Forum members who have actually met face-to-face

[Lilas Pastia]

Any members here from Newfoundland, Canada (more specifically, St. John's)? I'll be there in just over a month: wondering if there are fellow forum members I could get connected with.

Joe, what on earth will you be doing in St-John's Nfld ??

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

If Brett is made to feel as welcome as was I in Delft in February-as I know that he will be-he will enjoy the meeting immensely

[Catison]

If Brett is made to feel as welcome as was I in Delft in February-as I know that he will be-he will enjoy the meeting immensely

I am looking forward to meeting Johan too.  So far my stay in Delft has been great.  I am here for only two months, though.  In July my wife will join me and we plan to visit Paris and Rome before heading back to the states.  While I am here I want to check out a few concerts.  I intentionally left all of my music at home so that I could only satiate my craving for music with the real sort.

If anyone has some suggestions, swing them my way.

Now I only have to figure out how to get my internet working at my apartment.

[Florestan]

If anyone has some suggestions, swing them my way.

If you can, go to Venice! There's no other city in Europe like it. Don't buy into Amsterdam being "Venice of The North", it's not even remotely similar.

[Catison]

If you can, go to Venice! There's no other city in Europe like it. Don't buy into Amsterdam being "Venice of The North", it's not even remotely similar.

My wife and I traveled there last summer because it was the docking point for our cruise.  I liked it, but I don't think I could spend more than one day there.

[Florestan]

My wife and I traveled there last summer because it was the docking point for our cruise.  I liked it, but I don't think I could spend more than one day there.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Don't buy into Amsterdam being "Venice of The North", it's not even remotely similar.

Yeah, because the real "Venice of the North" is St. Petersburg. Although some people say it's Stockholm...

[Florestan]

Yeah, because the real "Venice of the North" is St. Petersburg. Although some people say it's Stockholm...

Stockholm, St. Petersburg, Amsterdam... far cries from the real, one and only Venice! 

[karlhenning]

Though St Petersburg is also called the Palmyra of the North.

Stockholm, St. Petersburg, Amsterdam... far cries from the real, one and only Venice! 

There's only one Venice, of course.

Still, Petersburg is "a city of 42 islands, 308 bridges and 100 canals, rivers and straits."

[Wanderer]

If anyone has some suggestions, swing them my way.

How far is Bruges from your location? You can wander the streets while listening to Korngold's Die tote Stadt. I intend to do just that one day.

Though St Petersburg is also called the Palmyra of the North.

By those who haven't been to Palmyra? 

[Florestan]

How far is Bruges from your location?

Yes, I second that. Bruges la Morte is one of the most beautiful cities I've ever visited. Another "Venice of the North", actually. 

[Joe_Campbell]

Joe, what on earth will you be doing in St-John's Nfld ??

School!

[karlhenning]

By those who haven't been to Palmyra? 

By Catherine the Great, anyway  0:)

[karlhenning]

Yes, I second that. Bruges la Morte is one of the most beautiful cities I've ever visited. Another "Venice of the North", actually. 

Personally, I've always called Venice The Bruges of the South

[Florestan]

Personally, I've always called Venice The Bruges of the South

Show me the Vivaldi of Bruges and I'll acquiesce. 

[knight66]

Bruce and I met in New York....the end of a meal. Bruce is on the left.



Link to other New York photos....

http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k119/demster_2006/New%20York/

Bruce has been looking after me, where to eat, where to drink and concerts. Going to Carnegie Hall was striking. We went through the VIP entrance, Bruce knows everyone and we are treated as friends. Our seats could not be bettered. Along the walls towards the auditorium are framed manuscripts, letters and tributes by composers and musicians. There is a page of a Beethoven manuscript, never mind it is part of his most awful composition, 'Wellington's Victory', it is in Beethoven's own hand. A letter by Berlioz, some kind words from Bernstein.

These lead to this spectacular performing space, beautifully decorated and, where I was sitting, comfortable. Our first concert, Bruckner 8th: Haitink and the Chicago band. The wall of sound built up and up, the sound spectacular, stunning and detailed. There cannot be a better orchestra can there? Haitink unrolled the score and I obtained that special Bruckner experience. It is not about music getting loud or soft; rather, sound comes at you across vast space, rolls all over you and like a rushing train off it hurtles into the distance. This is one of Bruckner's special sets of fingerprints and Haitink controls the tempest and the calm using delicate hand gestures. Although he seems infirm when using his walking-stick to come onto the stage and has great difficulty getting onto the podium; his music making is potent.

After the second concert, we went for a late meal, as everywhere, Bruce is greeted warmly and a window table is provided, or a quiet table away from the music, whatever Bruce wants, he is instantly provided with. He has skills I need to learn, though a lot of it is being pleasant and remembering names; not sure I can learn those lessons well enough. On the sidewalk, it is usual that Bruce will encounter someone he knows.

We went to a Gallery for one in a series of rather more cutting edge concerts. The weather was muggy and the place was like a Turkish steam room; but the music was exciting. Excellent musicians brought some very challenging scores to life. In one, scored for five loud instruments, only one line of music exists across the 20 minute piece. The players have written instructions on how to extemporise around the notated score.

I was introduced to many movers and shakers of on the NY new music scene, including the head of composition for Yale. He was having one of his early pieces performed. Somewhat arid, he had explained it was much influenced by Brahms; he had cleverly concealed that within the spare score.

The final evening with Bruce turned into a spectacular bar crawl, starting with a bottle of bubbly at the Algonquin; famous as the haunt of Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley and the literary set of the 40s, it is immensely stylish in dark wood with oriental paintings above the panelling. Plush and lush. Next up was a spectacular bar overlooking the street theatre of Times Square. Think of Piccadilly Circus, six times longer, five times higher and commensurately brighter wattage. Looking down from our eighth floor eyre, the rain slashed down again and life imitated art. Other than the flying cars, Bladerunner had arrived. You could even find the same kind of unappetising street food. After that, another bar with a vantage point, again, not easily found. Cocktails were consumed; though not a Manhattan.

Mike

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Nice post, Mike. I learned through Facebook that you were with Bruce. Bruce has been raving about Haitink's Bruckner, and your description only makes me salivate more... Looked at your pics, too. What a city!

[bhodges]

I can only add that it was great fun having Mike here, and doing all the concerts, restaurants, watering holes and everything else that New York has to offer.  (If only the weather hadn't been so soggy, but oh well...)

I hope he (and others) will come back!  There's "just a bit" of stuff to do here, to keep one occupied.    (IIRC Mike spent about 5 hours, just in the Metropolitan Museum of Art alone!)

--Bruce

[pjme]

Show me the Vivaldi of Bruges and I'll acquiesce. 

http://www.mafestival.be/     (New name for Musica Antiqua)

Still, do try to see Bruges ..without tourists ( early Spring and early Fall are best). Lovers of "Die Tote Stadt" can come in winter. 



Peter

ps :  Antwerp, Ghent, Liège, Brussels, Tournai (Doornik), Tongeren....even when it rains History remains quite pretty in the Low Lands. Northern France is also worth visiting : Lille, Arras, Douai...the Polyphonists thank you in advance!

[karlhenning]

So near, and yet! . . . pangs of regret that I could not be in NY to greet you, Mike. Though of course (as you have learnt) Bruce is a princely host.