It's still quite a large world

Those who wish to prophesise that the world is somewhat small, would cite someone like me to prove their case. I have after all, been to 5 continents, been in hospital on four (!?) and even lived on 3, encompassing points that are diametrically opposite, at least in terms of east-west if not north-south.

Still, I was reminded exactly how far away Britain was when my Uncle Harry passed away of cancer earlier this month. Looking through our wedding photos taken not 5 months before reminded me that at the time he was hopeful that he was getting over some mystery illness that had affected for the previous 18 months, and was hopeful of a trip to Singapore at some point. I have probably too few memories of Harry - but those that I do have are of a true gentleman, invariably with a beer in his hand (but never the adverse affects of his preferred tipple) and a slight assymetric smile.

Being thousands of miles away relatives is of course nothing new. But the world does seem very very big when you'd like to try and get back at a week's notice. Not for the first time, this proved impractical, and the predicament was one of two things that brought my US GrandDad to mind this month. 


The other was a performance of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto by Midori. The Tchaik has a particular resonance around our family - It was undoubtedly my Grandfather's favourite piece of music, and I will never forget his reaction at hearing it in (presumably) the first time in years after I played Vengerov's recording to him in his home in Washington DC. He had had a CD player for years, but owing to his short-sightedness had never worked out how to use it. It was like the dawn of a new world for him. From then on for the next two years he would listen to a piece of music every night before dinner. After he passed away, his Dog maintained the habbit!


The Dodgess also played it in her final concert in the UK. Originally she had planned to play it earlier, but an operation had prevented it. So, as a piece that meant so much, and had so many memories, I was hoping for a good, virtuosic performance.


What I got was in many ways far better... Midori's playing was incredibly tender. It really brought out the lyricism within the piece, in a way that I had never really thought possible before. The fireworks were of course present (with that finale, it's kind of hard for them not to be), but, my main memory is of the melancholy that she brought to the performance. It is without a doubt why I attend live concerts (her recording is reportedly nothing like as tender) and was one of the best performances I've ever heard of anything.

This book-ended a week of fabulous concerts. The first had been Ken Hamilton's Lizst recital. The pianist was the Dodgess' PhD supervisor, and now she is his Concert Supervisor (at least in Singapore). For the first time I really enjoyed Lizst's b minor sonata - a "pianists' piece" if ever there was one. I've always liked the Hungarian Rasphody 2 - though, like Midori, Ken put a new spin on the piece compared to the recordings that I've heard. And, like the best concerts, I will look out for more Lizst, in particular the Biblically difficult Transendental Etudes.


Ken stayed around for the week. I like to think this is entirely to take his concert organiser (and her husband) out for cocktails, though in reality it probably has more to do with a series of masterclasses in schools. The last time he performed here, his Concert Organiser was treated to Cocktails at the Marina Mandarin, where the thigh high slits in the waitresses skirts startled the Dodgess. This time, the Dodgess was startled by the view from the rooftop bar of the Fullerton Bay Hotel, which feels every cent like a set from Sex and the City.  It was a good night.


So, the past three weeks have been an up and down ride. And I haven't even discussed the lengthy saga of us trying to buy a flat here - this will no doubt come up at some point in the future, though its tone is somewhat dependent on the outcome of all the negotiations.


So Grandad, I hope that you enjoyed the Tchaik. And Harry - I hope you did too, and I will keep a look out for a concert including some Stanford that I know was your favourite.

Concerts with a domesticated Dodgess

Going to a concert with the Dodgess is a fun experience. Partly because you get her encyclopedic knowledge of music and performers, to make up for what are often hugely sub-standard, and mind numbingly boring programme notes.

But you also get her reactions to the playing. The first time I noticed this I had driven her (though some of the worst driving conditions imaginable) up to a concert in Leeds given by her academic consultant on 19th century violin playing.  Even I could tell the concert wasn't good - I was bored by it. At the end the Dodgess did clap - slowly, but her face had a very puzzled look on it. Perhaps saying 'why have I wasted a Sunday afternoon on this?' Or 'Argh - my academic life is dead if this is what my advisor plays like' Or possible even 'Is the Dodge going to shoot me for putting him through this painful aural experience?' (I hasten to say that I didn't...)

On the other hand, after a good performance (such as a recent account of Beethoven 7 directed by Joshua Bell) the joy she feels could be understood by a toddler.

All of this leads me to a similar reaction she had when sat next to me following a performance of Grieg's Piano Concerto last week. This was with the SSO and Dang Thai Son, a Vietnamese pianist. Pianists reading will know that the Grieg is not the highest mountain of the piano world. But even this proved too high. To me, the fast parts have to sparkle - not be over-peddled. And the lyrical parts need space - and should never sound like the pianist is in a hurry to catch the 11 O clock flight off the island.

Shostakovitch 5 was better - certainly lacking the depth of insight that Russian orchestras bring to the work, and with some distinctly variable intonation. There were also a couple of pieces played in lieu of an overture were, well, forgettable (but more to do with the composition than the playing).

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Perhaps the greatest treat of this week was coming home on Friday night. As I got out of the cab I thought 'oooh - that smells nice'. It was a combination of the brocoli soup and biscuit baking that the Dodgess had done in the preceeding hours. The biscuits are great, and so was the dinner, albeit that we had yet another blender incident - we are now on our 4th blender in 6 years. On top of that - the flat was spotless!! :)