Wine Spice ++

Priorat Alzar

noreply@blogger.com (catenians) — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 18:11:00 +0000

I knew what to expect having visited Catalonia's Priorat wine region and the surrounding area of Montsant several times. So I was looking forward to tasting the wine. But newcomers might be a bit shocked.

30 years ago Priorat wines had to be opened 24 hours before drinking and carried 18% ABV alcohol. Today they are down to a more conventional 14% or 15%. This wine is Australian style 14.5% ABV for the 2018 vintage.

I was expecting a huge nose, great depth through slatey minerality, and a long powerful finish. This wine did not disappoint - but when taking the price into account it is a bargain. It has a deep ruby appearance with a purple edge, good acidity to balance the highly structured stony steely body. Oak is just enough and not overdone. It is a very full-bodied chewy wine made from Garnacha and Cariñena grapes. It is Black Forest Cherry Cake in a glass. A very long finish. Drink with lamb marinaded in the same wine with herbs for a day. The only negative is perhaps slightly excessive acidity. This will integrate in a few years.

It is very well priced at £8.99, half the price of similar wines elsewhere in UK shops. And googling amazingly cheaper despite tax differences than the wine under a different brand name by the same producer than in Spain somehow.

I might buy several cases and leave them to rest and soften and fully integrate for a few years though fine to drink now.

Congratulations to the Aldi buyer. Perhaps the best red wine in the UK under a tenner.

De Alberto Dorado - Oxidised and Fortified Verdejo

noreply@blogger.com (catenians) — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 01:02:00 +0000

De Alberto Dorado NV Bodegas Hijos by Alberto Gutiérrez 100% Verdejo DO Rueda, Spain

When I opened the wine it smelt oxidised. It wasn't sweet at all. I had expected a sweet wine. Maybe secondary fermentation and oxidised. But there was no CO2.

And then I read the label.

It wasn't a sweet wine. Bon dry it is. It is a solera method Sherry type wine made not from Palomino or Pedro Ximenez but 100% Verdejo.

Not even a hint of Verdejo on the nose or palate. And no sweetness at all. I would guess 0.5% of residual sugar or less.

At 17% it has a wonderful kick reminiscent of the better Olorosos from Jerez.

As the name implies the appearance was golden. But being in the fridge a bit cloudy.

On the nose, it has an intense and complex aroma with classic Oloroso hints of roasted nuts and Jamon.

In the mouth, there was an extremely long and bold palate with hints of vanilla, jamón and prunes and a very strong finish.

A wonderful surprise.

I don't know where I got it. And no idea how I can get some more. I will definitely visit the winery one day.

This confirms my long-held suspicion that one can make an Oloroso out of any grape. Perhaps even Viura. Maybe made even in the UK.

Apparently according to the winery

Bodegas De Alberto is the only DO Rueda winery that, with its De Alberto Dorado Verdejo 100% DO Rueda, has maintained since its birth in the 40s the elaboration of the historic golden wine, rigorously adhering to the traditional methodology: developing and ageing oxidative in outdoor dams and biological ageing in large butts with a mother wine of more than 70 years.

________________________________________________

Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines
Sticky Wines and Wine for Spice
Hyde Park Wines on Facebook

Negroni Maria

noreply@blogger.com (catenians) — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 18:20:00 +0000

Here's another Negroni - also Tango related.

And now another White Negroni - Negroni Maria.

The classic Negroni is:

1 Part Vermouth Rosso;
1 Part Campari;
1 Part Gin.

A traditional variant is the Negroni Sbagliato:

1 Part Vermouth Rosso;
1 Part Campari;
1 Part Prosecco Sparkling Wine.

The Negroni Maria is:

1 Part Curaçao Triple Sec Orange
1 Part Martini Vermouth Riserva Speciale Ambrato;
4 Parts La Cumparsita de Oro Semi-Sparkling Wine
Ice Cubes
Frozen Orange Slices

Start with Ice cubes and Frozen Orange Slices in a large bowled glass.

Curaçao Triple Sec Orange

Vermouth Ambrato

La Cumparsita de Oro Semi-Sparkling Wine

Start with adding the Ice Cubes and Frozen Orange slices to a large bowl glass and add the Vermouth Ambrato.

and to that add the Curaçao Triple Sec Orange.

Then add the 4 Parts of La Cumparsita de Oro Semi-Sparkling Wine

Stir gently and that's it. The Negroni Maria. It is delicious.

Oh this is Maria, the Tanguera from Heaven that inspired this Negroni Maria.

More Negronis

________________________________________________

Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines

La Cenerentola

noreply@blogger.com (catenians) — Sun, 08 Sep 2019 01:52:00 +0000

Rossini’s La Cenerentola (Cinderella) in English at The Peacock Theatre was a very enjoyable performance by the British Youth Opera.

Ticket collection was efficient and the bar was reasonably priced. But I would have thought that the bar could have stayed open after the performance to generate funds for the theatre.

The seats were very comfortable and the rake was good so good visibility.

Whilst I would have preferred the performance to ave been in the original Italian, there was much merit in the English translation by Wilfred Judd. It was much more than a literal translation. I know it is difficult enough to produce a translation of a song to be sung in English and sound like the original. To create a whole opera in English is quite a project. I was very impressed with the end result.

The humour of the piece was successfully projected throughout by the full cast of 7 soloists and 11 in the chorus of courtiers. The chorus doubled as stagehands moving the stage and furniture around.

There was an impressive use of colour. Initially, all was grey. But that turned colourful in the palace.

The singing and diction were impressively warm, rich and lively for such a young cast. Acting skills including facial gestures were well developed. The hyperactive group pyrotechnics in the piece were well covered as well as the clear recitative and lyrical arias.

