Yesterday Mr SQ and I decided to play hooky and try out one of the Baxter Theatre's Morning Melodies concerts, which happen once a month. At R30 a ticket you really can't go wrong for a live performance we reckoned. I'm not the greatest fan of the building which opened in August 1977 at the bequest of the former mayor, William Duncan Baxter to create a theatre complex at UCT which would be independent of the state run Nico Malan Theatre. However, seeing it in the daylight was an unusual experience for me, and I rather liked the natural light and the views of the foliage through the large glass windows. It was bitterly cold following Tuesday's torrential rain, so we bundled up and were very glad to have booked tickets beforehand. For a mad moment I thought we'd been dropped into the set for a commercial for a retirement village. There sure are plenty of silver haired folk out there and they were out in force at the Baxter yesterday morning. Yikes, is that us in 10, 20 or 30 years time!? Oh well, good for the goldy oldies to get out and take advantage of this wonderful event, and I do hope that I am in the same state of health to do the same when I reach their age. I just hope I don't regress as some of them seem to have done by talking and tapping loudly whilst unwrapping my cellophane wrapped sweeties.
The programme kicked off promptly at 10.30am with an introduction and then a most enjoyable hour and a half of arias sung by Violina Anguelov (mezzo-soprano) and Beverley Chiat (coloratura soprano) accompanied by Victor Tichart on the piano. Dahlings, such talent we have in our fair city. The ladies sparkled in their shimmering dresses.
(Notes to self:- 1. Must up my game and do the dusting in a sequinned ball gown with sexy ties down the back. 2. Should also practice my scales while I'm at it.)
The programme included popular favourites that even an opera fan who might not qualify as a buff would enjoy, and I sat back and was transported into a world of midmornng musical magic.
www.baxter.co.za
Local lady, Beverley, and the Bulgarian born Violina seem to have been born to form a formidable duet, being of such similar slim builds with wild dark hair. They entertained us with saucy winks and smiles, and seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as we were. When they took a few moments to change into - gasp - identical dresses, Victor played amusing piano solos for us. It was simply wonderful to be transported out of the real world and have our fears for the future of our land allayed for a while in this veneer of civilization. Thank you and encore Beverley, Violina and Victor. I'm definitely booking for James Grace's "I Love a Guitar" on 18 July and may just subscribe to the series from July to December for a mere R150, as we really enjoyed our Warmth in Winter event so much.
In the evening we went to Kalk Bay Books to hear Marianne Thamm interview that doyenne of South African magazine publishing, Jane Raphaely about her recently published autobiography, but left feeling rather bored by the whole overcrowded occasion. A pity as we have attended some really enjoyable book talks there previously, but this one just didn't do it for us. I'm not quite sure whether or not Marianne was intimidated by her former mentor and boss, as she had been outstanding when she took on Gareth Cliff, Denis Beckett and Martin Welz at the Franschhoek Literary Festival in May. So much so that she was, I reckoned, a woman with male appendages in her pants. I fear that they had deflated by last night.
www.flf.co.za
This morning I spent some time at the studio of Republic Radio in Hout Bay, which I wrote about recently, chatting on air to Tom Purcell about the Life and Times of Suzy Q, a few other random topics, and spinning some good discs, which was most enjoyable. So there you go, my five minutes of fame, if not fortune at last. Thanks for the time Tom and to anybody who tuned in. Stay tuned in for easy listening 24 hours a day, with a few fascinating guests thrown in too. I was followed by the sassy local Soap Girls who were ready to entertain the teeny girl fans after I left. Hmmm, think I should spice up my act and join a girl band in my next life...?
Lotsa love,
Suzy Q
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