MyOccasion

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W.S. Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan:

"HMAS Pinafore" and "Trial By Jury".

Opera Australia.

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Conductor: Julia de Plater.

Australian Opera & Ballet Orchestra.

Director: Stuart Maunder.

Designer: Roger Kirk.

Choreographer: Elizabeth Hill.

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Ensemble: Rosemary Gunn; Richard Anderson; Richard Alexander;
Karen Breen; Anthony Warlow; Antoinette Halloran; John Bolton Wood; Adele Johnston; Shane Lowrencev; Henry Choo; Taryn Fiebig.

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This was the last Opera I chose when booking my subscription last year. Normally I do not go to Gilbert & Sullivan, not so much through musical snobbery, but rather since I find Arthur Sullivan's music very ordinary. What changed my mind is that the programme included "Trial By Jury". Many of W.S. Gilbert's very clever rhyming lyrics, which are often very satirically viscious, stay with me, ever since I heard them played by parents when I was a very young child.

Especially: "You will soon grow used to her looks said he, and a very nice girl you will find her, and she may well pass for forty-three in the dusk with the light behind her." I think that is correct now. I was often prone to say "will probably" rather than the much better "may well"; and I was never real sure, for some decades, whether it was "forty-three" or "fifty-three"; but the effect of clever visciousness is clear in any case.

And that is the genius of Gilbert, his ability to find some many rhymes which sound so natural; matched with the congealed venom inside his brain, which he lets loose in bitter tirades against authority in all its forms. How this dedicated verbal revolutionary has ever become the darling of middle aged middle class conservatives, such that they bring their children as an introuction to "good music". I know. There were some such children seated to my right tonight!

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"HMAS Pinafore" - in Two Acts.

The Overture had me very reticent. It was of a military march type, which was of concern, and it was of a very pedestrian & unimaginative scoring, which made me mentally squirm. But matters improved when the singing began, especially when there were multiple voices involved. But no improvement in what he requested of the musicians. A realisation: Sullivan's scoring for Voices is good; his scoring for the Orchestra is woeful.

Be that as it may, Gilbert's lyrics were very good: witty; often acerbic; but to a good satirical end; and always with the rhymes coming so naturally, as if it were the way that people always talked. The purpose of "HMAS Pinafore" is to ridicule the British Victorian Class System; insisting instead that ability should be the key to a person's worth. The characteristion is good, especially considering that these are not meant to be taken as real people. I had some trouble with "Little Buttercup"; but this is due to my unfamiliarity with the original type, of which she is a send-up. I suspect that the British Music Hall of the period was full of Middle Aged Cockney Women, all possessed of a heart of gold.

But is it funny? - Unreservedly, yes! This was exenuated by the powerful singing & acting skills of the cast; plus the skill of all the production cast.

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"Trial By Jury" - in One Act.

This was what I came for, and certainly I was not disappointed. Sullivan's music is the same; good scoring for boices; poor scoring for musicians. Gilbert's lyrics are brilliant! He is working in a One Act format, rather than the longr formats he usually worked with; this forcing him, even if the length is his choice, into a tighter script. His satirical target is the Law, and this clearly inspired him to great heights of creativity. Authority is Gilbert's ultimate target; such that the Law & Police are the favoured victims for his verbal barbs!

Is it funny? - Wonderfully wittily so!! The story is very strong. The adaption of it accentuates this, with a superb performance, in both singing & acting, by the cast. In particular, I would praise Anthony Warlow as the Learned Judge; Richard Alexander as the Usher; John Bolton Wood as the Counsel for the Plaintiff; Taryn Fiebig as the Plaintiff. But there were no weaknesses in the ensemble; and the 'hard working Opera Australia chorus' were up to their usual high level.

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My only regret is that W.S. Gilbert had not a better Composer as collborator.

