Go to see...

The Magic Flute!

Just got back from seeing the new film of The Magic Flute, starring (as Pamina) .... Amy Carson ... who (drum roll please) I studied music with at university! Ok, so it's not a great claim to fame as they go, I think probably only relatives or close friends count, but there we go. Anyway, the film was good, if rather strange ... it's"updated" to the first world war (if it doesn't attempt to be over-realistic, it is opera), includes the Queen of the Night being driven around on a tank, giant floating red lips, and a libretto by Stephen Fry - the giveaway being the use of the phrase "I couldn't give a hoot" (though "I forgot about my musical jingle" is close behind).

More later.

http://www.magicflutefilm.com/ (p.s. if you understand the point of this site, let me know!)

http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,,1756908,00.html

Colour!

It's only day two of my blogging life, but I think I'm already addicted. Thought I might explain some of the links that I've added under "What's going on?". Fete des Lumieres is pretty self-evident, the second in my embryonic list is the website of an artist, Veronique Ziminski. Her paintings are being exhibited at the moment in a little gallery in Lyon, near to the Place Bellecour. Having walked past several times, about a month ago I decided to venture in. Good choice. As soon as you enter the gallery you are overwhelmed by the complete riot of colour created by countless vivid paintings that brim with life and movement. The world painted on those canvases seems at once incredibly real and completely implausible. My favourites are the ones of musicians, clowns and bridges, though there are plenty of other themes explored (French cafes, cities, country scenes for a start).

http://www.veronique-ziminski.com/index.htm

Fete des Lumieres

Before I begin, just a quick apology that I haven't worked out how to type accents in this blog yet, so any French words will have to be read with a pinch of salt! So, on with the fun. Since 1852, Lyon has been illuminated each year on December 8 by candles placed in front of the windows of all the city's buildings. Perhaps the four day extravaganza of light which took over this year is a bit different from the nineteenth-century version of the festival, but there were still lots of candles in windows!(although quite how the bright pink police sirens in the flower beds in front of the Theatre des Celestins fit into the picture remains to be seen!) In fact, the religious roots and purpose of the Festival still seem to be viewed as important, and commercialism(mmmm ... mulled wine) doesn't seem to have completely obliviated the original aim of saying "Merci Marie". "The origins of the festival", as wikipedia helpfully informs me "date to 1643 when Lyon was struck by plague. The municipal councillors (échevins) promised to pay tribute to Mary if the town was spared. Ever since, a solemn procession makes its way to the Basilica of Fourvière on this day to light candles and give offerings in the name of Mary. The event thus commemorates the day Lyon was consecrated to the Virgin Mary. In 1852, it became a popular festival when a statue of the Virgin Mary was erected next to the Basilica, overlooking the city."



Spent Friday and Sunday evenings savouring the delights of the Fete: mulled wine (vin chaud in French, have to vote for the English here, mulled is a much better word), roast chestnuts, and lots of lights. Friday was unfortunately a bit of a wash out as it had been raining non-stop since about midday, but by the time we tramped up the hill to Fourviere the rain had cleared and the view of the lit up city was incredible (see photos, which don't really do it justice even though I discovered the night-time function on my camera) Sunday less wet, so included a trip on the big wheel standing in Place Bellecour. Rather terrifying to discover when at the top of the wheel that the little metal gates meant to keep you safe by being shut fast were actually very openable. But hey, fun all the same!

Merci Marie!

http://www.lumieres.lyon.fr/

Coucou!

Hello everybody, and welcome to my blog! My name's Becca, and I'm an English student living in France, learning to live life a la francaise, and grappling with French. What can you expect to read here? Oh, a bit of this and a bit of that. Thoughts on French, English, music (all sorts, but mostly classical), books, art, things going on where I live, the meaning of life ... Enjoy!