Categories: friends, food, music, culture
Date: 28 March 2009 10:58:35
My sincerest and most heartfelt thanks again to all for their most wonderful and comforting comments: and the birthday wishes. With lunch on Thursday, chocolate brownies and cake on Friday, being treated to breakfast by Singing Semele this morning, and the actual birthday tomorrow, it is a four-day celebration. I feel very special!
The reason for my popping down to the nation's capital was CAMRA and Igitur Nos' performance of Bach's St John Passion. There is a performance tomorrow [Sunday] at 3pm, and if you are in the area or can get there I highly recommend it. Last night's performance was at the beautiful and historic All Saints' Ainslie Anglican Church. The Church was originally built, in gothic revival style, as a raliway station for the Rookwood cemetery in NSW. In the 1950s, after the use of the funeral train station fell into disuse, the station was moved to Canberra converted for use as a church. I have the great honour of knowing the talented director of music [and Igitur Nos] at All Saints', and he conducted this most wonderful performance of the St John Passion.
The Chorale pieces contain some of my most favourite pieces; and Bach [and whoever was responsible for the English translation used] certainly knew how to not only write music but write wonderfully meditative words to music. The chorale after Peter's denial particulaly moved me:
Peter in forgetfulness
Thrice denied his Master,
One look moved him to confess,
Weeping, his disaster.
Jesu, turn to look on me,
Who persist in sinning;
Set my fettered conscience free,
Free for new beginning.
A most perfect and wondrous performance of this work by all involved, and the most perfect and wondrous Lenten meditation I could have hoped for. My thanks to all; it truly was a great joy and blessing to attend.
Another great joy and blessing was seeing fellow Wiblogger and dear friend Semele again; the poor lass was stuck with me for dinner Friday, a quick Hello at the concert Friday evening, and breakfast this morning. What a patient and long-suffering friend! We had the most wonderful Asian dinner Friday [Laksa for Semele; Prawns and Crispy Noodles for me] followed by some very indulgent Gelatissimo Gelato. This morning, I breakfasted with Semele, and her charming sister and oh-so-adorable nephew, indulging in the most scrumptious and delicate crepes I have had for some time. It was great to see her, and her sister and nephew, again; Semele truly is one of the most lovely -- and fun-loving -- people you could ever be blessed to meet, and it is a joy to count her as a friend. And she does know all of the most wondrous and indulgent places to eat!
It was then back to Sin City [cruise control is wonderful, isn't it? Almost two-and-a-half hours of it set on 110 and me just steering]. And a restful afternoon reading. I have a pretty good life.