Initially I thought it was going to be a political satire. Don Magnifico looked a lot like Jacob Ress-Mogg and Dandini with a flop haired wig could have passed off as Boris Johnson.

The storyline is not quite the same as the classic Cinderella story. There is no coach. And no missing shoe. Whilst the ugly sisters were not going to be palmed off on who they thought was the valet, but really the prince, Angelina / Cinderella rejected the advances of Dandini the valet pretending to be the prince and declared her love for Don Ramiro then pretending to be his own valet.

Cinderella had a pair of bracelets and gave one of them to the prince, Don Ramiro, to enable to track the pair and therefore her down.

La Cenerentola was great fun. And it was nice to chat with a few members of the out of sight in the pit orchestra on the tube home afterwards.

________________________________________________

Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines
Sticky Wines and Wine for Spice
Hyde Park Wines on Facebook

Beatrice di Tenda

noreply@blogger.com (catenians) — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 13:21:00 +0000

Bellini’s 1833 Beatrice di Tenda is rarely performed and while fully in-your-face Bel Canto some might regard it at as an over-indulgent exercise in Bel Canto tricks. And I was a mere 2 metres away from Beatrice. This was part of the London Bel Canto Festival at St. George's Church, Hanover Square, Mayfair, London.

As they would say in Facebook, "It's complicated."

Baritone Filippo marries the widow of the late Duke of Milan, Beatrice (Coloratura Soprano). So he, Filippo becomes the new Duke of Milan. But Filippo loves Mezzo-Soprano Agnese. And Agnese loves Orombello. And Orombello loves Beatrice. It seems Beatrice really does love Filippo - but that wasn't clear to me as she is quite nice to Orombello. But Agnese is jealous and convinces Filippo that Beatrice loves Orombello. So Filippo sentences her to death.

Both complicated and convoluted.

There were five soloist singers and 13 members of the choir. The orchestra was about 40 strong. So together they delivered a huge sound.

Beatrice di Tenda by Bellini is Bel Canto on turbo. The singers certainly could belt out all the arias with gusto. They were all excellent singers and actors but the biggest personality and voice was that of Simone Victor as Beatrice. The others did seem a bit subdued in her shadow. Taryn Surratt as Agnese was a wonderfully sweet singer but I thought she was out of role and as an actress to me did not deliver the role of a cunning, jealous schemer.

The musicians performed like a tight unit. The choir was good with some of the singers more energetic than others. I did notice them sing apart at one phrase - but I've no idea if that was written into the score.

Many "expert" reviewers refer to it and anything by Rossini as "vulgar". It is a standard "criticism". Personally, I love it.

it was very good fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There were several bouts of applause and a standing ovation at the end.

Nothing wrong with "vulgarity".

The hall entry was very efficient and the bar pricey but not exorbitant for a theatre. Wine was £4 for about 175ml in plastic glass and Processo was £5. The toilets were clean and apparently recently refurbished. The seats had comfortable cushions.

________________________________________________

Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines
Sticky Wines and Wine for Spice
Hyde Park Wines on Facebook

Negroni Eleonora

noreply@blogger.com (catenians) — Sat, 29 Sep 2018 23:26:00 +0000

First there was Torino - Milano.

Or is it the other way round?

Then came the Americano.

And then there was the Negroni itself.

It wasn't so long afterwards that the Negroni Sbagliato was created. By mistake, it seems. That's what Sbagliato means.

But here is the Negroni Eleonora

Negroni Eleonora

Ingredients

1 Part Campari

1 Part Vermouth Rosso

5 Parts Valpolicella Ripasso [or another medium tannic Vino Rosso (Red Wine).

Frozen Orange slices

Ice cubes

Method

In a large bowled glass add the ice cubes.

Then add the frozen orange slices.

Then pour in the Campari.

Now pour in the Vermouth Rosso.

Finally, pour in the Valpolicella Ripasso Red Wine.

Stir.

There you have it: The Negroni Eleonora.

The cocktail is not as sweet as the traditional Negroni. That is because the tannin in the red wine offsets some of the sugar in the Campari and Vermouth adding a touch of bitterness as well as body and structure from the red wine.

And replacing the 40% ABV in the Gin with 14% ABV in the Red Wine makes for a cocktail that is a lot less "hot" and allows the herbs and spices in the Campari and Vermouth to come through and blend with the Valpolicella Ripasso.

The combination reminds me a bit of a Barolo Chinato.

Negroni Eleonora is now my favourite cocktail. And it tastes better than the sum of the parts as every cocktail should.

Instead of Prosecco in the Negroni Sbagliato there is red Ripasso wine. A Variant Negroni Eleonora Winter

As a winter warmer ...

Use room temperature orange slices. No ice.
Mix as above but then microwave for 15 seconds. The result is somewhat of a Glühwein. But much nicer.

Oh and the Negroni Eleonora was named after a favourite Tanguera on her birthday.

More Negronis

_______________________________________________

Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines

Hyde Park Wines on Facebook

BBC Symphony at The Barbican in a Spanish Programme

noreply@blogger.com (catenians) — Sat, 20 Jan 2018 00:40:00 +0000

A delightful experience to a packed house

The programme was entitles "Josep Pons conducts [The BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus] two terrific and colourful Spanish scores".

Sounded good but I was sceptical on the "terrific" but very keen to go as I expected the evening to be very good Spanish entertainment.

According to the programme notes.

"Two works that radiate a very special Spanish sound in the same programme: Manuel de Falla’s ballet El amor brujo (‘Love , the magician’), heard in its longer, original 1915 version, sits alongside Enrique Granados’s opera that draws on his magical piano suite inspired by the paintings of Goya of the same name.

