Helen Reddy died today, aged 78. When the news-reader on BBC World Service announced it, he claimed she recorded that Feminist anthem I am A Woman. I gather he’d never heard of it and either figured the lack of an ‘a’ was a typo or else the person who prepared his script included the ‘a’ because they too were ignorant of the real title. I can’t help wondering how you can call something an anthem when you don’t know the title.
Having heard about Helen and a bit of the anthem (which included the title), I headed into town for the usual shop.
I chatted with Pamela as I bought some salmon and chatted with the woman on the checkout though we were all muffled behind screens and bits of cloth.
I do wonder about the continued use of perspex screens. If everyone has to wear masks, why do they need the screens? Unless, of course, it’s about people not communicating with each other in a normal way. I think it’s very, very sad.
But let’s not dwell on the obvious.
On the way home, I ran into Theo and his parents. As they approached me, Theo was dragging his mum off to the bushes where he could hear the call of nature beckoning. When he saw me heading their way, he immediately dragged his mum back to the path in order to say good morning to me.
Also, his younger brother (still in a stroller) waved enthusiastically. They are such a perfect family. I told the father so the other day, and he replied “Well, three of us are.”
Back at home I was involved in general admin and housework. We had a Skype with Katie and James in the afternoon but, otherwise, it was business as usual.
Late in the day, the rain started and refused to let up. This is where the extension comes in very handy. I spent quite a while throwing the ball for Emma while Mirinda went for a treadmill walk and Freya looked confused.
Today, this happened
The Magic Flute premiered at the Schikaneder’s theatre in Vienna today in 1791. While there are no reviews of the first performance, the opera proved very successful with sell out performances aplenty. It remains today as one of the most performed operas in the world. That’s even though it runs for around 3 hours and 15 minutes.
According to the ENO, Mozart’s timeless opera “…follows the adventures of Prince Tamino and the bird-catcher Papageno on their quest to rescue Pamina. To assist their mission, they are given musical instruments enhanced with magical powers, which they deploy to conquer the trials and tribulations placed in their path towards a deeper understanding of true love and happiness.“
Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart (as he was christened) conducted the first performance though he was quite ill at the time. Two months later, aged 35 years, young Mozart was dead. In his short life he created over 600 works. I do wonder what he could have managed in a second 35.
I also wonder whether Dark Side of the Moon will have as much appeal, 229 years after it’s first performance by Pink Floyd.