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Late tonight, I watched the DVD of the infamous movie Caligula, bought yesterday. I thought it was thoughtfully made. I mean, one cannot seriously make a movie about the life of that deranged monster, whilst avoiding sex and violence. Even with the s & v in, little boots & all, trying to explain the man is never easy. There was a strong historical accuracy about this film, from which only really deviated towards the end. The makers altered specific occurences, as it appears that they wished to make a point about the nature of power. But Caligula was still murdered. And Claudius still succeeded him as the "Father" of the Romans.

For weeks now I have been often falling asleep early in the evening.
Is it just fatigue? Or am I suffering from some illness,
whose exact nature eludes me?.

[Font is ''Paris''.][--- To Sleep, Perchance to Dream? ---][Font is ''Paris''.]

As some kind of penance, after waking at 11.36pm, rushing out to shop at Coles Supermarket, which shuts at midnight, and then not being able to get back to sleep until almost 2.00am; I woke at a very early preset alarm of 3.04am, and am now writing. I am quite in the mood for it. Unfortunately, there is much I must do now, which was not possible last night. Oh well!

[Font is ''Paris''.][--- And Yes, I am Aware That Shakespeare was Talking of Death; Albeit, I am Not!---][Font is ''Paris''.]

Back to the dreaming, as I awoke with one. I dreamed that the alarm was going off, and that I could not switch it off, no matter how much I tried. It was very frustrating, although I used no violence against the alarm in question.

Well, at this point I awoke, in bed, with the alarm going off. So I travelled across to the other side of the sitting room to switch it off. It is for good reason I have the located the alarm at a significant walking distance, from my warm sheets, pillows & quilt. If the walking does not wake me, the cool air will; for I sleep without night clothing, as I find it uncomfortable.

[Font is ''Paris''.][--- DVD & Video Mania!! Is Nothing More Insanier?? ---][Font is ''Paris''.]

After a long work day, more buying at JB-Hi_Fi. This was after talking at length to a man named Eric or Edward t the Doctor Who section. He bought one of the 2005 Season DVDs. But my purchase was a three video box set for $20.00. ,, Not like them to have videos! Then I bought a DVD I had long considered: Caligula for $28.00. This notorious film I had never seen, in its heavily censored original release in. But this DVD is uncut & uncensored.

The indifference of sleep is sweet in itself.
The immobilisation of sleep is a pox on action.

Still no watchable television signal. I watched Parts Three & Four of the dubbed video. The quality is not so good as with yesterday's half of "Terminus".

Oh well! If I become angry, it serves no purpose. It may well upset the Budgies, or at the very least, set them a very poor example!

It is only a TV programme; only a diversion from life's ills; not a reson for living in itself.

Last night the televisions signal was watchable. Today it was not. Is it th aerial? Or is it the set top box? I have no energy for this nonsense! But I found my old recording of the Doctor Who: Davidson Era: "Terminus". I played half of the story. Foolishly I had dubbed this, to save space on the videos. It was the time in which I possessed concurrently two working VCRs, both of which have since died. Fortunately Parts One & Two have reasonable quality.

Yesterday's guests were all there again; plus also the Pertwee Era Companion: Katy Manning as Jo Grant; and a woman who played a large underground insect, an Optera in the Hartnell Era story: The Web Planet.

And yes, I was once more late, but this day, stayed to the very end, the formal closing.

I was somewhat late, and had to leave early; yet still had a thorougly engrossing day. The guests were the Doctor Who Troughton Era Companions: Frazer Hines as Jamie McCrimmon and Deborah Watling as Victoria Waterfield; Paul McGahn Era Companion: India as Charlie; Rob Shearman, who wrote the story "Dalek" in the 2005 season, Eccleston Era; Kate Ormsby, writer of Doctor Who novels.

The Crows again; same time, same place. This time there were a couple of Silver Gulls hanging at the margins of the Crow ground flock. Presumably they were trying to suss out what the food was.

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"La Fedeltá Premiata" [Fidelity Rewarded].

Music by - Josef Haydn.

Libretto by - Giambattista Lorenzi.

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Performed by the Opera Students & Orchestra
of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

In the Music Room, Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

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Conductor: Imre Palló.

