The Goldberg Variations at the Manoel
I only managed one concert, that with Joanne Camilleri at the piano, but everyone has nothing but words of praise for the Baroque Festival.
I had never heard her play before and she really is a Bach expert. I asked her why she is so enthusiastic about Bach's works. "For various reasons, one of which is because it is so complex yet so easy on the ear. It is continuously engaging, prodding the ear to listen to so many different melodies at once which together make a perfect whole, and which come very naturally together seemingly without any effort at all," she replied. Bach also has many little intricacies so to speak, she explained, which perhaps makes his music even more special than other baroque composers - he used many symbolisms in his music and also composed each work with a very carefully thought-out plan.
Joanne gave a short lecture prior to her recital for, she told me, many of these special things can only be appreciated when studying the score and not always by simply listening to the music. "The Goldberg Variations has many of these interesting features in the make-up of its compositional structure, which is why I wanted to share them with the audience, to help the audience appreciate the work even more." She says she always tries to share some interesting little facts with the audience before she plays a piece, although it is usually only very few sentences not at such length as last Sunday. "After a concert the audience has always commented that they really appreciated this."
Thank goodness for her explanations which helped me enjoy the music. Her playing, of course without an interval, gave the audience much pleasure as could be seen by their enthusiastic reaction at the end of the Variations. Joanne will be giving another recital at St James Music Room non 5th March. She must spend hours and hours at the piano to achieve so much.
Raines Law Room for cocktails
There's always some pleasant surprise awaiting me when I stay with my 1980 girl and her family in Jersey City. Unlike me my girls are very good at turning an event into a proper surprise which they keep until the very last minute. This time round, with a two-month-old baby we chose to stay in on most evenings and catch up with films we had not seen: The Hunt, Gone Girl, Danton and several more, all carefully chosen and excellent. These included a documentary on sugar and how it harms us, after which we vowed we would never touch it again, only to break the vow a mere half an hour later when a box of chocs was beckoning. We tried to ignore it but finally gave in.
So, babysitter organized, we arrived in New York and walked to 48 West 17th Street (between the Avenues of the Americas and 5th Avenue in the Flatiron district) until we came to a flight of stairs and a black door but no windows, with no indication at all as to what was inside. I must say, I was very intrigued. My hosts, on the other hand, had been there before and knew that I would fall in love with this stylish place. We rang the buzzer and a smartly dressed young man (with a side parting) opened the door and led us to our table which had been pre-booked. Several antiques and turn-of-the century wall hangings completed the ambience. There were black gauze curtains for intimacy but we did not draw them. So, this was Raines Law Room I was told. Raines Law, it was explained to me as we settled down on one of the Chesterfields next to a fireplace, was the law passed in 1896 with the intention of curbing the consumption of alcohol by imposing regulations. I had no idea it was called Raines Law although we have all heard of The Prohibition - and, irony of ironies, how many made a great deal of money out of selling illicit liquor.
Here was a 20th century speakeasy with no flashing lights and pumping music. You can only reserve a table on certain days and to keep the intimate ambience groups of six, maximum, are allowed. (I recently walked out of a tiny restaurant in Strait Street as the music was simply too loud. I went there with a friend to converse and catch up but once inside we knew immediately that this was going to be impossible. When will they ever learn?)
Each table at Raines is equipped with a wall buzzer to call your waitress. Service is discreet and relaxed. The cocktails, though not cheap, were worth every dollar.
A second Raines Law Room was opened at The William, the popular mid-town boutique hotel, recently. That should ensure that patrons have a second choice and are not disappointed when, on certain days, one simply cannot get inside the original Raines.
The Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Gardens
This was a most pleasant day out with the children but we all enjoyed the show, a New York tradition. At least 21 Model trains zip past popular landmarks in New York. This miniature city features more than 150 iconic buildings, all re-created with bark, seeds, pine cones, leaves and other natural materials. For example the red background of the Apollo Theater's marquee is made of radish seeds and the Guggenheim made mostly of shelf fungus.
The miniature trains hum along among familiar sights such as the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center. The Artist's Studio, under artist Paul Busse and his team craft these amazing small wonders. Real trains, real landmarks all beautifully displayed and working. If one train stops there is always someone to get it going again. Some plants are swapped to keep everything looking fresh. Last year this show drew some 217,000 visitors.
There we got talking to an Italo-American woman who had been to Malta and loved it.
On the way home we stopped at The Bronx, full of Italian shops and bought a panettone. We also had coffee and cakes at a café which was highly recommended on Tripadvisor. The cakes were pretty awful and disappointing but we enjoyed the experience - and the coffee.
Fish Sundays at The Barracuda
We all like value for money when we eat out, at least I certainly do. Both last year and this year I enjoyed a fish Sunday lunch at the Barracuda in St Julian's. It is truly a treat with its damask-napped tables and lovely views and of course the excellent service and fish dishes. I don't think they need a push from me but I had to share the good news with our readers.