Always travelling

[vaneramos]

Today: spring runoff along Sideroad 20







The pond two days later


Why am I always on a plane or a fast train
What a world my parents gave me
Always travelling but not in love.
Still I think I'm doing fine
Wouldn't it be a lovely headline:
"Life is Beautiful" on the New York Times

~Rufus Wainwright


Danny and I went to two concerts in the past week.

Last Friday night it was Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, performed by the University of Guelph Choir, noted Canadian duo pianists James Anagnoson and Leslie Kinton, and a percussion ensemble. The piece was originally scored for this instrumentation, and it's fabulous. It's exhilerating to see two keyboards pumping out that much sound.

The words were written by defrocked monks in the 13th Century. The poems celebrate fortune, springtime, love and lust. What better way to hail the change of seasons? U of G choir did a superb job.

Last night's offering by Tafelmusik was a contrast: six Baroque concerti and concerti grossi. I hardly knew five of the composers, but Francesco Durante's Concerto grosso in A Major "La Pazzia" was great fun, and Vivaldi's Concerto for violoncello in B Minor, RV 424, Christina Mahler the soloist, was lovely. The final number, Pietro Locatelli's Concerto for violin in D Major, op. 3, no. 1, sounded vaguely familiar, and no doubt it is one of the most technically demanding pieces in the repertoire. Guest director and soloist Elizabeth Wallfisch proved equal to the challenge, and it was a delight to watch her.