Director: Cathy Dadd.

Designer: Colin Williams.

Choreographer: Joanna Puglesi.

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Ensemble on the night: Sharon Zhai [Celia]; Rebecca Hilder [Amaranta]; Harriet Marshall [Nerina]; Amy Radford [Goddess Diana];
Stuart Haycock [Fileno]; David Corcoran [Lindoro];
Yusuka Ohara [ Count Perrucchetto]; Abraham Singer [Melibeo].

The Hard Working Chorus [who were excellent!]:

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Such a treat. I have never been to a production of a Joseph Haydn Opera before, as I have never had the opportunity; not even before I was interested in Opera. It is a very good Opera. The libretto, which Haydn had borrowed from a pre-existing Opera, and it is both easy enough to follow, not too ridiculous, and very funny in those parts where humour is intended. Haydn's music is superb. He was not merely going through the motions in composing this; it was a heart felt effort!

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The students were very good, both in the singing and the acting. While there no real weaknesses, especial praise must be given to Harriet Marshall, who is already a very fine comic Opera Singer: her voice is strong, and her comic acting is excellent!! When she believes she is getting interest from one of the suitable young men, she goes to one side of the stage near the front, removes her eye-glasses & puts in contact lenses; doing this manouvre in a way which was most amusing.

The monsters from the lake were played by student actors, who were normally dressed, but carried monster images. They neither sang nor spoke. Yet they were succesful in making the audience laugh by the way they moved the monster images, and especially by the way they died!

There is the advantage in this production, that whilst the Cast & Orchestra are students, the Conductor and Director are experienced professionals.

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A wonderful evening! As with the 2004 production, Mozart's "Cosi Fan Tutti", one sees that there is no shortage of upcoming Operatic talent.

My only regret is that, as the parts are rotated with two or three students filling the same role on different nights, I missed seeing all the cast.

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5.00am or thereabouts. There were 20 to 30 Crows on the grass at Hyde Park; west of park Street, and close by the corner with Elizabeth Street. Quite clearly they were feeding; earthworms being a strong likelihood. This is the largest number of crows I have seen in one place in Sydney.

It is hard to respect Australians.
They are so greedy; so selfish;
so self-centred; so short sighted.

This afternoon I watched "Electric Labyrinth - THX 1138 4EB". This 19 minute movie was George Lucas' student film. The scenario here forms essentially the end of the movie which Lucas made shortly afterwards: "THX 1138". It is very enlightening, and well made an absolutely shoestring budget. It is on Disc 2 of the "THX 1138" DVD.

An unpleasant day. Firstly it was warm, but during the afternoon, it rapidly became cold. Not good for the health. And neither are the Commonwealth Government's new Labour Laws, which are designed to allow employers to rip off their workers. Our Prime Minister, once again, proving how ashamed he is of his working class origins.

This once was Sapphire And Steel day! But for many weeks I have denied myself this pleasure, as I in no way deserve this reward, due to my lack of progress. Today? No different.

I watched, whilst doing things, three Episodes of Kenneth Clark's "Civilisation": 2 "The Great Thaw"; 3 "Romance And Reality"; 4 "Man - The Measure Of All Things". His somewhat superior tone may irritate some; but it is important to put ones prejudices aside, as what he says is well thought out & interesting. Even when I disagree with his assessment of Western Civilisation, I am enriched by having taken the effort to listen to his views.

1.20pm. Same place as yesterday; near 43 Crows Nest Road. Same Noisy Miner. Same hair rending attack. But different hatless and aggrieved Woman!

[Font is ''Paris''.][--- Noisy Miners Nesting!! Corainder Blooming!!---][Font is ''Paris''.]

Coriander is flowering already. It must feel under threat of dry or sunless conditions. The slower growing Parsley beside it in the same pot, as no such pretensions.

