tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post5722283005193360523..comments2024-03-29T03:47:13.852+00:00Comments on Going Gently: Au Font Du Temple SaintJohn Going Gentlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958171262765033946noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-66029131518241658922016-01-10T02:55:25.480+00:002016-01-10T02:55:25.480+00:00Sudden death at forty one, of my then husband, liv...Sudden death at forty one, of my then husband, living in an "all things wonderful" world and then being thrust into another living life was my wake up . . . when "waking" wasn't my desire . . .<br />Took me a bit . . . quite a long bit . . . <br />Now thirty five years later . . .<br />Happy I have lived . . .Lynnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08723721131329150461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-21779062731159550272016-01-09T19:52:02.042+00:002016-01-09T19:52:02.042+00:00Honestly, the Internet. Before I went on it, the w...Honestly, the Internet. Before I went on it, the whole wide world out there was just a rumor.Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155991693956178030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-44316319733116085832016-01-09T19:18:15.700+00:002016-01-09T19:18:15.700+00:00So much so! xoxoSo much so! xoxoJanice Grinyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14363741660626407979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-65187285076069337112016-01-09T14:59:39.461+00:002016-01-09T14:59:39.461+00:00Thank you for this..... I too watched Amy and was ...Thank you for this..... I too watched Amy and was terribly depressed by it all.... It was a car crash and she was so vunerable ...the ending was mapped out from the start. She couldnt change her life but you did .... <br />A great postJohn Going Gentlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14958171262765033946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-85724524905149608232016-01-09T14:44:58.261+00:002016-01-09T14:44:58.261+00:00My defining opera moment was in the early 1980s wa...My defining opera moment was in the early 1980s watching the movie Diva (French, dir. JJ Beineix) which was a big hit at the time, I think I watched it four or five times, small indie cinemas were becomeing all the rage. It feels a bit cumbersome now but still worth watching. One of the many story lines in this movie is about a young man infatuated with an opera diva and another story line is a secret recording of an aria from the Italian opera La Wally (no idea of the composer). This is the scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTLF9TIx6lE<br /><br />I generally dislike opera, had it forced down my throat by my parents. Sabinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09015827501648296977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-25548062597467855782016-01-09T14:09:55.753+00:002016-01-09T14:09:55.753+00:00I think the first for me was watching Frederic Mar...I think the first for me was watching Frederic March (I think) play the role of Chopin when I was very young. I was mesmerized and knew I had to learn to play the piano (talk about a cuckoo in a working class home - my love of classical music totally bewildered my lovely family). Then leaving home at 21 to work "just for 5 months in Switzerland" because I had always said I would. And flying into Geneva over the mountains I KNEW I wasn't going back. And strangely enough, over many years of beatings by my violent ex I began drinking heavily. While I sought treatment and was trying not to drink, he came into the house, supposedly fully supporting me, and bought in a bottle of rose. Drank 2 glasses (he never ONLY drank 2 glasses - he always finished the bottle) - and said I'll leave that for you. I actually poured it down the drain but I remember the dr. saying "and you think that was an accident do you"? Strangely enough I watched the sad documentary on Amy Winehouse last night and at one point she and her rat of a husband (you know, the one who introduced her to hard drugs), were going to go into rehab. "Lovely" Blake wanted them to go into the same place and the clinic said no way, it will never work (and of course it didn't because Blake smuggled crack in to her). The doctor's comment from the clinic that refused to take them both went something like "of course, when a manipulative person senses that their gravy train might be coming to an end, they will do all they can to sabotage the other person". And how right it was because my ex could see that losing me would mean losing his access to not only his salary but also mine - which he spent as freely as he could. So another lightbulb moment just last night then. AnnaTreadershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08613671137557939083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-23596553666281839172016-01-09T12:44:24.057+00:002016-01-09T12:44:24.057+00:00I had not so much a moment but several years of ex...I had not so much a moment but several years of exposure to the mind-blowing new-thinking of the "alternative culture" in the sixties and seventies. After a very authoritarian upbringing of thoroughly conservative opinions and aspirations, I was introduced to an amazing cornucopia of new ideas and never looked back. Women's Liberation and Gay Liberation were just two of the things that gave me a whole new outlook on life.nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10472673041193755894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-10746354515663049952016-01-09T12:37:29.790+00:002016-01-09T12:37:29.790+00:00I can't think of a one! Maybe I just haven'...I can't think of a one! Maybe I just haven't had my moment yet. I guess I'll relish yours.Moving with Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12954028272162285597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-75217297477163549402016-01-09T12:10:14.939+00:002016-01-09T12:10:14.939+00:00He was waiting patiently for me to realise what I ...He was waiting patiently for me to realise what I actually wanted, rather than what others wanted for me. Plus he is the most fabulous husband and dad. I love him very, very muchLisa Holmeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03120614311419730549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-8701337373703903342016-01-09T09:54:25.578+00:002016-01-09T09:54:25.578+00:00No huge life-changing moment really, but when I le...No huge life-changing moment really, but when I left my first husband and found myself to have been frozen out of bank a/c and promised share of our business etc, I had a bit of a shock to the system.<br />At 27 I had to grow up.