ArtwordBlog

Since we opened the Artword Artbar a few weeks ago, I have been very impressed and humbled by the quality of the performers who have sought us out. The regular Wednesday Arts Hamilton Artshare nights, organized and MC’d by Dave Pomfret, instantly attracted a high calibre of talent. It has turned into a terrific vehicle for getting to know performers, poets and other artists. More »

Andrew Burashko’s Art of Time Ensemble concerts are more than mere concerts. They are explorations into the cross-connections, and contrasts, between different artists and different art forms. You are asked not only to listen, but to consider and compare. The choices of repertoire are unusual and wide-ranging, and the musicianship is superb. They have some of the spirit of the programs Glenn Gould used to do on the CBC, or Leonard Bernstein’s children’s concerts – music to think about. More »

I haven’t been blogging for a while. A huge amount has been happening in our lives (good, exciting things), which I will go into another time. Also, I’ve been working on ArtwordList. Excuses, excuses. The other day, a friend of ours who lives in a small town phoned to find out if we were all right. Seems she keeps in touch with our doings by reading the blog. Wow! A regular reader! Someone to write for! So I’m back. More »

The Nathaniel Dett Chorale is a versatile 20-voice ensemble that tackles a wide range of music, and undertakes interesting explorations in many directions. The common theme is summed up in the term “Afrocentric”. Named for African-American composer R. Nathaniel Dett, the ensemble seeks out music from the African diaspora that is often overlooked — in particular, music written in a formal, “classical” idiom, rather than more popular forms.

I am personally very pleased with the opportunity to hear this repertoire. Under the direction of Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, the choir is clear, tight and eminently tuneful. More »

Donald Carr phoned up at 7:30. He had two tickets to see Roy Hargrove at Massey Hall. Were we interested? Judith was busy making two-minute videos, but I was willing and able. I jumped in the car, picked up Donald, and away we went.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been to Massey Hall. More »

The man beside me didn’t know Gounod’s Faust. He was busy reading the plot synopsis in the program. “Seems quite dense”, he said. I assured him that it wasn’t. “It rips along”, I told him. “Sure fire.”

We’re up in level five of the new Ballet Opera House. Seasons tickets, in the cheap seats. I don’t mind. I’m excited.

Faust isn’t high art. It’s a sex-and-demons melodrama set to crowd-pleaser music, Offenbach without a can-can (but with a terrific waltz). More »

We were invited to the Royal Alexandra theatre to the official launch of Dirty Dancing. Of course I went, in my role as chief grasshopper. I love these events, when the press is all snapping and videoing, dancers dancing, singers singing, and hopes and dreams running high.

Is there anyone who hasn’t seen the film of Dirty Dancing? Well, actually . . . yes. Me, for example. I can’t really say why not. I love dancing of all kinds, especially when its, well, dirty. I’m good with popular culture. But somehow, in twenty years, I haven’t seen the film. More »

Slept in, and then went to the grocery store — now a Waitrose — to stock up. We were a little taken aback at the prices of some of the items (bacon now 2.99 rather than .99). I spent the afternoon transferring files to the flat computer. Judith cooked a pork chop dinner, and then we went off to see the new music concert, featuring John Edwards, the bass player whose playing is used in Judith’s video.

The concert series (Boat Ting) is held every second Monday at the Yacht Club, a boat moored at Temple dock. As we examined the bill, we were met by a vivacious American woman who laughed and said provocative things perhaps a little more loudly than strictly appropriate. She turned out to be the energy behind the concerts. Early, we went for a walk, looking for the Temple Church, featured in The Da Vinci Conspiracy. (I had picked up a copy in the airport, and left it in behind in Dornie. An undistinguished shoot-em-up thriller built around some interesing (but hardly original) information about the traditions of the Knights Templar. The Temple is a warren of buildings housing law offices, something of a maze.