I am posting, today, a vocal, non-video, interpretation of Music of the Night, from the “Phantom of the Opera” by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The vocalist is again Mark Vincent, the young man from “Down Under,” who is being tagged with the moniker pop-opera singer, which annoys me. Now turned 16 he is still a kid, and who knows where, and to what heights, his voice will take him, but labeling him like that at this stage is unfair. Maybe my reaction is a bit much. You think? I’ve chosen this from among his many recordings to show the emotional range and adult quality of his interpretation. He shades the words as though he lives the characters emotional pain and passion. In other words he pulls himself into the character and from the inside out pours out his plea. I intend to keep track of his growth as a singer and artist, and as a person going into the future. I feel strongly that it will be worth it. Apparently he's a great guy, humble, and appreciative of his good fortune and of his vocal gifts. If you'd care for a bit of his biography I could post what I know, it's very interesting, and inspiring.
Well the weather certainly is not sticking to its promise – sunshine has not poured out upon us, and it looks like any pouring will be left to the rain clouds gathering above. Had promised the wife I would start cleaning the garden today - if the sun appeared! - but, oh dear, it’s just too, too wet. I’ll just have to carry on here I guess. “I’m a low cad, just a low cad, playing such a dirty trick. . . . . “ a line from the musical/opera “Candide” by Leonard Bernstein, comes to mind. Speaking of musicals (were we?), segues quite easily into the following. I would like to take you - as your humble guide – to an event that took place in Australia in 2009, when a young, 15 year old boy won that year’s “Australia Got Talent,” contest. Mark Vincent is that teenager, and he, my friends, has a remarkable voice, as attested to by the following video of his first appearance on the show. A voice that enabled him to win top honor, and receive a cheque for A$250,000.
He seems to be taking it all in his stride, has a humble quality that is real pleasure. This young man is going places. And I, for one, wish him the best.
Took a month off to reassess my jottings. Thanks for your patience, much appreciated. Sometimes I jot gaily along la-de-da forgetting that others may not have the time or the inclination to read the long essay I’ve penned, or - as in my case - typed. Sooo. . . they depart, to other areas where the Blogger's post is shorter, more succinct, you know, not over powering, quickly read and as quickly absorbed (we trust). Time waits for no one – as they (who is they?) say - and Time seems to be in charge these days, no matter how many free hours we have in the day. Okay, okay, I hear you! Forgive the rant, and allow me to hopefully entertain you, maybe bemuse you, inspire you (wow! love that one!), maybe raise your dander, excite you (mmm! love that one too!), and have you sending off missiles in the shape of comments to voice your opinion. Anywhichway, come talk to me. Okay? Blossoms of a potted Gazania taken just before the storms of early winter swept in. Boy, did they! Right now the winds are pushing the trees around in some tricky dance steps, and the waves are dashing onto the shore like crazed Kamakazi pilots, doing as much damage to the rocky sands and tumbled logs as possible. And, we’re told, it’s going to get worse. I believe that. Winter is at least 3 weeks earlier this year, leaving autumn shuddering in its wake. To top it off, Mt. Washington, right above us, had its first snow fall of the season last night! The earliest ever in its history, and about a month ahead of previous years. Last winter the resort up there had the deepest snow, the heaviest fall, of any resort in the world! It seems prepared to top that record this year. Thank heavens the car goes in tomorrow for new winter tires, because with our driveway we gotta be fully prepared. Have a look see. . . . . Yep, it is mighty steep, and is even steeper after it goes around a sharp bend to the left before heading straight for the sea. The end point you see at the bend is the edge of a drop, a deep drop right into the rear patio of the apartment above us. You can imagine what it feels like to drive down that in the snow and heavy frost, even if you are brave-upper-lip prepared for it, having spent the better part of an hour at daybreak shoveling all the white off the asphalt - from bottom to top – then broadcasting a heavy cover of salt along its entire length. There are stories to tell of sliding down that hill, in cars and on foot! I’m sure your imagination will fill you in. Thanks for tuning in – drop a line in the comment box, be great to hear from you. Bye for now.
I picked up a couple of pairs of 3D glasses at the Post Office on Tuesday - available free to all Canadians - in preparation for a special TV program to be shown that evening on CBC TV. What was uniquely special about this broadcast was that it would be showing, for the first time ever, 3D footage shot in 1953 of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Rare, archival footage found stored away and forgotten. Janet and I - our supper spread before us - sat ourselves down that evening to share with many thousand of others across Canada a rare prospect. The glasses, as you can see, are still based on the primitive throw away type of eye ware handed out to cinema goers during the early craze for 3D films They are as uncomfortable and tiring on the eyes now as they were then. Aside from that complaint the events portrayed were impressive. A fairy tale parade: the Golden Coach gleaming magnificently; beautifully caparisoned horses bearing brightly liveried Palace soldiers and guards, whose colorful uniforms added that extra dash to the splendor of the day. They proudly lead the glittering procession as it swept along the route to St. Paul’s Cathedral; flag waving throngs lining every inch of the way. There were also many other moments in the early life of the Queen and the royal family shown - in black and white - before, during and after the war. Much of it was reminiscent of others we had seen at the time and over the years. But for me and Janet the moment that stood out and thrilled was a section of the tour the Queen, and Prince Philip, had made across Canada, while she was still Princess Elizabeth. This was a few months before the death of her father and her mounting the throne. Many of the cities and towns she and Prince Philip visited during her Canadian tour were shown. Shots of flowers being presented, public personages glowing in her presence and Anglophiles thrilled to tears. Then a sudden transition came in the quality of the old film, a section as new as though it had been shot a week ago suddenly appeared on the screen It was a clip of the Command Performance , requested by the soon to be Queen, and given by the Winnipeg Ballet. There we were, in stunning clarity, members of the Royal (given that title a year later)Winnipeg Ballet Company, performing a section of the Arnold Spohr ballet, “Ballet Imperial!” And there, plain as could be, was me! What a surprise, and I must admit, a pleasure to see that moment live again. Janet was thrilled, for the first time she saw me in a Classical Ballet, not a musical. She picked me out, the film was that clear. It was a brief moment, but I’m so glad it was there to see. What a shot in the arm, for I had forgotten that I was really quite good. (That’s a bit shameless, but hell, why not! At my age I’m entitled!). So to round this off, I’m putting here a photo of the Royal couple taken during that Command Performance, and subsequently used on the cover of the first program given after the company was given the honor by Royal Decree, to add the appellation "Royal" to its name. Here is a photo of myself from that program, 22 years old! A footnote to the years gone by.