<br />I find it so amazing that the 'little bearded guy' can produce such a wonderful large sound!pottyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06834163803780455512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-10087312666303409452016-01-09T09:39:58.437+00:002016-01-09T09:39:58.437+00:00wonderful comments as always John. I had to remain...wonderful comments as always John. I had to remain calm when a friend frieked out in a cave we visited. the dim lights went off totally so I had to hold her hand and feel my way along the cave walls to the foot of the staircase. oh and when I was a nanny I had to overcome my fear of spiders for the little boys and they were REALLY BIG spiders ! BadPennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09889591351222591488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-64727319092840678462016-01-09T09:07:32.624+00:002016-01-09T09:07:32.624+00:00Yes, this duet heard in isolation is right up ther...Yes, this duet heard in isolation is right up there with the very best duets ever composed - and I wouldn't take issue with anyone who claimed that it was THE greatest of all.<br />I've only seen the opera once, maybe 40 years ago, but I do recall thinking that although Georges B. knows he's got one hell of a tune, he's doing himself no favours by flogging it to death far too many times, so as to devalue its worth in the context of the opera. I'd need to see the complete opera again to find out if I hold the same opinion.<br /><br />Btw: Can't play your clip above as I'm still 'soundless'. Shame.Raybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424095016313843883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-59212929563176570902016-01-09T08:56:44.257+00:002016-01-09T08:56:44.257+00:00For a true "hairs standing up on the back of ...For a true "hairs standing up on the back of the neck" moment, can I suggest you check out Jussi Bjorling and Robert Merrill singing that duet? IMO, their voices are far superior to the pair in your video link.<br /><br />From A Lurker.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11582802009621440116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-39077175728553901152016-01-09T08:11:05.770+00:002016-01-09T08:11:05.770+00:00The first time my aunt dragged me to see an opera,...The first time my aunt dragged me to see an opera, the "Aida" at the the Arena of Verona, I was 20 years old. Real elephants were brought on stage! I loved it and, ever since, I either go see an opera, play, ballet or concert held there each summer. Greetings Maria xMariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01525028325800849416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-13732794319123565852016-01-09T04:54:24.829+00:002016-01-09T04:54:24.829+00:00Seeing my dear Mother on stage for the first time ...Seeing my dear Mother on stage for the first time was quite life-changing. Otherwise arriving in France aged 25, complete with wife, 2 kids, and a dog, was pretty weird. I remember looking at the huge house I'd bought, as well as all its land, I simply thinking "What the fuck have I done". 43 years later I think it wasn't so silly. Cro Magnonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06840670227576695352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-74615682840906308742016-01-09T03:20:11.842+00:002016-01-09T03:20:11.842+00:00The usual moments I guess....marriage, child birth...The usual moments I guess....marriage, child birth, but I think when our daughter got married and moved out I realized I didn't need her in the house to define my existence and when I retired I realized I didn't need a job to flush me out of bed in the morning....there was more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-34895198593552013922016-01-09T02:46:44.383+00:002016-01-09T02:46:44.383+00:00I enjoyed reading all the comments. I didn't h...I enjoyed reading all the comments. I didn't have a more to life moment because I lived with my parents and then I lived with my husband. Perhaps my moment has been gradual, because I have slowly grown more happy during the past five years of post-divorce. Perhaps my moment came when I got Faulkner, the late great smooth collie, in 1998. The first night he was with us, he fell asleep in the family room. The tabby cat, Milhous, approached Faulkner and startled him awake. He jumped up and began to chase Milhous. My husband who is no longer my husband hit Faulkner. I said, Don't you dare hit my dog.<br />Love,<br />JanieJanie Junebughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10573607241326291404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-47630613994012636042016-01-09T02:33:33.632+00:002016-01-09T02:33:33.632+00:00Didn't the Russian Tea Room go out of business...Didn't the Russian Tea Room go out of business? It might have reopened. I know Tavern On The Green did.Janie Junebughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10573607241326291404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-79150248820958942562016-01-09T02:14:21.018+00:002016-01-09T02:14:21.018+00:00I was worried about Tom for a minute there :DI was worried about Tom for a minute there :DNotes From ABroadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12202279303962539035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-4235561965932301202016-01-09T02:13:07.201+00:002016-01-09T02:13:07.201+00:00I was early pregnant with our son when my husband ...I was early pregnant with our son when my husband took me to the Russian Tea Room. He knew how much I loved tea ... problem was, I suffered from serious "morning" sickness. . all day . So sitting in the Tea Room was torture lol. He took me back after the baby was born so I could enjoy it properly.<br />It is such a beautiful place ..I haven't been there in such a long time though .. shame on me.Notes From ABroadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12202279303962539035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-25729221728115416402016-01-09T00:40:43.338+00:002016-01-09T00:40:43.338+00:00Yes...Yes...Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-31509843782541906492016-01-09T00:35:56.267+00:002016-01-09T00:35:56.267+00:00Anyway, what's happened to all your chickens, ...Anyway, what's happened to all your chickens, geese and other fowl? Something happened with Mr Fox which you are not telling us about?Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-26769619225911941962016-01-08T23:48:42.121+00:002016-01-08T23:48:42.121+00:00Hello from another Blubber. The music moves you, i...Hello from another Blubber. The music moves you, it grabs your emotions and pulls them every which way, the only thing you can do is cry .. and enjoy it.Notes From ABroadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12202279303962539035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-62168061538755649992016-01-08T23:47:02.765+00:002016-01-08T23:47:02.765+00:00I have to see that again .. I have to see that again .. Notes From ABroadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12202279303962539035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303812.post-82449577730953206592016-01-08T23:43:55.458+00:002016-01-08T23:43:55.458+00:00Oh how fabulous !! And every time you hear the mu...Oh how fabulous !! And every time you hear the music, does it take you back there to the Met ? :)<br />I saw Baryshnikov , Nureyev , Carla Fracci, oh I can't remember all the magnificent ballet dancers I got to see dance .. lucky lucky me.Notes From ABroadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12202279303962539035noreply@blogger.com