I thought you might like to catch up on what I’ve been up to. If not, you’d better come back tomorrow.
On Saturday I was asked to Garsington to see the first night (as it happens) of L’italiana in Algeri – one of Rossini’s many operas and a cracker with lots of helter-skelter ensembles and some moving arias too. You can listen to the overture, conducted by a young James Levine, at the foot of this post. Opera is not the whole reason for going to Wormsley, where Garsington now roosts, having left its original home at Lady Ottoline Morrell’s house in the Oxfordshire village of Garsington. In her day it was more skinny dipping than divine singing. Leonard and Rosalind Ingrams bought it and started their summer opera festival there in 1989. It hasn’t moved very far; Wormsley was bought by Paul Getty in the 1980s and now belongs to his son, Mark. The operas are staged in a purpose built pavilion (above) and tents are arranged nearby for patrons to take refreshment. Paul Getty re-introduced red kites to Oxfordshire with considerable success and now they wheel overhead while deer graze in the adjacent park and opera-goers graze in the tents.
I bumped into two people. One, a Garsington staffer, who smugly told me that membership was closed and that they are on a sound enough financial footing to concentrate on raising their, already high, artistic standards. Hmm, pride comes before a fall, I thought. The other, a member of the royal family who needed a pee in the interval at the same time as me. My brother was at school with him but it didn’t seem the right place for a chat.
On Sunday my goddaughter had me and nine others to lunch in her flat in Tooting. She’s an optimist; her living room and kitchen were both out of commission with building work going on. Undaunted, she had a barbecue in the garden – a high risk strategy in our uncertain climate. Her insouciance was rewarded with a glorious day and – after her father had gone out to buy a corkscrew – we had a highly entertaining party. I had to drag myself away to get home to welcome two friends who live in Wales and were coming for supper in the garden and stay the night; so two al fresco meals in one day.
Yesterday I was on light duties, as the army calls it. I planted some sweet basil in a pot (a present from Ingy and Alan) and in the evening did something especially pleasurable – making aioli in the garden listening to Radio 3, while sipping a gin and tonic.
This evening, another opera first night. I hope I haven’t bored you.
I can’t help thinking you missed an opportunity in the Privy chamber. These chance encounters need to be grasped with both hands, as it were.
It all sounds uncommonly civilized, Christopher. Splendid.
I’m looking forward to a touch of G&S this Thursday, viz. The Mikado, produced jointly by Scottish Opera and D’Oyly Carte.
I, for one, have not been bored. I liked the story of the royal wee and am pleased you did not follow Tom Driberg’s example when standing at the urinals with, I think, Jim Callaghan. I’m glad too that your evening guests – “they’re arriving promptly at 6”, you said at a quarter to seven – were patient enough to await your return (not that they had much option).
On a different point: have you or your readers any views on the correct pronunciation of the name of the former titled owner of Garsington? Is the third – you would say second – syllable of her first name to rhyme with wine, wean or win? Also, I imagine that the surname was stressed on the first syllable and that the ‘o’ is a posh short ‘u’ sound. I think that John McCarthy’s girlfriend’s surname was stressed on the final syllable (like Romeo and Julietttte).
Dear Christopher,
It is a pleasure for me to find you again! What I didn’t expect is a so gorgeous huge-range blog! And due to the passion I feel for the Victorian age, can I ask you for something about that?
Looking forward to hearing news from you,
Ciao
Emanuele
Great to hear from you, Emanuele. I am enjoying retirement and writing a new post most days. I will look out for Victorian-themed topics. I hope you are prospering.
Best wishes, Christopher