Spanish singers, including Flamenco star Maria Toledo in the Falla, and Spanish conductor Josep Pons guarantee authenticity in an evening of fabulous melodies and thrilling rhythms from a country more often portrayed in music by foreigners. So this is the real thing!"

It was nice of the BBC to refer to Catalan Josep Pons as a Spanish conductor contrasting with the BBC referring to Pep (Josep) Guardiola as Catalan rather than also Spanish.

Oh and the composer was "De Falla" and not "Falla". Attention to detail please.

Programme

1 ; Manuel de Falla: El Amor Brujo

Performers

María Toledo, Flamenco Singer

2 ; Enrique Granados: Goyescas

Performers:

Nancy Fabiola Herrera, Rosario

Gustavo Peña, Fernando

Lidia Vinyes-Curtis, Pepa

José Antonio López, Paquiro

Josep Pons, conductor

BBC Singers + BBC Symphony Orchestra

Firstly the concert hall was very comfortable with fine acoustics. I had not been there for several years. There also now is a screen at the back of the stage for sur-titles to display translations into English. That was useful. But the Spanish original would also have been useful.

The seats were very comfortable and spacious and each row is upholstered in a different colour. That makes it not only attractive but helps in finding one's seat after the interval.

I was very impressed by both semi-staged performances. But it is a pity that María Toledo the Flamenco Singer in the first part did not come in to join in with the three curtain calls.

I had no complaints at all about the singing or indeed the acting on the part of the stage in front of the orchestra. Impressive. Though perhaps the weakest voice was that of María Toledo. The others are opera or zarzuela singers.

I also like the opera feel with the lighting dimmed and coloured to reflect the time of day and directed at the singers - soloists and chorus as appropriate.

The three curtain calls at the end were well justified. I look forward to hearing it on the radio in due course. It should have been filmed and preserved.

________________________________________________

Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines

Song of the Earth and La Sylphide at London Coliseum

noreply@blogger.com (catenians) — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 01:31:00 +0000

I saw a double bill ballet at the London Coliseum Kenneth MacMillan choreographed Mahler's Song of the Earth and August Bournonville's La Sylphide.

The Song of the Earth

Built on Gustav Mahler’s song cycle Das Lied von der Erde, MacMillan adds choreography to tell the story of the earth.

Quoting from Wikipedia

Das Lied von der Erde ("The Song of the Earth") is a composition for two voices and orchestra written by the Austrian composer Gustav Mahler between 1908 and 1909. Described as a symphony when published, it comprises six songs for two singers who alternate movements.

Mahler specified the two singers should be a tenor and an alto, or else a tenor and a baritone if an alto is not available.

Mahler composed this work following the most painful period in his life, and the songs address themes such as those of living, parting and salvation.

On the centenary of Mahler's birth, the composer and prominent Mahler conductor Leonard Bernstein described Das Lied von der Erde as Mahler's "greatest symphony".

I was seated directly in front of the female singer, The Alto. The Tenor performed at the other end of the stage. For me neither voice carried well especially the Tenor. Perhaps their voices are more suited to chamber music lieder performances rather than operas or works such as this in a large opera house.

I was quite surprised to hear them sing in German rather than in English as the English National Opera only performs in English. Especially given that the ballet was choreographed by a British choreographer.

I was very impressed with the juxtaposition of the voices and ballet which was structured with simple ballet clothes and little by way of background or set.

La Sylphide

It was the first time seeing the classic La Sylphide I go to the opera regularly but to the ballet once every couple of decades.

I was very pleasantly surprised at and impressed by the energy, story-telling hustle and bustle all round. The good sets initially in a Scottish castle and then in the countryside added atmosphere and structure to the dances.

This was a full blooded show with exuberant dancing on a Scottish theme. But somehow authenticity and attention to detail was somewhat compromised. Traditionally nothing is worn under Scottish kilts. These dancers had black speedos or something similar under their kilts.

Quoting from Wikipedia

La Sylphide (English: The Sylph; Danish: Sylfiden) is a romantic ballet in two acts. ... second version choreographed by August Bournonville in 1836. Bournonville's is the only version known to have survived and is one of the world's oldest surviving ballets.

The Danish ballet master August Bournonville had intended to present a revival of Taglioni's original version in Copenhagen with the Royal Danish Ballet, but the Paris Opera demanded too high a price for Schneitzhoeffer's score. In the end, Bournonville mounted his own production of La Sylphide based on the original libretto, with music by Herman Severin Løvenskiold. The premiere took place on November 28, 1836, with the prodigy Lucile Grahn and Bournonville in the principal roles.

The Bournonville version has been danced in its original form by the Royal Danish Ballet ever since its creation and remains one of Bournonville's most celebrated works. Modern interpreters of Bournonville's version include Eva Evdokimova and Lis Jeppesen, whose performance is recorded on DVD.

In the hall of a Scottish farmhouse, James Ruben, a young Scotsman, sleeps in a chair by the fireside. A sylph gazes lovingly upon him and dances about his chair. She kisses him and then vanishes when he suddenly wakes. James rouses his friend Gurn from sleep, and questions him about the sylph. Gurn denies having seen such a creature and reminds James that he is shortly to be married. James dismisses the incident and promises to forget it.

The Programme

I enjoyed the programme as a package of two distinct parts; but there was too great a contrast between the two ballets. It would be difficult to put together two more different ballets. There seemed to have been little logic to performing both of them.

The first was a chamber like sombre performance. The second was a block-buster big performance.

