Re: What is everyone up to?

[serendipity]

Sling Box " is a TV streaming device that enables the viewers to remotely view their cable, satellite or personal video recorder programming from an internet enabled computer with a broadband internet connection." Basically it redirects the programming from one area (in my case, country) to another remote location.
They're made by Slingmedia, www.slingmedia.com
Looks interesting enough to try out...

I'm looking forward to hearing about the concert in the Abbey, do share with us.

Last night I was watching a drama ( I think they call it drama series or mini series here) on TV and was surprised to hear Amici's "Prayer in the Night" (Sarabande) being played as the "heroine" was ready to take a suicidal plunge into the ocean by jumping off the cliff!
I was so surprised to hear it and almost choked on the food I was eating. My husband thought it was due to the scene, but I explained that it was the music.
It was a pleasant surprise, nevertheless.

[sweetormiger]

Interesting idea the slingbox! Hope it works out for you!

And it is always great to find that the AF music featuring the original 5 is still being discovered and continued!
Both CD's are still on my favorite list and are still very much in circulation.

[sweetormiger]

Hellllooooo, yoohoo...where is everyone? It's been so quiet on here you could hear a pin drop!
Anybody there...there....there...there

[lyndsey]

I've recently started my new career as a Newly Qualified Teacher, teaching 11 - 14yrs in school, and teaching singing with the local music service. Busy busy busy!

Might be going to see the Operababes (Nadia's other group) tomorrow night coz they're in Peterborough. Then on Saturday I'm going to the English National Opera with a friend of mine, watching an Open Rehearsal of Handel's Partenope and seeing Rossini's Barber of Seville in the evening. I'm thinking of going to see Hamlet at the RSC because the absolutely gorgeous David Tennant is playing him at the moment. I wouldn't go just for him though of course A friend of mine is playing percussion with the production. x

[sweetormiger]

Congratulations on your teachers position. Hope the 'kids' are not giving too much of a headache.
Don't know if music is an elective study in England as it is here in the US, when I went to school it was a cursory program and I used to love it! ALOT! Was a pretty good with the xylophone, though never kept up with the music study's for various reasons not entirely under my control!
Anyhow, hope you are enjoying yourself Lyndz!

[Sarah]

I'm thinking of going to see Hamlet at the RSC because the absolutely gorgeous David Tennant is playing him at the moment. I wouldn't go just for him though of course A friend of mine is playing percussion with the production. x

I just saw Kenneth Branagh in Ivanov recently - and I did go just for him! although it was good to see other well known actresses in it such as Gina Mckee (Notting Hill, Forsyte Saga) and Lucy Briers (Pride & Prejudice - Colin Firth version). I was not familiar with much of Chekov's work before this but I was pleasantly surprised and I really enjoyed it. I have been a fan of Kenneth Branagh for many years, I love all the Shakespeare he does, he really brings it to life. After seeing Ivanov, I think he has done the same as Chekov and I will be reading more of his work in the future.

Next week I am going to see Dara O'Briain (Mock The Week) doing standup and then at the weekend I'm taking my mum to see Aled Jones in a local concert.

Lynz, you should contact Susan re Hamlet as I know she is going to see it. She had a review of it with her when we were in Dorchester recently - apparently there's a "bed scene" in it. Oh and did you know that Patrick Stewart is also in it - he's a great Shakespearean actor too.I've seen him performing Shylock from the Merchant of Venice and he was incredible.

[sweetormiger]

Sleepless in the night she wanders, searching for a living soul, no one hears or crosses her paths, left to her own devises she searches her mind and finds... ah, Monday is Sept 29th, a day to look forward to, a day on which a glorious voice will ring out once again and proclaims the world of music (and poetry) to be his!

well he'll share it with a few others, but I hope you all will give Poetry Serenade a go!!
Now all I have to do is patiently wait till Monday, hope he mail won't take too long, I am way too curious about the CD.

[lyndsey]

Have fun seeing Dara O' Briain! Russell Howard and Frankie Boyle (also from Mock the Week) are doing stand-up in Peterborough soon, although I think Frankie clashes with Nick! Damn.

I had such a good day yesterday - always love my days out in London. Saw a rehearsal of act 3 of Handel's Partenope. Looks like it'll be good, although I didn't realise a Handel opera could be so naughty! At one point, Partenope straddles her lover on the bed and pours champagne on him?! Doesn't go any further than that though. And it wasn't a dress rehearsal, so they didn't run all the way through - started late, then stopped and started loads, just like any normal rehearsal. Some of the male cast members are quite funny, but you can tell the leading lady is a Diva

Barber of Seville was also very good. It was almost impossible to understand what the cast was singing at some stage, but I think that was to accentuate the sense of confusion in the Act.

