‘Turandot’ at Eden Cinemas

Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini – yes, that is the full name of this wonderful composer who took the opera baton from Verdi, writing hit aria after hit aria. La bohème, Tosca and Madama Butterfly are among the most performed operas today. He once said, “I shall feel the story as an Italian, with desperate passion.” The word ‘passion’ is misused and abused every day. I see it in print, I hear it all the time but when Puccini used the word ‘passion’ he really meant it. What an incredible composer he was. What epitomizes opera more than ‘Nessun dorma’ from Turandot which The Three Tenors made famous at the 1990 World Cup Finals thus bringing classical music into millions of people’s lives, where hopefully, it has remained.

The production of Turandot which I watched at Eden Cinemas was transmitted live from the Royal Opera House. This is Puccini’s final opera, which he left unfinished, and it is not among my favourites. It is quite heavy going with only a few tuneful arias to which to look forward.  But at least it ends happily for some and love triumphs though the poor Liú, as servile as ever, loses her life in order to save the life of the man she has loved for a long time, a secret love. In the meantime he was lusting after the glamorous Turandot. Non piangere Liú, the object of her affection, Calaf sings, not caring two hoots for the humble Liú who is also looking after his old father.

Puccini died before he could finish writing Turandot and another composer wrote the ending, after instructions left by Puccini. At its première, it is recorded that the conductor Arturo Toscanini stopped the orchestra playing exactly at the point where Puccini stopped composing, turned to the audience and said: ‘Here, death triumphed over art.’

Although it is an opera I would not wish to see often, unlike Carmen or La Traviata for example, however, this was such an absolutely splendid production that I am glad I did not miss it.

The Decesare’s are generous with their patrons. There was a glass of wine offered before the performance, free parking and a 25% discount if you dined at Waterbiscuit, the new Intercontinental restaurant.

My friend Milica booked a window table for us there before the performance. I have to record for posterity that first of all the service was foreign and impeccable. We are now used to middle-Europeans serving us at table.  They were polite, attentive and served us with grace, the young Hungarian helping us make a choice. The chef is Maltese – Jonathan Brincat – and deserves applause for the food was delicious.

We shared a local goat’s cheese royal with candied walnuts and a port and vanilla emulsion. This was not gbejniet, which I like in any shape or form but a rectangular shaped cheese. I have never come across local goat’s cheese like this at any supermarket.

The bread basket was full of tempting, crusty panini and I could not resist but tried to use the butter sparingly and not fill every hole with it as I am want to do.  Milica has a waistline and did not touch either and that is one of the reasons why she has kept her teenage measurements while I look like a sack of potatoes.  I let go of my principles far too quickly when it comes to food.

Main course for her was Pork Cheeks with braised cabbage and leeks with a truffle sauce. I went for the more fattening Gruyère, mushroom and caramelized onion tart and did not regret it although she encouraged me to taste her Pork Cheeks which I have to pronounce a delicious surprise. I have never seen them on a menu before and after that experience I shall look at pigs more benevolently. As to my tart,  I try to avoid pastry and this tart was a treat. The ultimate tart…rich, delicate, subtly flavoured, in short a litany of pleasures.  We resisted the chips but opted for mashed potatoes instead and grilled aubergines, both beautifully prepared and presented. We left for Turandot with both our tongues smiling.

My friends Anthony and Judith Duvivier

Some friendships survive better than others, through space and time. Others seem to fall by the wayside. Is it chemistry? It is a question of having similar souls? Who knows?

 Months ago I received a letter from Judith and Anthony informing me that they were coming to a 50th birthday party at the Xara Palace at the end of August and would I be in Malta as they wished to see me. I was absolutely delighted to hear from them. Anthony had been a very faithful friend to me since we met in 1967 and except for this year, calls me up every birthday always with a bon mot and birthday wishes.

 I blocked the weekend they were going to be here in my diary and made certain that I was not going anywhere.

I had been to London many times over the years since both my daughters were either working or studying there at various times but I never looked them up although at one time they were living a mere stone’s throwaway from where my young one was living. Why, one may well ask? Mostly because I did not want to give myself more pain by having to talk about my husband’s death. Anthony had met him and had immediately told me: ‘He is the right man for you.’  I had invited him to meet him over supper in my humble student’s flatlet in the North of London. He arrived, as he always did  with a bottle of Chambertain – one of Napoleon’s favourite wines – tucked under his coat. In Napoleon’s words: ‘Nothing makes the future look so rosy as to contemplate it through a glass of Chambertain.’ I was happy to have his approval.

As I mentioned before, Anthony as a young medical student from Barts had come out to do some practical work at St Luke’s in 1967. One of my brothers-in-law was studying medicine too, at the time and upon meeting him, brought him home one day and told us to look after him.

When I went to study librarianship in London in the late ‘60s he looked after me very well, introduced me to all his friends and took me along wherever they went. I was introduced to bird watching (I don’t have the patience) but also to the theatre and to the fashionable restaurants.

We saw almost every well-reviewed play in the West End: Tom Stoppard’s Jumpers and Voyage Round My Father, an autobiographical play by John Mortimer, immediately come to mind. I was of course, very impressed with these world class productions which have given me a love for good theatre.

He chose dermatology as his speciality and is still practicing at Harley Street. He also does a day at King’s working in the bone marrow transplant unit for the National Health Service and two sessions in private practice.

Judith worked in the NHS in Camden town for 25 years, mostly with the underprivileged, then privately for a decade.

She had come to Malta before but stayed on her ship which was the P & O Nevasa. She told me: ‘The arrogance of youth. It was more fun to sit on deck and drink gin and look at the sun set over glorious Valletta.’

Thanks to them I saw the restored Caravaggio in its beautiful setting. In Anthony’s words: “It was an unforgettable weekend. The third age (not quite ‘the final chapter’) has some consolations. The acquisition of wisdom based on experience and the savouring of friendship are examples.’   He called it a meeting of three souls ‘but I don’t believe it is all fortuitous. I have always adhered to Hamlet’s admonition to Horatio that ‘there is more in heaven and earth than is dreamt of in your philosophy, Horatio.’ I think our guardian angels or the Holy Spirit himself were at work.”

Before leaving they handed me a copy of Saint Benedict’s Prayer Book published at the Ampleforth Abbey Press – they are both Catholic and Ampleforth is his old school. In their dedication they pointed me to their favourite Psalm 138, Parts 1 and 2: ‘O Lord, you search me and you know me/you know my resting and my rising’ and so on. Definitely beautiful and worth reading even if my Damascus is not imminent.

Judith immediately posted me a copy of The Hare with Amber Eyes, Edmund de Waal’s bestseller which I have started reading with great pleasure.

Now that our old friendship has been rekindled we shall keep in touch and they have promised to return in cooler weather. I shall hold them to that promise. My eldest and her family loved them. I hope there will be an occasion to meet my young one and family.