Here is a trailer by the ENO

"Hear Artistic Director Tamara Rojo talk about the important pairing of Kenneth MacMillan's Song of the Earth and August Bournonville's La Sylphide in our captivating double bill, touring to Manchester, Milton Keynes and London in autumn 2017."

August Bournonville's classic Romantic ballet is devotedly recreated by Eva Kloborg and Frank Andersen in this captivating production of La Sylphide.

________________________________________________

Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines

Negroni Sonia

noreply@blogger.com (catenians) — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 03:34:00 +0000

Introducing my latest Tango related Negroni - Negroni Sonia. And it is my Last Negroni. Or maybe it should be my Last Negronus.

Today is 5th January and in Spanish speaking countries tomorrow they will be celebrating Los Reyes Magos - The three wise men or The Magi. And each one of them is a Magus.

But in the steps of Star Wars: The Last Jedi let's stick with The Last Negroni. Especially as there never was a Negronus and the original Negroni was named after an Italian nobleman called Negroni.

And Negroni Sonia is Blue.

The classic Negroni is:

1 Part Vermouth Rosso;
1 Part Campari;
1 Part Gin.

A traditional variant is the Negroni Sbagliato with Prosecco instead of Gin.

1 Part Vermouth Rosso;
1 Part Campari;
1 Part Prosecco Sparkling Wine.

The Negroni Sonia - The Last Negroni - is:

1 Part Ambrato Vermouth
1 Part Blue Curaçao
3 Parts La Cumparsita de PLata Semi-Sparkling Wine
Ice Cubes
Frozen Orange Slices

Start with Ice cubes and Frozen Orange Slices in a large bowled glass.

Ambrato Vermouth

Blue Curaçao

La Cumparsita de Plata Semi-Sparkling Wine

Start with adding the Ice Cubes and Frozen Orange slices to a large bowl glass and add the Ambrato Vermouth.

and to that add the Blue Curaçao

Then add the 3 Parts of La Cumparsita de Oro Semi-Sparkling Wine

Stir gently and that's it. The Negroni Sonia. It is another delicious Negroni. The Last Negroni.

Oh this is the Tanguera Sonja that inspired this Negroni Sonia

And this Negroni Sonia has a double dedication.

It is also dedicated to a computer operating system. Sort of like Microsoft Windows. But much nicer. And free. And fast.

The current version of the operating system of my notebook that drives my music as a Tango DJ is Linux Mint 18.2 “Sonya” Xfce Edition.

So Negroni Sonia is named after Tanguera Sonja and Linux Mint Sonya.

My Negronis are all named after my Favourite Tangueras.

Don Giovanni in a Festival of Sex, Love and Death

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 23:30:00 +0000

Earlier this evening I was at the Pleasance Theatre near Caledonian Road in North London waiting for Don Giovanni. It was chilly outside; and the air inside had an all pervading scent of mothballs. Winter is arriving.

Don Giovanni by HeadFirst productions ended just as chillingly with the Don being taken seemingly willingly down to hell. Don Giovanni was part of the aggressively billed Festival of Sex, Love and Death.

The creative team was apparently all-female with an intention to create a very dark version of the opera . So Don Giovanni is portrayed without any redeeming qualities. Much less of the Great Seducer of thousands of women as much as a sexual predator.

Donna Elvira is portrayed as having been made pregnant by Giovanni and abandoned. Perhaps The Don is a cross between Donald Trump and Harvey Weinstein. Maybe they should have set the opera in a modern office or film studio or even the White House.

This "small scale" opera differs in scale from the very many competitors in London.

The Pleasance theatre itself is a lot bigger than others where such opera companies perform. And more comfortable.

The orchestra was larger than many - A conductor, violin, cello, clarinet and piano. So it felt like a proper orchestral performance. Sometimes there is just a piano accompaniment and that feels very one dimensional. So four plus conductor is a definite step up from the minimalists.

The rotating stage was simplicity itself. Just a door frame in the centre of a slab. They needn't have bothered.

There was a large monitor on the side showing an English translation of the sung in Italian lyrics.

And the cast was pretty much full size with no doubling up of parts. A total of 14 performers.

I was in the front row as usual and the singing and acting was powerful almost across the board. Donna Elvira was apparently suffering from an asthma attack and her voice seemed a bit subdued.

Giovanni and Leporello were very different in size and shape so the bit where they switch some clothes and pretend to be each other was a bit far fetched.

Donna Anna had an impressive Soprano voice. The others were good but not outstanding in class..

In summary I enjoyed the performance. But perhaps there are better singers of that stature in London.

________________________________________________

Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines
Sticky Wines and Wine for Spice
Hyde Park Wines on Facebook

Opera The School of Jealousy Salieri

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 22:00:00 +0000

I had anticipated a concert performance of Bampton Classical Opera's performance of The School of Jealousy by Salieri at St John's Concert Hall, Smiths Square, Westminster London. So I was pleasantly surprised to see that the it was fully staged in period costumes.

The singing was done in an English translation / interpretation which is a plus and minus. The translation inevitably takes liberties with the original text. I know how difficult it is to translate just a single song to fit the music never mind a full opera. I am trying to create musical translations / interpretations of Argentine Tangos in English and so far have just done three!

And in English much of the lyricism in Italian is lost. But it makes it more understandable particularly the recitative. But then that bit could have been done in English.

Nevertheless the opera was full of wit and charm The performers seemed to enjoy themselves without over-acting and there were regular guffaws from the audience.

And there was no orchestra. I went up at the interval and couldn't see the speakers so all a bit of a mystery. Until at the end the conductor came out and brought out the orchestra which was hidden throughout by a screen on the stage.