Oh - I think I saw the actor who plays Filch in Harry Potter! He's starring in a play with David Walliams and Ian Mckellen I think, opposite the Coliseum. Can't remember the title of it. Anyway, I'm certain he walked past me and my friend in Covent Garden - he's taller than I expected! x

[Charity T]

I've been very, very busy. I have early classes every day but Thursday, late classes on Mondays and Wednesdays, and an early evening class on Thursdays. Chemistry homework is a constant, and things are picking up in my biolab.

But I did get to catch a bit of America's Got Talent last night when class let out early, but I'll post about that in the tv thread.

Congrats on the job Lyndz!

[sweetormiger]

I went to see Carmen last night and it was so very good! The performers were so passionate, really sucked you right into the story and the music did what it was meant to do, take you on an emotional ride.
Whooooheee, better than a roller coaster ride! Ahhhh, it felt good!!
I was so taken in that I had the sensation of being the sole person in the audience... doesn't happen very often. Sometimes people around you pretty much disturb you in trying to get into the music and just let it take you away, last night though, it worked wonders!
I really needed it.
Too bad Nick was not singing in it, though come to think of it, the Escamillio last night was on a horse and also dancing on the table, and I mean slinking his hips to the torreador song, dancing out his bull fighting story. Flirting with the girls... he he, would have been kind of hot seeing Nick do that
Not sure how modern the Carmen version is that Nick is performing in but don't you think it would be really cool if it was in present time and the Bullfighter turns into a sort of Hell;s Angel kind of Matador... ha ha, can you see it, Nick all in leather and on a roaring Harley...
Can't wait to hear about it!!

[sweetormiger]

.

Oh - I think I saw the actor who plays Filch in Harry Potter! He's starring in a play with David Walliams and Ian Mckellen I think, opposite the Coliseum. Can't remember the title of it. Anyway, I'm certain he walked past me and my friend in Covent Garden - he's taller than I expected! x

Speaking of HP movie cast, I caught a glimpse of some show two nights ago with Alan Rickman in it, I did not really recognize him as he was in some weird get up, don't even know what the show was, but I did recognize that unmistakable snitty speech he always applies as Professor Snape...

[serendipity]

Hi! Sorry I've been away for a while, but my mom is visiting us from the States.
I'll have some more time to chat later.

[sweetormiger]

Hi! Sorry I've been away for a while, but my mom is visiting us from the States.
I'll have some more time to chat later.

Enjoy your visit with your mom. We will be here when you get back to us!

[lyndsey]

I had the best few days at the end of the half term! The opera workshop that was done at uni was brilliant! No Nick unfortunately, but the focus was on Carmen and the guys running it were lovely. The evening was just as great - Nick was fabulous as the Toreador of course! He's looking very well - very well indeed! And the sparkly pink and gold Toreador outfit was very fetching After the show he met my Director of music at uni and then walked me back to my car.
Friday I saw Rusalka, which was also fantastic - even though Nick wasn't in it. The guy playing the Water Spirit, who was also Lilas Pastia in Carmen, was brilliant - superb voice. I saw Nick briefly at the end and said how much I enjoyed it. Then me and mum met up with Sarah and Margaret at a restaurant before going to see Nick. However Escamillo escaped after the show - we assume to grab a lift back to London.

All in all it was a brilliant few days. x

[Sarah]

I've not been on here for a while as I've been away in the USA with Kate.

We spent three days in Las Vegas, stayed at the Luxor Hotel, in the pyramid with it's lifts that go diagonally rather than vertically - quite bizarre the first time you ride in them!! We did lots of shopping in all the various malls and hotels, saw Donny & Marie in concert (and got to meet them afterwards) and visited Hoover Dam. One of the hi-lights was a helicopter trip down the strip at night - it was an incredible view and a great experience.
After that we flew to Salt Lake City in Utah and met up with some friends of mine. It was a total change from Las Vegas and it was lovely to see all the mountains and the autumn colours and we visited quite a few of the mormon historical sites. It was great to catch up with my friends (and do more shopping) and one of the hi-lights had to be going to see Aida for my birthday. It was the muscial version by Tim Rice and Elton John (as opposed to the opera) but it was incredible. Kate and I both bought the soundtrack in the interval and played it non stop. We were also very lucky to meet some of the cast afterwards as they lined up at the exit to the theatre to say goodbye and thank people for coming. My friend knew the guy playing the leading male role (Radames) so she got him to pose for photos and we both got big hugs when he heard we'd come from England.
Kate took the most photos and she's still away in Washington D.C at the moment visiting family, but I'll try and post up a few of mine as well.

Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes,it was a great day - despite the fact that I now feel incredibly old!

I saw Nick again in Carmen just 1 day after getting back from USA and I have to say I enjoyed it more the second time around.They'd made a few slight changes since I'd seen it at Hackney and it was more intense and dramatic.

Back to work now....I wish I could say it was good to be back....