1.10pm. As I walked eastwards, past 43 Crows Nest Road, a Noisy Miner buzzed this Woman, although it ignored me. Then, after we had both stopped it went on the attack again. This time I clearly saw that this was not the usual Noisy Miner warning, but a steep angled descent past the side of her head. I realised that it must be trying to pull hair out of her head, to line its nest with. She said: "I hate that bird. It always attacks me". I explained what I thought was happening, ane that if she wore a hat as I did, it would leave her alone. "It likes your hair": i added. "Think of it as a compliment". That did not make her feel any less aggrieved.

[Font is ''Paris''.][--- Noisy Miners Nestin!! Rainbow Lorrikeets Relieving!!---][Font is ''Paris''.]

2.53pm. Near 37 King Street in Waverton, I saw a Rainbow Lorrikeet take to the air, and also noted a good reason for not being under the tree when they do. As it took off, it urinated, and this was very copious, as easily could see, even from nearly ten metres distance. And the way it fell suggested that its liquidity was the same as that of a person's. How very different the bodily functions of this Rainforest Parrot are, compared to that of a Desert Parrot, such as the Budgerigar! the latter produce only little droppings, which quickly dry.

Late evening, just after ten, and much too late for one who rises early for work, I watched Dangerman, Episode 29 - "Sabotage". Not for some while had I watched one of these half hour shows. It was very good: a good script with a moral essence; tightly directed and well acted. I deny myself these little pleasures as punishment, for not getting more done. But then, that is not just procrastnation. It is also sheer fatigue.

Doctor Who: Davidson Era: "Snakedance", Part Two. I was barely able to stay awake and went to sleep soon after. What I took in was good, however. Along with the usual good acting by Peter Davidson as the Doctor, Sarah Sutton as Nyssa & Janet Fielding as Tegan; there was a notable performance by Martin Clunes as Lon, the idle, fickle & ambitious Federator's son. Clunes carried the part off well, but then he has played many such lotus eaters.

What I planned to do when I went out late this morning was unclear. I do know that my mind was not the best; having woken up earlier than I wished, and been unable to get back to sleep; and then having spent several hours cleaning up matters on line. This last had been plannd lat night, but eight attempts to get on to the remote computer had failed!

What happened was that I took a Ferry to the Darling Harbour Aquarium Wharf, via Milsons Point, McMahons Point and East Balmain. between the last two stops, we edged alongside the delightful Goat Island, and that cheered me up immensely.

From the alightment, I walked some distance to Town Hall, where I perused books in Abbey's, without buying, albeit I was sorely tempted. Then home, where I caught some small sleep; after which I began playing Beethoven symphonies, which has me calm, if no completely au fait with achievement. This is with Kurt Masur conducting the Gewandhausorchester. Firstly it was the Ninth ; currently the Third; with the Eighth due next.

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Adagio And Fugue.

An unusual composition by Mozart, as the style and sound is quite different from what one would normally expect. I would not have guessed it as his. However, as a composition in itself, irrespective of whose pen it is from, it is a fine work, with a definite Baroque feel. The Cello bowed sonorous deep notes, which introduce many of the ideas are onderfully sonorous; giving the whole a dignified and somewhat melancholy feel.

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Piano Concert No. 12.

Piano Soloist: .

Qunintessentially Mozart! The wonderful light handed notes which cheerfully flood from the keyboard in response to the continuo's questions are unmistakable. S's fingers have a delightful fluidity of movement, which makes the precision seem effortless.

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Interval

My left shoulder developed pain during the last minute or two of the First Movement of the Piano Concerto, and it generally, by uneven degrees, became worse. So I spent most of the interval stretching my limbs, and thus, it was much less a problem after interval

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Benjamin Brittain - .

Most of Brittian's work is unkown to me, and this is apparently a little known composition of his. So that I have not heard it prior to today is of no surprise. It is a dramatic and invigorating work. Brittian wants no pleasing relaxation in his listeners! That S, on the other side of the interval, can play with full emotion, a work which is so different from the Mozart Piano Concert is something I find most impressive.