The opera La scuola de' gelosi (The School of Jealousy) is a dramma giocoso in two acts by Antonio Salieri, set to a libretto by Caterino Mazzolà. It had a feel of Mozart's Cosi van Tutte to it. But this preceded the Mozart work. And shockingly perhaps The Salieri work does not suffer in comparison.

The singing and acting were excellent all round. I could not fault a single one of them. And the music was excellent with a very warm sound.

There were a number of wonderful solo arias and the group arias were well delivered. Here is an aria from the opera.

I was very impressed by the performance and look forward to seeing it again.

Synopsis

The plot of the opera involves love intrigues, attempted seductions and provocations to jealousy between members of the three different social strata: the aristocracy, the bourgeoisie and the working class.

The role of the Lieutenant is a close parallel to that of Don Alfonso in Mozart's Così fan tutte.

This is Bampton Classical Opera on Salier;s School of Jealousy.

Performance history

It was first performed at the Teatro San Moisè in Venice on 27 December 1778. In 1783 it was given in Vienna, to inaugurate the reestablishment of the Italian Opera troupe. Salieri revised the score for the 1783 performances, creating new arias and expanding the role of woodwinds and brass in the scoring of the work.

The cast including Francesco Benucci as Blasio and Nancy Storace as the countess, the original Figaro and Susanna in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro.

It reached London in 1786, where, as in many other European cities, it enjoyed great success. Franz Joseph Haydn composed two insertion arias for the work, one lost, the surviving aria, Dice benissimo, for bass & orchestra, H. 24b/5.

Here is the full opera in Italian

________________________________________________

Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines

Opera The Magic Flute Opera Up Close

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 11:00:00 +0000

I saw The Magic Flute produced by Opera Up Close on Thursday 7th September 2017 at the Soho Theatre. It was sung in English.

I had previously seen several of their productions at a smaller theatre at the back of The King's Head pub in Islington. It is bigger than it sounds but still small. This was much bigger but still small by West End standards. I had seen Carmen at Soho Theatre.
I had planned ahead and having seen Opera Up Close productions on a number of occasions I chose a seat in the middle of the front row.

A good choice as it was close enough to see their expressions and check out the singers' tonsils but far away enough to avoid spittle. I did make eye contact at one point with Papageno and got involved in a silent way in his dialogue.

The stage was minimalist. Effectively two sets regularly rotated by one or two of the cast.

Being so close I felt very much involved in the production. The company seeks to bring opera to the people or variations on that team. But there was no dumbing down here. The singing and acting were superb on the second night of the show.

The translation was more of a re-interpretation of the story line reducing the cast to six, and changing roles. It seemed we were in a series of dreams all set inside and outside a seedy Soho nightclub of the 1980s. The neon sign declared "Queen of the Night."

It would be difficult to single any one of the cast for praise but if I must I was very impressed by Peter Brathwaite as Papageno and also Rosie Middleton as Papagena on both acting and singing. The diction was clear from the entire cast.

The music was also much better than often at these small scale productions. Often there is just a piano and this gives a thin one-dimensional feel to the opera. This four strong band was directed from the piano and included bass, guitars (acoustic and electric for both) and winds (clarinet, saxophone and flute). Quite a bit of width and depth to the music.

It was quite a lively performance delivered with panache and commitment in a comfortable enough theatre.

Only criticism of the theatre is that the seats are quite small and arranged as fold-up padded pairs of benches. So it would be best if couples were both on the same bench rather than split across a divide.

Oh and show involved a plastic supermarket carrier bag with the name of the supermarket displayed on it. OK I was in the front row so could read the supermarket's name. But the slogan was large and any shopper there would know its origins. I see from the website that the supermarket is not listed as a sponsor. Shame. They could have used a bag from one of the Oxford Street stores in exchange for funding. An opportunity missed.

This is an identical bag I bought from a supermarket later.

Creative Team

Orchestrator: Alex Beetschen
Librettist: Glyn Maxwell
Musical Director: David Keefe
Director: Valentina Ceschi
Set and Costume Designer: Emma Bailey
Lighting Designer: Zoe Spurr

Meet the Cast

Pamina: Susie Buckle & Abigail Kelly
Papageno: Peter Brathwaite & Tom Stoddart
Queen of the Night: Fleur de Bray & Luci Briginshaw
Papagena: Felicity Buckland & Rosie Middleton
Sarastro: Julian Debreuil & Lancelot Nomura

Tamino: Lawrence Olsworth-Peter & Peter Kirk

________________________________________________

Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines

Duarte - A Fado Singer

noreply@blogger.com (catenians) — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 22:30:00 +0000

I paid a visit this evening to The Pheasantry in London's King's Road to a Pizza Express Pizzeria with a night club in the basement - The Pheasantry.

The place was laid out cabaret style with small tables around the small stage and beyond. The cabaret section opened at 19:00 for food and the show started on schedule at just after 20:30. The food served was the same as in the Pizza Express upstairs on the ground floor. There was an extra service charge of £25 for the concert.

Lighting in the cabaret restaurant was very poor so it was very difficult to read the menu without the use of the torch on my mobile phone. I can understand very low lighting during the concert but one should be able to read the menu and be able to look at the food and dining companion while eating. Perhaps they should supply torches at each table for that purpose; or sort out the lighting.

The place had a cruise liner feel to it with a grand curving staircase rising up behind the stage. I expected the performers to come down the staircase. Not sure where it led to.

The Pizzas were good quality and far better than the pre-fabricated Pizza Express pizzas of just a few years ago. Almost as good as Zizzi but not the best for London chain pizza restaurants. But good enough.

