Mayca Teba). Since my singing days, I haven't recognised these types of performers. However, once, I recall a conductor saying he wanted no mezzo-sopranos singing with the s
Email Banter -----Original Message----- From: Paul Sent: 21 July 2005 17:07 To: Amanda Subject: RE: News from a friend... Always count on you with the latest... But WHERE are these men now??? -----Original Message----- From: Amanda Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 5:09 PM To: Paul Subject: RE: News from a friend... hehe.... not in my life that's for sure. -----Original Message----- From: Paul Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 5:17 PM To: Amanda Subject: RE: News from a friend... Yeah I'm glad I don't have men with wires in my life either...
Latest Situation Police search hospital (the one at the top of my street) for a black, possibly Asian man, around 6ft 2ins tall, with wires protruding from a hole in his blue top . It appears they didn't find the man with wires in the hospital, although they have since returned. It is an odd feeling to know that a man intent on blowing himself up over some warped outlook on life is in your manor... As the hours go by without any further reports, the threat appears to have abated for now... It is now a waiting game... But they will be caught... Fortunately I am off to the theatre this evening so I don't need to go home just now... And on the email circuit... -----Original Message----- From: Amanda Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 5:01 PM Subject: News from a friend... Just spoke to X who has spoken to scotland yards ellite special forces unit he used to work for who are the first point of contact for terrorist attacks. Apparently 4 bombs in rucksacks we

Today Tottenham Court Road

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PICT2786 Originally uploaded by akira_kev . What now appears to be a minor explosion on Warren Street tube has closed all roads around. This picture is taken by a photoblogger at the corner of TCR and Torrington Place. The hunt is on for the various failed suicide bombers

Warren Street tube station lunchtime

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Warren Street tube station Originally uploaded by donkeyontheedge . Online bloggers are capturing the clearing of the area

Something Breaking...

Massive disruption again on the underground network this afternoon as three detonators (not bombs) and a nail bomb on a bus have gone off across London. The day has changed direction at 2.12.
At the hairdressing salon in Covent Garden Asian woman : You are very rude man. You give bad service Hairdresser Luke : Well I think you are rude. You wanted your hair straightened and now you want it curled but there isn't enough time to do this before we close Asian woman : You are hopeless and your work is rubbish Hairdresser Luke : Lady, go and get FUCKED! At this point Hairdresser Luke threw the rubber anti-static thing that goes around the neck at her and picked up his bag and stormed off out of the shop. I sat there wondering whether (a) he hurt the woman with this rubber device and (b) whether he was coming back as until this little drama unfolded he was due to cut my hair. Fortunately he did come back to cut my hair. He didn't say much but it was the most aggressive chop I have had. There was raw aggression in his texturing... This woman sounded like she was a nightmare. I say sounded as I sat in a chair on the other side of the mirror where she was. I couldn't see
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Scenes from Soho Bar Tuesday 23:52. I ran into Adam in the gym tonight and we went for a bite to eat afterwards. After that he insisted we should have a drink so he dragged me to a bar full of gays. Since I had been working out I only had orange juice (with a splash of vodka). 
News: Dogs on the tube Sniffer dogs are being deployed on the tube network to detect bombs. They will add a much welcome cute furry presence...