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.
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