SHARING WITH ME

After having seen «Danser Sa Vie» again last week and taken the time to relax in front of the Nijinski’s rendition of «Afternoon of a Faun», it is not surprising that I opted for an exhibition which has just come out. «Debussy Music and the Arts» at the Orangerie in the Tuilerie gardens. «I love pictures almost as much as I love music» (Claude Debussy: 1911).  So I don’t forget. He was born in 1862 and died in 1918. Young as only 56. Crossing that marvelous period of the Impressionists, Fauvism, Cubism and the beginning of Modern and Abstract art...yet he said himself that at the end of his life he was not so inspired by the modern painters of that period. Difficult to believe this. However, his music still influences the ideas of composers right up to the present day. From what I saw, Klimt, Kandisky and Kupka were influenced by his music so I am sure that he too must have «seen notes» in their work. Although small, it’s a dizzy exhibition and shows without any doubt that his ...

On Tuesday evening I was invited to a recital with Grace Bumbry. I took Nicky along with me. I knew absolutely nothing about this mezzo-soprano. My friends didn’t either. From her photo, she was black and very beautiful - an undefinable age. We learn that she has a very rich background as an opera singer. Was asked by Frank Sinatra to sing at the inauguration of Ronald Reagan and in some ways this changes her repertory. Some of her favorite singers are Shirley Bassey, Gladys Knight, Barbara Streisand et Dionne Warwick and this is what the concert is to be all about. A beauty appears on the stage. 75 years. Moving slowly but oh what a voice. Memory lane jerks Nicky into tears and I was close. An interval yes, but the spectators don’t let her go at the end of the concert  and she comes back for three encores. A man calls out «And what are you doing for the rest of your life?» Her answer -  «Why? Are you a candidate?» USA Photo At the Chatelet theatre on Tuesday 6...

Reims yesterday. The last time I had visited that town it was cold and dreary too but at least there was some activity. Provincial townships on a Sunday are deadly. I had never visited the centre but gone directly to Champagne country to see a client. Thank goodness Jerome and Laurent were with me. We travel at least once a year together and also if their work load permits, see exhibitions. Our tastes in art are more or less the same. In music, the answer is no and I will not induce them to come with me to contemporary or modern music concerts.... There was the famous Reims Cathedral to visit. A small service was on when we arrived and the choir was singing its heart out. I would think to stay warm as the three of us were very quickly chilled to the bone. We looked at the Chagall window (I preferred the modern windows) and after perhaps 20 minutes inside - left.  Reims Catherdral at 10 am on Sunday The Chagall window in the centre A modern approach ...

Friday was a very full day. I’ll work backwards starting in the evening. Gianni and I have some 30 concerts booked at the beginning of each year at the Cité de La Musique. From my point of view it’s a dreadful place to get to and when Gianni returns to Italy later this year, I wonder if I will go on making the effort ?  Then there are concerts - Jazz this time - like yesterday - and I know I will. The concert was based on the well known concert (for Jazz addicts) Thelonious Monk at the Town Hall in 1959. The concert was called «In My Mind» There is a lot about this on Internet. Many jazz artists have «recreated» the concert and we saw one. Jason Moran. Perhaps he went further than other jazz pianists. He didn’t recreate the original concert but tried to connect to its creator. His use of still photography and recorded audio as well was interesting. We heard Monk’s voice talking to his musicians and often there was improvisation as Moran and his group of 7 musicians listened to ...

Beaubourg is the blue building on the right The Pompidou centre is still criticized as an ugly building. It was opened in 1970 and is named after one of our Presidents - George Pompidou.  As far as I know, it is still the largest modern art museum in Europe and houses a wonderful collection along with very exciting temporary exhibitions. I can see the building from my flat in Paris. It beckons me on a daily basis. 20 minutes walk and I am there. There was a small  exhibition I wanted to see. Josef Albers (German: 1888-1976) He lived in America. Painting on Paper. Such a contrast from what I had just seen at La Gaité Lyrique but is not really worthwhile talking about. Except perhaps to say that Alber’s was fascinated by juxtaposing two colours and this was what the exhibition was all about. I prefer other work of his. Variant 1947 I wandered around relaxing with the colour before thinking about going home. Then I remembered «Danser Sa Vie» or «Let’s Dance Our Lives...

The Gaité Lyrique is a centre which exhibits creations in numerical design of every imaginable and probably unimaginable form. Music, art, architecture, graphic art, informatics - you name it. There is an exhibition on at the moment, «2062 Back and Forth to the Future» but if to be understood, needs an added interest in all the conferences with scientists, artists, writers ...etc. which have gone on during the exhibition, or perhaps installation. «The End of the World» «Who are we» ....A friend had shown an interest in seeing it and I am always pleased to make discoveries.  There is a time line from the 1860’s to today and further into the future which indicates what was created (and in many cases show examples  like an old record player, the first computer...)  And computers have come a long way Some of us remember this in 1959 and then what could be decoration for shoes or jewels in the years to come. The Bio garden (miniature), a new generation of creams (Niv...