MAKING THE MOST OF IT

Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Sydney Symphoney Orchestra
photo from Limelight review

Anne-Sophie Mutter made her second visit to Sydney last week an opportunity to celebrate the Mozart Violin Concertos 2, 3 and 5 and give the orchestra the privilege of working sans chef. Is this every orchestra players dream? It was a brilliant success and credit is deserved all round - to her glorious self, to the orchestra alone with themselves, and to W.A.M. - for an especially sophisticated evening of music.

She looked stunning, it always has to be said, and her musicianship with the violin is arguably unparalleled. Her interaction with the orchestra showed a mutual respect of which we should be quite proud. They excelled themselves and the sound from mid stalls (where one sits for music of this genre not to mention Ms Mutter) was most beautiful.

When she had the opportunity, and whenever she felt it necessary, with her lovely arm she would sweep through the melody, encourage this section here, over there now, and occasionally, in the only corrective stance, reign in the dynamics a bit.

On the concertos, she has this to say (from the programme notes) :

Violin Concerto No. 2 in D, K211

"elegant, reflecting the French influence, including the Rondeau finale ... more conventional in every sense compared with the last three."

Violin Concerto No. 3 in G, K 216

"Alfred Einstein was right to describe the Adagio of K216 as seeming to have fallen straight from heaven - the effect of muted strings was quite new, and gives the entire movement a magical atmosphere, and the Rondeau is much more daring then previous ones. What's more. there's now an equal dialogue bewteen the violin and orchestra, as opposed to the first two concertos, where it's merely a partner in the back-ground. Here Mozart has achieved the ideal shape of the violin concerto."

Violin Concerto No. 5 in A, K219 (Turkish)

"the crowning achievement is K219 because here Mozart experiments with many new ideas. That is the most daring and multi-layered concerto, full of abrupt emotional changes."

Here she is in a promotional video from the SSO, with some lovely things to say about the orchestra, about Mozart, and particularly about advice to young musicians. It is not that one should try to be a star, one should strive to be a good person. And happily, she speaks of next time.






The question to contemplate as I walk the woods is the relationship between goodness of person and fine musicianship, and vice versa.

BONDI TO BRONTE

Bondi Beach, a mere 15 minute drive from the CBD for those who need some perspective, is the great city beach in a city of endless beaches - tens of Pacific Ocean beaches north and south separated by jagged headlands, harbour beaches of impossible beauty, and beaches along the myriad waterways fingering their way into the bush on which Sydney is built, and burns.

Another favorite Sydney must-do on a gorgeous Sunday morning is the 'Bondi to Bronte' walk. From the southern end of Bondi Beach the path winds around the weathered sand stone cliff face past Tamarama to Bronte Beach. There's the full gamut:  locals, tourists, young, old, fit, wanna-be-fit, regulars, occasionals etc. I haven't included the people for reasons of due propriety, but they are an essential part of the experience.

Some, or one of, the overlooking parks were once gay beats (maybe still are) and the scene of gays being hurled to their death in a shameful period of poofter bashing and wanton gay murders. It hangs somberly over the area for some who know. I didn't tell.

On a more enlightened note, it is also the setting for the hugely successful annual Sculpture By The Sea which had since extended to Perth.

We start above the Ice Bergs Pool (with a posh restaurant on high) and finish half way at Tamarama where K was waiting with the car. Parking is at best part of the fun; at worst a nightmare.

Again, this is a not so little iphone essay which is best looked at by clicking to enlarge and then scrolling through the enlargements by clicking their right or left margin.

THE MANLY FERRY

One of the trips we did with Debbie was the old classic - the Manly Ferry. This is a half hour seven mile trip along and across the harbour which gives a good perspective on the city and harbour landscapes, and you get to see the Opera House as it is best seen - from the water.

If you're not yet sick of seeing photographs of the Sydney Opera House, you will be by the time go get through this. But there is strong link between Manly and the Opera House. It was at Manly that the native man Bennelong was first seen, and the area was given the name of his stance. And it was Bennelong Point, where he had chosen to live after being embraced by the white man, that would be the site of the great iconic building.

We boarded in the afternoon, spent a few hours wondering around, had fish and chips and a glass of wine, and came back in the evening with the sun behind the city and the lowering light catching the tiled sails.

As usual, click the photos to enlarge for further detail (all iphone snaps I'm afraid) and if you click on the right hand side of the enlargement, you will scroll to the right through the photos, and likewise in reverse.


There's always a big cruise ship in at this time of year. Here comes our ferry.

Coming back in the late afternoon past the heads which is where the ferries to and from usually cross.

Rounding middle head with the city and the lowering sun to the west.

Here comes that building.

And now the sun is behind us as we swing into the Quay.

And home again. Cup of tea? Another glass? Thai for dinner again?

IT WAS MUTUAL

It was love at first sight. Dogs know.

Names and places withheld to protect the guilty.

As usual, click to enlarge for increased detail.