The Closing Moments From Puccini's Turandot

Puccini's popular three act Opera Turandot was something the composer never actually

got to see completed as he died in in 1924 while his work was incomplete. Thankfully Franco Alfano

stepped in and completed the opera which was eventually premiered in 1926.

Set in ancient China it is a tale of love and sacrifice. And wherever it is performed you can

be sure of big stage sets as well as spectacular costumes.

And if the closing music is familiar to many that's because it closes out with a choral and

orchestral rendition of Nessun Dorma, a popular and much loved Aria by Luciano Pavarotti.

Turandot by Giacomo Puccini - Teatro Colon de Buenos Aires (2024).

Kindly uploaded to Youtube by Marcelo Monzani 

A Nostalgic Look back at Some Home Videos

 

Music background track - Circular Beginning

by Jeremy Black

So after a nostalgic rummage around in my home video tape draw, I thought I'd share

some edited clips and run them through my video editor, while also having some fun with

some of the special added effects. Of course they were filmed around and just after the

Millennium, before I had even started blogging and before social media really took off.  And now

of course, many are actually making a living by posting their images and videos online. 

But back then we did it just for fun and to have something to look back on in future years.

I did want to post up these videos as one but was forced to split them as Blogger couldn't

handle three minute videos.

 

The Brilliant Benny Hill....Just Saw Your Dumplings.

Benny Hill was a true comedic wordsmith. And the joy he used to bring back in the

golden age of tv comedy is surely missed.

Here he is in a comical kitchen cooking sketch as one of his most popular characters

mimicking that 70's tv Chef Fanny Cradock. And of course the comedy lies in the hilarious

mispronunciations. 

The sketch also includes that immortal line 'Just saw your dumplings'  in which Henry

McGee was really trying to say Soya Dumplings.

And watching on in a Youtube Reaction video is Lee

from LEE TV

That Trip to Margate Kent

So here's the video I made during my recent visit to Margate in Kent. Seems like my Panasonic

stills camera is giving me better results. And by using my light camera tripod it allows

me to get some long zoom shots.

They're predicting a final burst of Summer for next week for the South and South Coast.

Could there yet be another Coastal visit? But then you can never rely on our weather predictions.

Raimondi Returns as Scarpia in Tosca

I can never get enough of Italian bass-baritone Opera performer Ruggero Raimondi,

especially when he's cast in the role of the evil Scarpia in Puccini's three act opera Tosca.

This performance above is from 1992 when it was beamed live around the world in a

special television event that was performed at the time and location prescribed by the composer

Puccini. It also featured Placido Domingo.

In the closing moments Raimondi as Scarpia can be seen kissing the cloak of the passing Pope

as if wanting forgiveness after practically denouncing his love of God, for his love of  Tosca

played by Katherine Malfitano.

And in that final closing moment, The Pope holds up high the golden starlike Monstrance, which

according to Catholics represents the very presence of Christ.

VIDEO KINDLY UPLOADED TO YOUTUBE BY

CLASSICAL MUSIC WORLD

And So Off To Margate Kent

 

This past weekend I took a trip out to Margate in Kent which always becomes a nostalgic

journey for me as it was the resort that our Foster Home took us to during many August

Summer holidays during the long School breaks.

Of course it's not the place it used to be. And back in the 1950's, 60's and 70's it was thriving

as well as being the must place to go for your August Summer Holidays, that is until the surge

in Spanish holidays became popular in the 1970's.

The golden sand beaches were somewhat sparse and empty on Saturday, but then that's because

the Schools are back and the Season is practically over.

And so just like I did in Hastings the other week I made another video. Just hope it wont take

too long to edit and put together.

Above is the house that we stayed in each year that we visited Margate. And still called

Westbrook Lodge, the Guest House is now run by Tracy and Colin. And to my surprise

the house featured on Channel 4's popular makeover show 'The Hotel Inspector' last year.

And just down the bottom of the road the sea is visible from the house (picture below).

Now I love to be anywhere by the sea, but as part of a Foster family of eight noisy excitable

children, it was almost as exciting as Christmas itself.

WESTBROOK LODGE

Jung Kook for Calvin Klein

How do Asians in particular Koreans, but mostly K-Pop Idols have the knack to look so

androgynous and dare I say at times genderless? You only have to see how we

Westerners can be fooled so easily by Thai Ladyboys who in outward appearance seem

to be able to swap genders with such ease. 

Without paying full attention to this Calvin Klein promotion video from 2023, I almost

thought for a moment, and with a further twist, that I was watching an Asian tom boy.

But alas no, it is actually Jong Kook from BTS. I suppose it was the open jacket that

gave things away.

And just months later towards the end of 2023 Jung Kook began his 18 month military

service along with BTS Bandmate Jimin.

More on this story at THE FASHIONISTO

Below: Jung Kook Looking more familiar in

another Calvin Klein promotion.