An opera that I will swerve is Mittwoch aus Licht (Wednesday from Light) composed by Karlheinz Stockhausen. It received its premiere in Birmingham in 2012. It may be a while before it gets another outing.
There was a cast of about 150 singers and extras, camels and the famous Helicopter Quartet in which four musicians play in four helicopters with the noisy results transmitted to the audience. It lasted over five hours. On balance I think bassoonist, Amy Harman, got off quite lightly. She played her bassoon suspended above the audience on a trapeze.
I caught up with her and her bassoon this week at the Wigmore Hall playing in a lunchtime concert with Laurène Durante, playing double bass, and the Castalian Quartet. No camels or helicopters – just some beautiful pieces adapted for the bassoon including Mozart’s Sonata for bassoon and cello, three Schubert songs including Die Forelle (The Trout) and Divertissement for bassoon and string quartet by Jean Françaix. It was most enjoyable and my guest and I agreed that we had never heard bassoon solos before.
Afterwards we walked a little way along Wigmore Street for a late lunch at 2 Veneti that unsurprisingly specialises in Venetian dishes. I had creamy salt cod on polenta to start and sea bass as a main course. It was excellent and I will be returning. Generously, my second glass of grappa was on the Casa.
https://youtu.be/OOMP9D4ICxA
There is better Venetian food in London than there is in Venice – I can recommend Veneta ( part of the SaltYard Group ) – just off the Haymarket – have been there 3 times in as many weeks …..
Signore Rankini – a name redolent of the Rialto – may I thank you for your recommendation and for posting the 800th comment on this site.