Now for the main attraction - Duarte - the Fado Singer.

I had taken the precaution of listening to Duarte on YouTube before I booked and I was quite impressed. Much more lyrical than the harsh Fados I recall., Perhaps a touch of Cesaria Evora style Morna.

Duarte was accompanied by two guitarists one on Fado Guitar and the other on Portuguese Guitar. For one song he accompanied himself on a Portuguese guitar.

He interacted with the audience quite a bit in fairly good English seeking help occasionally for Portuguese words in English. The songs were explained. One of them involved meeting a girl and going on a bus trip to Lisuarte is from Evora.

Duarte's voice was quite clear, lyrical with expressive body language. The guitarists accompanying were precise and excellent.

At the end he did not make a show of going off-stage and coming back for an encore. Just played another wonderful song.

Easily the best Fado show I have attended. Now a great fan. And I might play some Fados to dance Argentine Tango to.
________________________________________________

Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines
Hyde Park Wines on Facebook

Negroni Alicia

noreply@blogger.com (catenians) — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 00:05:00 +0000

Here's another Negroni - also Tango related.

And now another White Negroni - Argentine flavoured Negroni Alicia.

The classic Negroni is:

1 Part Vermouth Rosso;
1 Part Campari;
1 Part Gin.

The Negroni Alicia is:

1 Part Curaçao Triple Sec Orange
1 Part Martini Vermouth Riserva Speciale Ambrato;
3 Parts Torrontés (a white Argentine wine grape variety)
Ice Cubes
Frozen Orange Slices

Start with Ice cubes and Frozen Orange Slices in a large bowled glass.

Curaçao Triple Sec Orange

Vermouth Ambrato

Torrontés

Start with adding the Ice Cubes and Frozen Orange slices to a large bowl glass and add the Curaçao Triple Sec Orange.

and to that add the Vermouth Ambrato.

Then add the 3 Parts of Torrontés

Stir gently and that's it. The Negroni Alicia. It is delicious.

Oh the Argentinian Tanguera that inspired this Negroni Alicia is here.

My Negronis are all named after my Favourite Tangueras. Just another 343 more Negronis to create ...

More Negronis
________________________________________________

Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines

Negroni Marisol

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:47:00 +0000

Negroni Marisol

The first Spanish inspired Negroni in my Negroni series - Negroni Marisol.

The classic Negroni is:

1 Part Vermouth Rosso;
1 Part Campari;
1 Part Gin.

The Negroni Marisol is:

Negroni Marisol

1 Part Campari
1 Part Pedro Ximénez (PX) from Montilla in Andalucia
2 Parts Ribera del Duero Tempranillo Red Wine
Ice Cubes
Frozen Orange Slices

Start with Ice cubes and Frozen Orange Slices in a large bowled glass.

Campari

Pedro Ximénez (PX) a sweet raisiny wine

Ribera del Duero Tempranillo Red Wine

Start with adding the Ice Cubes and Frozen Orange slices to a large bowl glass and add the Campari

and to that add the Pedro Ximénez (PX)

Then add the 2 Parts of Ribera del Duero Tempranillo Red Wine

Stir gently and that's it - The Negroni Marisol. It is delicious.

Oh here is the Tanguera Marisol Martinez that inspired this Negroni Marisol.

As it happens the singer of Orquesta Romantica Milonguera is also called Marisol Martinez.

My Negronis are all named after my Favourite Tangueras.

Just another 344 more Negronis to create ...
More Negronis

________________________________________________

Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines

Anna - Cava's Joan of Arc

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 21:34:00 +0000

Is Anna, Cava's Joan of Arc?

Will she burst the Prosecco bubble?

She, Anna of Codorníu, may well be and I wish her the best of luck in her fight back.

There is nothing "wrong" with Prosecco. And we have to admire the wine's marketing prowess. The drink is a simple Off Dry fizz. But Prosecco cleverly and legally label their sparkling wines as "Dry" or even "Extra Dry" when it is nothing of the sort. It is much sweeter than "Brut" Cavas and Champagnes. But then it is said that people "Buy Dry and Drink Sweet" and Prosecco addresses this truism very well indeed. Furthermore Prosecco is produced by high speed tank fermentation rather than the much slower developing bottle second fermentation for Cava as it is with Champagne. Yet Proseccos generally command a far higher price than Cavas despite being an inferior wine on most counts.

Wedding dressed Anna de Codorníu is very well packaged in an all-white wrap around dress. Very appealing on one's table but also looking at it enviously across the restaurant or on a wine store's shelves.

But Anna not only looks her best but is very drinkable.

It is a Cava - but only just. Penedes grown Cava varieties Parellada, Macabeo and Xarel-Lo across the range are dominated by the Champagne varieties Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grown elsewhere in Lleida . This results in much less of the typically acidic Cava mouth feel. The end resulting blend is a much softer wine. Ordinarily I shirk from French / International grapes in Spanish wines. But in this case I approve.

There are seven wines in the Anna armoury and most of the wines are "Brut" with one in the range is a sweet wine classed as "Dulce".

There is one Alcohol free version. Though perhaps that is not under "Anna" branding. Maybe it should be in green packaging. The wine is gas injected and quite unimpressive on the palate. But it looks the part at a wedding or so if you can't drink.

So a great range to pick and choose from for a wedding for an aperitif and a dessert wine plus something for drivers - or indeed a slightly pregnant bride.

It is a pity Anna does not attack Prosecco head-on with a "Dry" or "Extra Dry" wine with 15-20 g/l of residual sugar.

But being "Brut" rather than "Dry" and so less sweet Anna makes for a better base for the all conquering summer Italian aperitif Aperol Spritz.

