HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK - Mahler 2nd 'Resurrection' Symphony

In 1973 the BBC broadcast a series of Norton Lectures by Leonard Bernstein entitled The Unanswered Question. In them he investigates the origins and universality of music. They were broad ranging lectures, incorporating Chomsky, the historical development of music and the human condition and zeitgeist of their time, as represented through musical forms.

My encounter with these lectures, I didn't realise at the time quite how much they'd influenced my thinking and beliefs about the role of music in general. Bernstein lectures also introduced to me pieces by Schoenberg, Stravinsky, Charles Ives, and most importantly, through his lecture largely about the 9th Symphony - to Gustav Mahler. It is one of the boons of the internet, that this material is being made available.

Mahler 'Resurrection' Symphony - Claudio Abbado

This week I watched a video concert in Lucerne from 2003, conducted by Claudio Abbado of Mahler's 2nd ' Resurrection' Symphony - it is a masterly interpretation. Though it's been many years since I first listened to this Symphony, it was like becoming reacquainted with an old friend. With many past exhilarating experiences arising from it. 

In the1980's I lived in London, and attended numerous Prom performances. An early concert was of Mahler's 2nd, with the sublime soprano Jessye Norman. As the symphony reached its final climax, there was a huge orchestra, a huge choir and the huge Albert Hall organ all belting out full pelt, and on this ocassion Norman's beautiful voice softly soaring with an effortless intensity rising up, to hover like a small bird over this climactic cacophony. I found this so utterly thrilling, I experienced an explosion of bliss that shot through and around my body.

Listening to the 2nd Symphony again this week I was struck by this experience once again. The 'Resurrection' is the apotheosis of the late Romantic symphonies. A quality embedded in a Mahler symphony is the depth of emotional range it contains in its dramatic panoramas, textures and tones. Within the waves and frequency of its passionate upswellings and fluctuations, there is ultimately something gloriously transcendent waiting to burst out of it at any moment. And just occasionally this can strike you full on. 

My personal preference for the 2nd Symphony

Mahler creates a context for this sort of emergence through his symphonies, as much via the subtlety of the orchestration, as its furious intensity. He conjures a place where emotional resonance can 'resurrect' your own connection with, however you configure it,  something universal or ultimate, that is locked within us. Mahler's music, on these occasions, acts as a key to unlock a lived experience of re-connection.

A HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK - Felbrigg Hall Christmas

 We've done a tour now of Blickling Hall, Felbrigg Hall and Oxborough Hall, and of all the National Trust properties in our area Felbrigg's Christmas decorations win hands down. I'm not a huge fan of themed displays, but if they are executed with imagination and creativity, as at Felbrigg, I won't complain. Blickling's by comparison was a bit flat. Oxborough's was just decorated rooms without any overarching theme, for which they really needed to push the boat out a bit more than they did. But there is something about a stately home done up to the nines, that brings out something of the archetypal resonances in the festivities.

 

A HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK - Being Kae Tempest

If you haven't heard me extolling the quailty of their work before now, this programme on BBC I Player is well worth checking out as a primer into a very significant poet and artist. Uplifting and heartfelt whatever they do, their work holds this massive sense of a creative vision behind it. One that can't help but be inspiring. Kae Tempest gives you hope. Click on the link

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001sxfm/being-kae-tempest

A HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK - Strictly Come Dancing

There have been a lot of good dancers this year, a pretty high level has been achieved across the board. However, really top 'Oh My God' moments have been noticeably absent. Until this week. Layton Williams, though not a ballroom dancer, is basically a trained professional. Everything comes with such a degree of ease and stylishness. He is a fabulous performer, really talented. But even with all that polished show biz pazzazz he's failed to knock you side ways. Until this week. The week he and Nikita Kuzmin did an Argentine Tango, which was just so superb it literally blew my mind.

HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK - Jacob Lusk & Jules Holland

I've been a big fan of Gabriel's for a while. More precisely, the voice of Jacob Lusk that elevates everything that group does out of being just a serviceable soul band. The man has presence. Here on this weeks Later with Jules Holland, Lusk sings a piece of Gospel music that he grew up with - Lord Don't Move The Mountain. The thing with Lusk's vocal capability is that just when you think you've got the measure of his voice, he throws something at you that goes way way way beyond that. This is a classic performance on Later. It is a simply stunning showstopper, thrilling stuff to see and hear happening right before you. You can see the life enhancing delight written all over both of their faces at the end.

