twang twang twang - MUNICH

Initiale

Aus unendlichen Sehnsüchten steigen
endliche Taten wie schwache Fontänen,
die sich zeitig und zitternd neigen.
Aber, die sich uns sonst verschweigen,
unsere fröhlichen kräfte—zeigen
sich in diesen tanzenden Tränen.

    

Rainer Maria Rilke

 

Endnote by Hayden Carruth The great poems of our elders in many tongues we struggled to comprehend who are now content with mystery simple and profound you in the night your breath your body orbit of time and the moment you Phosphorus and Hesper a dark circle of fertility so bloodthirsty for us you in the world the night breathing asleep and alive.

the last refuge of the shallow

Good quote, stolen from Terry:

"I love Italian opera--it's so reckless. Damn Wagner, and his bellowings at Fate and death. Damn Debussy, and his averted face. I like the Italians who run all on impulse, and don't care about their immortal souls, and don't worry about the ultimate."

D.H. Lawrence, letter, April 1, 1911

Running on impulse is fun:  drinking wine, reading Vogue, parties and all that, or sitting in the pit oblivious of everything outside la Boheme.  But then I leave the theatre and, in my quiet room at dusk, listen always at the moment to rather austere music.  I love the seriousness, this structure, that dignity. 

Well, the impulsive types are always the romantic heroes, and if I had to choose either head or heart, I'd take the heart.  Nonetheless, here's also to serious hours. 

I think I'm so keen on others' seriousness because, as regular readers of TwTwTw will agree, it's impossible to take myself seriously - a colleague recently taught me the German for "kiss my arse", but as a "friendly Bavarian greeting".  I believed him for at least two long minutes. 

   

life is beautiful

Every glass in my flat is being used to hold flowers after the Bolshoi's hunky Russian conductor gave me his first night bouquet.  He's such an incredibly inspired artist with commanding stage presence and a fabulous stick technique.  So was my Turn of the Screw conductor.  He also gave me his first night flowers - but I only ever judge conductors on merit.