Èncore

The èncore was announced by S, thus: "This is my inprovisation on a tune by Jarrett". It was a most different work again, having the feel and length of a Nocturne [That famous 19th century form, which was invented by John Field, and made famous by Frederic Chopin.]

Benjamin Brittain - .

A tribute to Brittain's composition teacher, who wrote the theme. And what a marvellous exhibition of variations composition.

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Late yesterday afternoon, as I lay down resting, exhausted physically, albeit still mentally alert, I finished reading "Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep" by Philip K. Dick. I was slowed in finishing this novel, by my need to be awake enough to take it in.

On one level, it is just a cracking good Science Fantasy Novel; yet on another it is a philosphical treatise on what it is to be Human. His starting point is the Slave Trade in the USA, which incited their Civil War. Certainly there are similarities in the way the Androids kill their Human Masters and escape to another place, where they try to pass themselves off as Humans; substituting Mars for the South, and Earth for the North. Dick Deckard, the main character is a Bounty Hunter of Androids, who develops considerable mental confusion, which is not helped by his wife, Iran's own quite different problems.

It all comes down to the question of what is a Person? Androids have intelligence, but no empathy and so are not; while "Specials" or "Chickenheads" have subnoral inteligence, but do have normal empathy, and so are Human. And all this happening on an Earth, where nuclaer War has caused the Air to be filled with toxic dust, where struggle the remnants of People on Earth to survive in a grossly underpopulated planet, admidst the decay of empty buildings, slaving attention of the few surviving Animals, which have become the be all and end all of the Human Rational.

If you have read the novel, or do not wish to, you may go here for few Extra Thoughts, which may well spoil it for those who wish to read the novel!

1.50pm. I saw a Rainbow Lorrikeet in a Bottlebrush tree, going from one red flowering spike to the next. The several I saw it at were soon abandoned, presumably as they were empty of nectar, and at each, the Bird gave a short vocalisation of frustration, before climbing on to the next. Eventually, it found one with nectar, and seemed in much better temper.

[Font is ''Paris''.][--- Rainbow Lorrikeets, Noisy Miners & Nectar!!---][Font is ''Paris''.]

2.28pm. Near 31 King Street in Waverton, there was a Rainbow Lorrikeet in a Bottlebrush tree, which was covered with red flowering spikes. It was considering the flowers, but was being harassed by a Noisy Miner, which is a species of Honeyeater. Then, as another Rainbow Lorrikeet flew past along the street to another Bottlebrush in flower, outside 33 King Street, the first Rainbow Lorrikeet took off, with the Noisy Miner in hot pursuit. The first Rainbow Lorrikeet started drinking from a flower on the new tree, whilst the Noisy Miner resumed its attack. But now the target had had enough and snapped its beak at its assailant in a menacing way, and then continued to drink. The Noisy Miner only persisted a short while longer, then flew to the top of the tree and started drinking nectar itself.

The moral seems to be, if you cannot drive them off "your trees", then drink up all the nectar you can, before they do.

Today, after another overly long work day, I was able to book and pay my 2006 suscriptions for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Chamber Orchestra; thus completing my quartet of recent years.

12.56pm. As I was walking from 69 to 71 Crows Nest Road in Waverton, I saw a Magpie Currawong with a Skink in its beak. It was on the grass, just beyond the concrete footpath. So I detoured in an arc around it, approaching close to the bitumen road. The grass verge is very wide here. I did this to avoid disturbing its snack; not due to any fear. The Magpie Currawongs of Waverton are peaceful birds, and in any case, I know how to read them

[Font is ''Paris''.][--- A Symphonic Opera of magpie Currawongs? ---][Font is ''Paris''.]

Work went too late for my liking! Afterwards I had to race to book and pay my 2006 subscriptions for the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and Opera Australia. The lateness in the day made that only this two wre possible.

Now as I cross the Harbour Bridge, the pre-dawn is now just too far advanced, too much pale yellow lit to have the silver grey ephemeral perfection. Just two days. It is beyond its best.

