Theatricalities

I saw Anna Popplewell at A Streetcar Named Desire this week. It was a great production, Rachel Weisz was terrific.

There were other luvvies there but I could not recognise them.

Other highlights were the production of Samson by Handel at the Royal Albert Hall. My Proms attendance is continuing apace. Had much hilarity checking out the Promenaders. I hate to say it but gosh, what a large contingent of weirdos. Politer thing to say would be people marching to the beat of their own drums. Lots of beards, people reading books, having a snooze, chatting to each other. Endless entertainment. And the music was fantastic!!!

Finally, I went to the first day of the Fifth Test at the Oval. It was great fun but tragedy, of course, has since struck and we have lost the Ashes.

Must I leave? Yes, cruel girl...

I went to see the Royal Danish Opera's production of Partenope at the Royal Albert Hall last night. It starred my favourite opera singer, Andreas Scholl. He sang an aria Ch'io parta? that was so beautiful I was in tears when he finished. You could have heard a pin drop in the hall while he sang, it was so still. When he finished, there were cheers and shouts of Bravo! It was amazing. Four standing ovations as well at the end. Wonderful stuff - I will always remember it.

I found this clip on YouTube of Andreas Scholl singing this aria. I will be buying the DVD when it comes out in September.

With or Without You

Lovely cover of With or Without You by U2, I discovered thanks to Cover Lay Down.

Marylebone High Street

1. Lost by Annie Lennox. A truly haunting song, I will never forget how it was used in The Valley of Elah. I cried my eyes out on the Virgin flight... so moving.

2. Stripped white pine floors. I am going to copy it.

3. Black cabs when you want them most.

Tatiana del Toro

I have been enjoying American Idol on ITV2, perfect television to watch first thing on a weekend morning over breakfast.

I am very glad that Tatiana Del Toro's 15 minutes of fame came to an end. I was genuinely concerned that the judges would put her through but they did not - thank God.

I find American Idol interesting, mainly because it shows the cultural differences between young Americans and young Europeans. The song choices are always interesting - a 17 year old English girl would never choose Whitney Houston or ABBA to sing. No, she would be choosing to sing Pink, Lady Ga Ga or Katy Perry. Sometimes American youth seems so old. But maybe it is not them, perhaps it is the producers who are seeking a more middle of the road approach? Not sure, either way, X Factor is much more contemporary and current.

Besides, the inadvertent blow job joke made by Ryan Seacrest made my day. I wonder how many complaints they had over that one? Simon Cowell yelling "Watershed!" topped it off.

Cannot believe I have just posted about American Idol.

Cultural 3BTs

Goodness Gracious Me! Quite a while since I recorded an entry here but man, I have been busy. So, here are listed three "cultural" highlights of the last week:-

1. Watching Manchester United defeat Tottenham in the Carling Cup final at Wembley. Too bad the London team did not win!

2. Bear Near Me at the Donmar Warehouse. Much much better than West End Whingers thought it was!

3. Last but not least, the utterly tremendous Tina Turner at the O2. My God, the woman was amazing!!!!! Loved the dancers, loved her, loved the song, loved the box, loved it all!!

Jeffrey Foucault

I have just downloaded some free Jeffrey Foucault tracks - he is a great singer and musician.

A Musical Pairing I Never Imagined

Coldplay and Gary Barlow!

Whitney's back

She looks amazing if not slightly medicated

Whitney Houston at the 2009 Grammy Awards
by TheDlisted

Hidden Gem

Check out Ringo - what a dude.

Songs that Will Remind Me of St Anton

Cry For You by September




The Final Countdown by Europe



And Finally.... Human by The Killers. Perfect song to ski down a slope to.


Human Video

One Man Guy by Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright and Teddy Thompson

I discovered this clip on Last.fm while surfing through various tracks of the Wainwright clan. I really like this song of Loudon Wainwright's and this is a nice performance of it.