Aperol is quite sweet and Prosecco being off-dry just adds to the sweetness. The Brut Anna cuts through some of the sugar in Aperol making for a slightly more bitter more adult drink. I far prefer using Anna to Prosecco for Aperol Spritz.

Anna de Codorníu: Anna Blanc de Blancs Reserva

Varieties: Chardonnay 70%, Parellada 15%, Xarel·lo, Macabeo 15%.

Analysis: Alcohol content: 11,5º - 12º; Residual sugars: 11 g/l

Ageing: More than 15 months in contact with the yeast lees in the bottle, which make it a Reserva Cava.

Anna Rosé [Note that wine is branded "Rosé" rather than the typically Spanish "Rosado"]

Varieties: Pinot Noir 70%, Chardonnay 30%

Analysis: ABV: 11.5º - 12º; Residual sugars: 11 gr/l.

Dulce Anna Ice Edition

Varietals: Chardonnay 70%, Parellada, Xarel·lo, Macabeo 30%

Analysis: Alcohol by Volume: 11.5º, Residual sugars: 50 gr/l

We see that the traditional Cava grapes play very much a supporting role to the Champagne varieties Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Across the Anna range the wines are not the best in Cava class. I am not going to provide detailed individual tasting notes and these wines are more about looking great and having a Champagne aura to them. They would not be identified as Cavas in a blind tasting and perhaps guessed as English or New Zealand or US Sparkling wines.

But they are very appealing both to the eye and palate. Certainly a much better product than similarly priced Proseccos and better than entry level Champagnes and more approachable than basic Cavas. A job well done all round.

But perhaps the pricing the same at Prosecco is a bit too ambitious for what is branded as a Cava. But on looks and taste certainly well justified.

________________________________________________

Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines
Sticky Wines and Wine for Spice
Hyde Park Wines on Facebook

Negroni Amanda

noreply@blogger.com (catenians) — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 00:35:00 +0000

It was Negroni Week on 5 to 11 June 2017 . But nevertheless here's another one - also Tango related.

And now the first white Negroni in the series - the lemony refreshing Negroni Amanda.

The classic Negroni is:

1 Part Vermouth Rosso;
1 Part Campari;
1 Part Gin.

A traditional variant is the Negroni Sbagliato
1 Part Vermouth Rosso;
1 Part Campari;
1 Part Prosecco Sparkling Wine.

The Negroni Amanda is:

1 Part Limoncello
1 Part Martini Vermouth Riserva Speciale Ambrato;
2 Parts La Cumparsita de Plata Semi-Sparkling Wine
Ice Cubes
Frozen Lemon Slices

Start with Ice cubes and Frozen Lemon Slices in a large bowled glass.

Limoncello

Vermouth Ambrato

La Cumparsita de Plata Semi-Sparkling Wine

Start with adding the Ice Cubes and Frozen Lemon slices to a large bowl glass and add the Limoncello

and to that add the Vermouth Ambrato

Then add the 2 Parts of La Cumparsita de Plata Semi-Sparkling Wine

Stir gently and that's it. The Negroni Amanda. It is delicious.

Oh here is the Tanguera Amanda that inspired this Negroni Amanda. We had lovely back-to-back Tandas at the end of the night. I hope nobody noticed or there'll be gossip and a scandal ...

My Negronis are all named after my Favourite Tangueras.

Just another 345 more Negronis to create ...

More Negronis

________________________________________________

Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines

Negroni Celia for Negroni Week

noreply@blogger.com (catenians) — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 20:25:00 +0000

It is still Negroni Week - 5 to 11 June 2017

The classic Negroni is:

1 Part Vermouth Rosso;
1 Part Campari;
1 Part Gin.

A traditional variant is the Negroni Sbagliato
1 Part Vermouth Rosso;
1 Part Campari;
1 Part Prosecco Sparkling Wine.

My Negroni Celia is:

1 Part Curaçao Orange Liqueur
1 Part Campari;
2 Parts La Cumparsita de Oro Semi-Sparkling Wine
Ice Cubes
Frozen Orange Slices

Start with Ice cubes and Frozen Orange Slices in a large bowled glass.

Curaçao Orange Liqueur

Campari

La Cumparsita de Oro Semi-Sparkling Wine

Start with adding the Ice Cubes and Frozen Orange Slices to a large bowl glass and add the Curaçao Orange Liqueur

and to that add the Campari

Then add the 2 Parts of La Cumparsita de Oro Semi-Sparkling Wine

Stir gently and that's it.

The Negroni Celia. It turned out quite a bit like an Aperol Spritz. But with a bit more orange and bite. Delicious.

Oh here is the Tanguera Celia Jane that inspired this Negroni Celia.

My Negronis are all named after my Favourite Tangueras.

Just another 346 more Negronis to create ...

More Negronis
________________________________________________

Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines

Negroni Karina for Negroni Week

noreply@blogger.com (catenians) — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 18:16:00 +0000

Negroni Karina

It is now Negroni Week - 5 to 11 June 2017

Here is my latest Negroni version - the delicious Negroni Karina. Inspired by another very lovely tango partner - Karina from Uruguay.

The classic Negroni is:

1 Part Vermouth Rosso;
1 Part Campari;
1 Part Gin.

The Negroni Karina is:

1 Part Limoncello;
1 Part Vermouth Rosso;
2 Parts Parts Uruguayan Tannat Red Wine
Ice Cubes
Frozen Lemon Slices

Start with Ice cubes and Frozen Lemon Slices in a large bowled glass.

