Nimble Tread

Sweet Bergamasque

It's getting dark awfully early these days, and I thought this clip from 1962 of David Oistrakh and Frida Bauer playing the Clair de lune movement from Debussy's Suite Bergamasque might lift people from their pre-winter doldrums. 

Scholl Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain

The Barbican recently handed over its stage to Accademia Bizantina and Andreas Scholl, who offered a smattering of Baroque cantatas and concertos by Handel and JS Bach.  The Accademia, who hail from Ravenna and are led by organist Ottavio Dantone, opened the concert with Handel's Concerto in F major for Organ and Harpsichord, Op.4 No.4, one of the composer's sweetest pieces, and a definite mood-setter for the evening.  The band is a very tight outfit, and remarkably sensitive to fluctuations in the music, particularly in andante movmements, which can, especially in Baroque works, seem a bit monochromatic.  Most notable this evening was the Accademia's rendition of Bach's Cantata 'Vergnügte Ruh', beliebte Seelenlust', BWV 170, which in the group's hands waxed and waned beautifully.  Their play was only enhanced by Scholl, who, to his credit, seemed happier in the role of band member than headliner.  Though he got off to a conservative start with the 'Geist und Seele' aria from Bach's Cantata 'Geist und Seele wird verwirret', BWV 35, he loosened up during the first recitative and was in fine form come the piece's second aria, 'Gott hat alles.'
Scholl has a terrific voice, clear in tone and built upon a warm timbre that perhaps accounts for much of his appeal.  Many counter-tenors can sound reedy or juvenile, and often focus more attention on sustaining a pure tone than on lending colour or emotion to the music being sung.  While Scholl is hardly perfect in this regard, he seems to thrive in live performances and has been fantastic every time I've seen him in concert.  He meshes well with the Accademia, and I expect their relationship, which has already included a tribute CD to Senesino, will continue for some time to come. 

Amaze Your Friends

My first post since getting back to London and I'm writing about magic.
I dropped by International Magic to pick up a birthday present for friend and came across a flier for the 35th International Magic Convention, which is taking place at the Shaw Theatre in the Novotel Euston -- magic in a hotel theatre, imagine that -- this weekend.  The roster features Mickey Silver, James Brown (presumably not the James Brown), Roger Crosthwaite, and Will Houstoun, who's so English he puts a second "u" in Houston.  The bunch will be performing feats of close-up magic and generally wowing folks with their prestidigitative chops.  Scheduling and ticket info can be found at Int'l Magic's website, which is here.