La Traviata in Northampton

Excellent evening in Derngate Theatre.  La Traviata performed by the Ukrainian National Opera of Kharkiv.

The evening went by at high speed and was thoroughly entertaining.

Winter in Madrid - CJ Sansom

I looked for this a couple of times last week after a friend mentioned Sansom's historical detective stories featuring Shardlake.  I couldn't find it. I wondered if I'd given it away.  Then, as usual, it turned up, just when I'd stopped searching.  So I'm reading it again.

I find myself involved with the characters in the way I used to be when much younger.

I finished it. The ending is sad in several ways, plus an odd twist at the end.   I find Sansom's writing impressive.


Guardian interview with the author

Peter Grimes - Britten

NY Met Opera from 2008, televised.

Brilliant scenery, totally in tune with the dark story-line and the powerful music.  Based on the Net-drying sheds at Hastings .

Review in New York Times

More on Peter Grimes as a character from the Independent 2004

John Clare

A recent walk from Helpston has made me wish to read a little more of this 'Northamptonshire Peasant Poet'.    But where the hell have I put that book?

The book has turned up, so I'll read some of the poems in the next few weeks.

More later.

Jane Eyre - with Charlotte Gaisbourg

Gainsbourg makes a fine adult Jane, but the action feels very compressed.