Mercoledi Musicale

Along the Tevere looking towards Ponte di Sant' Angelo and San Pietro.  The river seems very high but the foliage is glorious and I am homesick.

I was planning to get over to Roma this month but the best planned lays of mice and men oft go astray. A few things have got in the way and I may have to forgo the joy of seeing my friends there for a few more months. For some reason this song from On the Town seemed an appropriate way to express my disappointment.

Eileen Farrell was one of those singers who could truly manage cross-over.  Though she did appear on the stages of several American opera house - including several seasons at the Met - she was better known for her concert appearances.  Her opera repertoire roles from Gluck's Alceste to Berg's Wozzeck and in concerts she was known for her wide ranging repertoire - she could spin a fine thread of sound - her breath control was incredible - in Debussy and get down and gutsy with the blues.

The accompanist is, of course, Leonard Bernstein the composer of On the Town.  I only saw him conduct once - the 1964 Falstaff at the old Met and I can't say I am as enamoured of Bernstein as many of my generation are/were.  Unusually for him, in this video, he allows the spotlight to shine almost exclusively on Farrell.

To Walter, Robert, Linda, Gayle, Diana, Marco, Larry, Vincenzo, Anna, Peter, Joe, Mark, Carol Ann, Craig, Jolka and all my dear friends in Roma:

But let's be glad for what we've had
And what's to come.
There's so much more embracing
Still to be done, but time is racing.
Oh, well, we'll catch up
Some other time.

lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green

music by Leonard Bernstein

24 October - 1901: Annie Edson Taylor becomes the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel.

Wish We Were There

Since Vin started running the Roma Marathon I believe this is the first time we haven't been on the side lines with Larry cheering him on.  And it was always such a thrill to see him coming out of the crowd at the end wearing his medal and announcing his time.  Unfortunately today we could only be with him in our hearts.

The Marathon starts at the Arch of Constantine beside the Colesseo and goes for 42.195 kms through the city.  The runners go as far West as San Paolo and cross the Tevere five times  to Parco di Villa Glori in the East and back to the Colesseo.  We always waited at various points in Centro to urge him on - leisurely walking from one to the other, I might add, no running for that group.

Larry always has a bouquet of flowers waiting for Vin at the end of the race - and there was one year if memory serves a Pooh Bear balloon.   This year Vin completed the race in 3 hours and 35 minutes - which I believe (though they might want to correct me) beat last year's time.


Caro Vin I only wish we could have been there to shout: Vai Vai along the route and offer complimenti at the finish.  And then join you and Larry at Valentino's for a celebratory lunch.

18 March - 1850 – American Express is founded by Henry Wells and William Fargo.

And I Miss .....?

Canadian Winters?

Well given the sort of winter they've been having right across the country I'd have to say: NO!

My friend Kev is spending a few months back home on the West Coast and as he was wandering around Lost Lagoon in Vancouver's west end yesterday, he took this shot with his IPhone.

I hope Vancouverites, who are not use to the ice and snow, see the humour in it all?

08 gennaio - San Lorenzo Giustiniani