this is for them london types where people can review books/music/poetry/opera etc,

so they dont spill their gin and tonics in rage at other "top gear-esque threads"


mines a book review

Adventure on the high teas, a journey around middle england by stuart maconie

i didnt like as much as his other book pies and prejudice, it didnt really tell you much about middle england that was of interest

still its worth a read, if your bored

I think I read Pies and Prejudice. Is there a lot about Wigan in it?

It was great.


Now.... I'm all of a lather what to wear at the Ballet on Friday

london types

Al wrote:Now.... I'm all of a lather what to wear at the Ballet on Friday

I don't know why but that just cracked me up.

My old flatmate went out with a ballerina. We got freebies to go to Covent Garden. After she met us in the pub she said ;

"did you enjoy it?"

and my mate gestured at me and said ;

"I am mortified! this northern monkey *voice goes up two octaves* took a PACKET OF CRISPS INTO THE SECOND ACT!

we need details

what flavour crisps were they?

I really really really don't get ballet or opera. It's not that I'm narrow minded, I understand it is meant to be good. Just don't get it. Darcy Bussel is pretty hot though

Anyway, back to books. I've just finished reading Blink and The Tipping Point, both by Malcolm Gladwell. Two of the best books I've read in a very long time.

this is for them london types where people can review books/music/poetry/opera etc,

so they dont spill their gin and tonics in rage at other "top gear-esque threads"

OMG... but how did you know?

I just finished Carole Shields "Unless". It's a book about how women are not taken seriously. It throws out most lit conventions about how to write books but it's written by someone who knows what they're doing. I felt disenfranchised. That may be the point.

MarkD77 wrote:I really really really don't get ballet or opera. It's not that I'm narrow minded, I understand it is meant to be good. Just don't get it. Darcy Bussel is pretty hot though

It's not for everyone mate. Ma, Pa & Step Pa were/are all professional opera singers and sometimes I still don't get it.

Like Ady I've been involved in some form of 'showbiz' all my adult life (including a long stint at Opera North) so I've had a good look at some of the 'high arts'


Opera. Like all classical forms has it's "hits". you'd be surprised how many really really well known Classical themes come from Operas with or without singing. So in that sense it is invaluable. You have to remember in 'olden days' Opera was like telly. It told a story in very colourful moving images when nothing else did. It might seem weird to hear someone warbling in italian. but it isn't to an italian.

on the other hand a whole Opera is too much for me. I couldn't do a whole one

my job once was to catch the fat lady when she jumps off the balcony at the end of Tosca.

p.s it's really weird working at Mint when my mates are working opposite at Opera North

Ballet : weird. I saw that all-male swan lake though. which was impressive. If you look at it like athletics it's more interesting.

in general though watching both Opera singers and Ballet dancers doing the "acting" bits is intolerable. HAM.

Classical Music. Brought up on it. Love it. Weird modern ; not so much but even that has it's good bits.

Fine Art: Love it.

Conceptual Art : Fuck off forever you lazy bastards.

Jazz ; Delicious hot. Disgusting cold. But can blue men sing the whites?

Poetry : Charles Bukowski, Shakespeare, and most of the 20th century Brits. Love it.

Books : Can't get enough. Anything.

Film : Ditto

TV : Never got into it.

Performance Art : Kill 'em all and charge for the pleasure



I reckon some of the older arts are like stately homes. They have to be maintained as a duty to the past. But the discrepancy between where the money goes is criminal. It's a class war issue

Sherrers wrote:my job once was to catch the fat lady when she jumps off the balcony at the end of Tosca.

Conceptual Art : Fuck off forever you lazy bastards.

Jazz ; Delicious hot. Disgusting cold. But can blue men sing the whites?

Performance Art : Kill 'em all and charge for the pleasure

excellent

hats off to Jules for having the most cultured avatar

nonono! that's me that is!

*sulks*

we are enjoying your byzantine mosaic Lordy but Jules' Lautrec (or is it Beardsley?) is very nice indeed.

I don't want to be out-cultured. I'm off to find something so POSH it will part your hair.

Al wrote:I don't want to be out-cultured. I'm off to find something so POSH it will part your hair.

A vicar?

good god the clergy aren't posh! it's where we send the idiot sons who are too thick for the army!

Roger is just brilliant isn't he?

Token Bird wrote:Roger is just brilliant isn't he?

oh aye. legend.

We *heart* Roger

I'm great, it's very true.

back on topic I have to agree that I just don't get the importance of things like orchestras, opera and ballet dancin'. I understand they are there. Like Jazz is. And anyone is free to like them. But why are they more 'important' than other stuff? Like House music?

I would guess reason house music would never get the recognition that say classical music gets is that it's all based around the 4/4 beat which has limitations. Classical music is all about melody, it's not based around limited chords or beats. The possibilities for new melodies are endless so to produce a great piece of classical music takes an incredible depth of understanding of music. Not that there aren't some very talented producers of electronic music about.

In the loop.

Clever politics + inventive swearing = great movie.

bigdaddy wrote:In the loop.

Clever politics + inventive swearing = great movie.

Really want to see it.

bigdaddy wrote:In the loop.

Clever politics + inventive swearing = great movie.

Yeah I am well jealous I need to see that asap

is it something to do with The Thick of It?

Sort of.

Armando Ianucci's new thing.

MarkD77 wrote:I would guess reason house music would never get the recognition that say classical music gets is that it's all based around the 4/4 beat which has limitations. Classical music is all about melody, it's not based around limited chords or beats. The possibilities for new melodies are endless so to produce a great piece of classical music takes an incredible depth of understanding of music. Not that there aren't some very talented producers of electronic music about.

there is that but I think it has more to do with the fact Classical music has a 500 year head start


Saw In The Loop. HIGHLY recommended.