 

A HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK - Designing The Hebrides

There is still someone at the BBC who has got their head screwed on right. Whoever decided to commission this programme, giving Banjo Beale, last years brilliant winner of Interior Design Challenge, his own makeover show, well, they should be given some sort of award. Banjo is such a gift to the nation, a natural TV presence. Someone who its very easy to spend half an hour with. Whilst he tries to convince himself as much as his clients, that he should proceed with his adventurous design ideas.

Banjo is that rare thing in modern television, a genuinely nice guy.  Its encouraging to see how such a lovely man, struggling so much with his self confidence, can nonetheless be such a bold designer. Watch him cope so assuredly and resourcefully, when everything does not go according to plan. Whether he's thousands to spend upgrading a smokehouse or hundreds smartening up a bothy. He's such an ordinary humble bod, that we all can identify with and feel inspired by. 

The programmes are set on his home turf of the Hebrides, which will provide a huge boost to the Hebridean tourist industry. With those ¡sweeping picturesque shots over its islands. Panoramic landscapes set against the blue of its summer skies. You just find yourself longing to go stay there for a while. The place looks stunning. As are Banjo's design interiors. Undoubtedly this will give his career a huge boost as a designer, but also one certainly hopes as a TV presence.

A HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK - Nick Cave Interview on Newsnight

 

Anyone who knows me well, will have caught the fact that I'm a big fan of the musical oeuvre of Nick Cave. This interview with Nick Cave is with Kirsty Wark, who asks such delicate yet prompting questions. Of course she is interviewing Cave, who is the most thoughtful and eloquent man. Here he talks with such humility, of his own faith and skepticism, the difference between being spiritual and religious. The power of music, and how you can like someone's music even if you don't agree with their politics. How as we grow older we all live lives of increasing grief.

The death of his son Arthur is still there etched into his face and into his soul. It has somehow both damaged and yet burnished him into a greater sympathy and sensitivity. He talks of his son's death as having broken completely his previous incomplete way of being. His increasing openness and engagement with his fans through his The Red Hand Files, is quite unique. An act of generosity that works both ways. Fabulous stuff, worth giving it your attention and time.

A HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK - Rose Gunpowder GreenTea

Hubby recently came back from a visit to Nottingham with a couple of packs of beverages. A rather (sharp intake of breath) potent coffee and a pack of loose Rose Gunpowder Green Tea. The later has quickly become my very favourite early morning cuppa. One that I take the time to savour slowly, to slurp and enjoy. 

Sometimes flower infused teas come near to being an insulting tragedy,  far too watery in both flavour and aroma. Or they taste synthetic, with an intensity of pong, indicating some sort of chemically induced essence has been added. As though a rose green tea was meant to be a close relation of pot pourri. I usually like a classic form of tea, and I'm not fond of the willfully exotic Elephant's Toe Nail Tea or food flavoured Bakewell Tart Tea.

This, however, is just a beautiful gently rose infused green tea. I find this is a superb way to gradually awaken to greet the morning dew and myself. Its a subtle highlight of each day, in each week, in this or any other year.

A HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK - Hamza Yassin

From the moment I first heard the music Hamza & Jowita were going to dance on Strictly this week, I was so emotionally moved I was on the edge of tears. Hamza represents every average man and woman's dream that, despite their age or seemingly inappropriate size, they too might one day get up and dance like a dream. Just watch in awe the way he thrillingly tosses Jowita up in the air with such confident assured grace.

Jerusalema is one bright upbeat piece of pure joy carved out of seemingly gossamer thin African rhythm. It feels to me as though its the musical companion to the personality of Hamza himself. Who comes across as the nicest, most gentle man you could ever have the supreme good fortune to meet. Watching his small chunky body perform with such feeling for the music, his flexibility and expressive movement, makes me smile every week. I don't think I'm alone in falling a little in love with this quietly dignified and unassuming guy. 

We all want a bit of whatever it is that he has, particularly right now.