On sunday I bought the DVD of Koyaanisqatsi; a highly original film from some decades ago. Last night I played it last night, then lay down & fell asleep; thus missing the most of it. So I played it once more tonight. It is something which you can watch a part, then go on to do what each of us has to do, those mindless neccessities of housework.

Sydney Harbour is at its best, pre dawn. Goat Island sits with its trees and small huddles of houses, emersed in a grey-dark soul somnambulance of idle ocean inlet.

Last night I slept for eleven hours. Ths suggests, since I was not overly undersleeping earlier this week, that I am suffering some sort of low level infection. At least my Chess mind is working better this morning, although since I continue tired and fatigued, I have not managed any games to completion.

There is an unusual use for small blue plastic shopping bags which I have discovered. Twice today, at mid-morning and mid-afternoon, a Bee had managed to get into my kitchen. this is through the skylight above the outside door, which being only a tiny gap, shows the Bee's determination, when it can smell traces of water. Sadly, the recerse trip is very tricky for them. So on both occasions I held open the bag, scooped up the Bee, and then quickly held the bag tight. Then I went through the sitting room and released the Bee on the balcony. On both occasions it disappeared post haste.

At ~4.20pm, I was awaiting a bus in the 324-327 series, at the the corner of Elizabeth Street and King Street in Town*. They were all running late, which is normal in & around the peak period. Two young ladies turned up at the stop. They spoke German with the assurity of native speakers, in what sounded like a North West German accent, although ethnically, they appeared to be of Turkish, Armenian, or Sephardic Jewish descent. When a 380 bus went past, one said: "Drei. Acht. Null." So I wondered if they were at the right bus stop.

I stood up and addressed them: "Excuse me, but not many buses stop here. Which suburb are you going to?"

I replied: "That's a 380. It doesn't stop here. It's the next bus stop. That way." I pointed northwards along Elizabeth Street.

They thanked me and headed for the correct stop. In both appearance & age, they were very close to each other. The only signicant difference was that one had blue-grey eyes, and the other brown. If they were not twins, they were probably first cousins.

Four Chess games I posted tonight. The fifth I baulked out and withheld, as the move I wrote seemed wrong. It is supposed to be enjoyable, but it was all rather painful tonight. The Chess part of the Mind is not working well, such that the analysis only came together slowly.

The increasing inclination of the sun, is having a most positive effect on my Herbs. Chives, Parsley, Coriander and Marjoram are all thriving; albeit they are still not very big, happy though they may be. Eventually I may be able to regularly use them.

Close to them, the Peas are healthy, although they clearly crave something to climb up. i most remedy this.

This reading of mine is almost getting out of control! Today I rapidly finished "Strong Poison" by Dorothy L. Sayers. Even though it was some years ago that I read this novel, I still naturally recalled how the murder was done, which is ingenious & technically very possible, albeit I shall not reveal it here. What impressed me, apart from the obvious ability to develop a crime plot of great interest, is her writing skill. The dialogue and description is first rate, while the character development is first rate. Even minor characters, who exist but for a few pages, have a developed individuality.

When I returned it this afternoon to Kings Cross Library, I borrowed two more novels, both of which I have not read before. There is "Thrones, Dominions" which was begun by Dorothy L. Sayers and competed by Jill Paton Walsh decades later. And there is Philip K. Dick's "Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep". He is a favourite of mine, from a little after when I read most of her novels. I have read the first chapter of each, and have no regrets on either so far.

Leaden Flycatchers everywhere calling, from hidden places in tree canopies. This is most strongly before dawn, but also in the early afternoon. There seems no place in my normal movements which does not know them. They are in Rushcuuter's Bay, East Sydney, Hyde Park, Waverton & Saint Leonards.

Planted out today: [1] The half dead, half priced Marjoram I bought in my local Coles. [2] The single Birds Nest Fern frond with rhizomes attached to its base. This latter I found beside a road in Waverton last friday. It was part of a whole plant which had been dumped, probably since it was dying. When I found it, it was quite dead, apart from this single frond which had seperated from the main part, and had somehow stayed alive. I will try my best with both, albeit my recent rate of success is far from good.

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra [SSO].

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8.00pm, at the Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House.

Conductor: Charles Dutoit.

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Faure.

Igor Stravinski: Violin Concerto

Soloist: .

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Interval

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Dimitri Shostokovic: Symphony No. 5.

Doctor Who: Davidson Era: "Earthshock", Part Four. This is a Cybermen story, and these tall silver robot-men are always good value. The story is good & self-consistent, while the way the story jumps in place is also good. The killing of Adric at the end is not so good. To kill a Companion is an error. Alright, they wanted to reduce the Companions to two: Tegan & Nyssa. But Companions should always leave the Doctor in an air of peace & good fortune.

Of my limp unhappy Chives in one pot, which survived the Winter in ground hunging form: The furthest from the wall has sprung new stems which are upright. Sunlight is returning into the balcony, with the changing season, as modified by the effects of tall builidngs.

This afternoon I watched Episode Six of my DVD: "Sense and Sensibility", which is closely based on the Jane Austen novel. I have watched this episode before, although my reading of the novel has not advanced in months. I wish to read it only when I feel in control.

It is sad the way that the New Zealand election has descended into the kind of tax beak auction, the way the last Australian election did.

At least, although I have to lie down due to exhaustion, much too much for my liking, I have been reading the Dorothy L. Sayers' novel "Strong Poison" whilst prone. It is well written, entertaining, and strangely for a crime novel, the characteristion of even minor charcters is well developed; they are genuine individuals. And if I get into the habit of finishing some books, I will get into the habit of finishing all books.

Lots of Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert played on the stereo. It should have worked to enthuse me to progress with what I wish to do. It should have.

There is the Ashes Test Cricket again; this time the Final Test at the Oval in London. Day One, yesterday, saw England bat well, collapse, bat well collapse. Early this evening [Eastern Australian Time] saw them finish, early on Day Two, with a First Innings score, which is right on the cusp between a good score and a disappointing score. There is often a fine margin.

This was the second and final part of the Doctor Who: Davidson Era: "Black Orchid". It has good costumes and location, whilst the Doctor's performance of the Cricket Game is most entertaining. However, the story is rather spoilt from attemting to get much too much into a ttal of a mere fifty minutes.

Leaden Flycatchers are most prone to call just before dawn, but when it comes into the breeding season, one often hears them call during the day. Today I heard a Leaden Flycatcher at 2.43pm calling from a tree. The some further fifty metres along the same street heading west, I heard a second Leaden Flycatcher calling at 2.45pm from a quite seperate tree.

Doctor Who: Davidson Era: "The Visitation", Episode Four. Thus ended this story, which I first did not know, although by degrees I remembered it. It is entertaining enough, but has an uneven quality, although it does rattle along at a good pace. The character of Richard Mace, the actor come highwayman of the England of Charles Stuart II, is a high point. The rather gratuitous violence is a low point.

Beethoven's 9th Symphony is worth an outing today, or so I think. And so it is. This is an old recording by the Wien Philharmoniker, conducted by the late Karl Böhm.

It has been solidly overcast all day, and so, unsurprisingly has been raining on and off. Hopefully it will help the little Casuarina trees, which were planted just down the road. There was all but no rain during August, and the powers that be should realise, that in such drought conditions, even tough trees, when saplings, need some watering.

Australians in the Hurricane Disaster area, of Louisiana & Mississippi, have been denied Consular access. Why do our friends persistently treat us as if we were enemies?

The land surface of New Orleans is now 80% under seawater; so difficult to comprehend. The will to upgrade the seawall defenses of the city was lacking. A very Human blind spot.

"Mozart In The City"

"A Touch Of Brass"

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra [SSO].

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7.00pm, at the City Recital Hall, Angel Place.

Conductor: Dene Olding.

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Johann Sebastian Bach: Suite Number 3 in D, BWV 1068.

Most famous for the Second Movement: Air; although this is usually known from the "Air on a G String", an elaboration by a later hand. Tonight we have the original "Air", which is quite superior to my mind. The only problem is that the rest of the Suite can seem to pale compared to Air".

Still, it is a fine piece of work all round, and excellently played by the SSO in Chamber Mode. At times I found the "Overture" a little brassy, but this is merely a minor gripe.

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:
Horn Concerto No. 2 in E Flat, K417.

Soloist: Ben Jacks.

Horn Concertos are notoriously difficult to play, even though Ben Jacks uses the Modern Horn, which, with its keys, is somewhat easier to play than the Classical and Baroque Horns. Any Horn, even more so than Trumpets, tends to have a sharp sound. That is after all, what their ancestor, the Hunting Horn, wa intended for. To get a mellow sound, whilst retaining enough spittle to play the instrument, and getting rid of excess spittle out of the instrument, is difficult enough for Horn Players as part of the Continuo. As a Solo instrument, the difficulties of the Horn compound.

The result: A wonderful mellow performance. Ben Jacks is indeed special.

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Josef Haydn: Symphony No. 88 in G.

One of the very many Symphonies of Haydn. Often his Symphonies are rather similar; most especially in the earlier Symphonies, but even still in the later Symphonies. Some, as with the 88th, have indiosyncratic & individual qualities. The Trumpets and Timpani here are silent during the First Movement [Andante-Allegro] . But during the quiet Second Movement, the Largo, is suddenly broken on several occasions, by a most unLargo-like half-minute of dramatic Trumpet & Timpani, slicing through the Movement. One suspects that on an earlier occasion, Haydn as he conducted, noticed someone asleep during a Quiet Movement. His sense of humour is well known.

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This is the last of this small subscription series, unfortunately!

1.45pm - When in King Street in Waverton, I noticed a small fire, which seemed to be along the Wollstonecraft coast; perhaps on Berry Island. It appeared to have just started, and within a few minutes was getting much larger. Shortly later I noticed a much larger fire, which had been going longer, and seemed likely to be in the Artarmon Reserve. They were probably not a burning off, as that would be later in the day; nor would it be on such a hot day, with a threat of strong winds. An hour later, at Saint Leonards Railway Station, I heard the shrill shriek of fire engines, perhaps confirming the bushfire hypothesis.

There is a Whooping Cough epidemic in Sydney, striking adults as well as children. Such as this should surely be a thing of the past, as it was in my childhood.

I watched the Lehrer report on SBS TV this afternoon. I had missed the news in recent days, and was unaware as to exactly how bad that Hurricane had been, which hit the American Gulf States. New Orleans 80% under water is a frightening reality.

As with yesterday, problems with getting things right had me walking pre-dawn past Hyde Park to Town Hall Station. Again, as with yesterday, I heard much calling of Leaden Flycatchers from the trees in Hyde Park. The numbers that roost there at night are substantial.

1.54pm. The gate of 5 Crows Nest Road was open, which is not a common occurence. But there was Deadcat stretched out on the concrete path, which does seem to happen whn it is open. As I approached, he began to roll about on his back, which is unnaturally active for him. Shortly later, when I was walking down the other side of the road, he was still rolling about; almost fell off the small drop on to the footpath outsdie the gap; seemed to consider getting up for a walk; but reconsidered and went back to lying down, which is, after all, his forte.

This afternoon I finished "A Time Of Day" by Francis Durbridge.The plot was fair enough, with the involved parents of the kidnapped child digging themselves into increasingly deep trouble through their insistence on running things themselves, and largely keeping th police in the dark. The twists in the plot were good, with the exception of the very last, which was both unnecessary & unconvincing. The writing was solid throughout for the most part, but was let down at the end by some poor sickly sentimental passages.

Three Chess games posted friday night. Four posted yesterday. And one which will be done tonight, but posted tomorrow. That still leaves some four games in hand. It is getting much in to the middle game, and in one case the end game, with the positional complexities insisting that I hav to sleep on these quite a bit.

My Occasional Thought

For The Day