Limoncello

Limoncello

Vermouth Rosso

Vermouth Rosso

Uruguayan Tannat Red Wine

Uruguayan Tannat Red Wine

The Limoncello is 25% ABV so about the same as a Gin.

Vermouth Rosso is 15%

And the Uruguayan Tannat Red Wine is 13.5%.

Start with adding the Ice Cubes and Frozen Lemon Slices to a large bowl glass.

Add the Limoncello

and to that add the Vermouth Rosso

Then add the 2 Parts of Tannat Red Wine

That's it. The Negroni Karina.

As a variant to cut down on the sweetness add an extra part of Tannat Red Wine.

So The Negroni Karina becomes:

1 Part Limoncello;
1 Part Vermouth Rosso;
3 Parts Uruguayan Tannat Red Wine
Ice Cubes
Frozen Lemon Slices

Negroni Karina

Oh here is the Karina that inspired this Negroni Karina.

My Negronis are all named after my Favourite Tangueras.

Just another 347 more Negronis to create ...

More Negronis
________________________________________________

Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines

Vixen - An MP3 Generation Opera

noreply@blogger.com (catenians) — Fri, 26 May 2017 12:48:00 +0000

I saw the opera Vixen last week billed as "a re-imagining of Janáček's classic opera" at The Vaults near London's Waterloo station.

The Vaults is located in the arches underneath the railway lines leaving Waterloo. I expected to hear the rumbling trains but was pleasantly surprised that I did not.

The toilet at the entrance had a nice theatrical touch on the door with the "Toi Toi Toi" theatre performers good luck message.

The Cunning Little Vixen
First for those unfamiliar with the original opera "The Cunning Little Vixen" here is the synopsis on Wikipedia.

... philosophical reflection on the cycle of life and death by including the death of the vixen.

Apart from the Excursions of Mr Broucek, this is Janáček's lightest opera, and, despite the titular vixen's death at the end of the work, it stands in contrast to the often brutally serious nature of operas such as Jenůfa and Káťa Kabanová. In The Cunning Little Vixen, the composer moved away from the more conversational style of previous and subsequent operas in favor of a more folk-like style, and wove into its fabric some of his most experimental opera concepts (ballet, mime, and orchestral interludes).

That said, the opera is more Wagner than Puccini. It isn't a series of singalong tunes. More of a music drama. That's just to manage expectations.

The Director's notes

Experience an immersive re-imagining of Janáček’s classic opera Cunning Little Vixen at The Vaults where, through headphones, you’ll be transported into a full orchestral soundscape and follow the cast of singers through the tunnels.

Vixen is a young runaway girl on the streets of London. As she begs for help, she is abducted by a man known as The Forester. But as she tries to escape, she becomes the hunted, in a world that has no place for her.

The story unfolds as you explore the uniquely designed space, with singers appearing in front of you, beside you and behind you. In each area you can take a seat and have everything flow around you or remove your headphones for that up close and personal experience of great opera voices.

This is a 360º experience, where opera and great storytelling come to life.
#followthegirl

Vixen

So it was billed as a modern production complete with headphones. An opera for the MP3 Generation.

Arrival at the theatre was 30 minutes before the performance started to collect the headphones and get instructions on how to use them. Very exciting stuff. They were quite comfortable and could be switched off and back on. In the darkened theatre they gave a green candlelight image.

At the entrance waiting to be let in a small group of buskers turn up with a collection box asking for requests. Somebody, perhaps connected with the show, asked for "Summertime". All very hearty. But not connected with Janáček.
The buskers turned out to be the mini on-location band and they doubled up as actors.

The busker preamble morphed into the opera and we were asked to #FollowTheGirl as per the #Hashtag into the theatre.

We were led through the theatre and into the Vaults lounge area for the First Act. Then got shouted at to clear off and went back down into the darkened theatre.

The performance was immersive with the actor / singers climbing up into the audience and even giving the audience their instruments to hold while they got on with acting duties.

The main characters performed very well indeed. I was very impressed in particular with the singing and acting of the main star - Rosie Lomas as The Vixen. For a small woman she has a pretty big voice. And her performance was gripping. And she is quite a fit gymnast climbing into and springing out of her den. A perfect choice.

Ivan Ludlow, Forester, was also impressive in both voice and acting skills. Quite a pleasure and privilege to be a metre or so away from him when he is singing.

Overall I enjoyed the performance. But the excellent live performance was marred somewhat by serious misgivings on the technology which almost destroyed my pleasure.

The sound reception of a mix of the live singers and a full orchestra through the headphones was quite crackly. Like listening to a 78 rpm record at times. There was no indication or credit on the notes as to which orchestra performed the music.

It really was an opera for the MP3 Generation. Why listen to live music a couple of metres away when you can listen to them mixed in with an absent orchestra over headphones? Plus added crackling when the Bluetooth connection to the headphones gets weak. This was a very strange and unnecessary innovation.

Why bother having wonderful singers anyway. Might as well have actors mime to a CD of The Cunning Little Vixen.

So in short it was a great performance but a pity about the use of technology. I had the headphones off and removed during much of the performance so as to listen to the great singing direct from the singers where they were instead of via headphones without a sense of where they were in the theatre or even pre-recorded or perhaps in another room. But then I missed the orchestra which was only available via the headphones.

They should just play the orchestra on speakers and have the singers listened to live rather than through headphones. Easily sorted. And they probably would have saved funds on the rental of the Bluetooth headphones - good gimmick that it was. Oh and skip the pre-amble busking.

Images courtesy of Silent Opera.

________________________________________________

Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines

Negroni Brunella

noreply@blogger.com (catenians) — Wed, 24 May 2017 00:18:00 +0000

It will soon be Negroni Week - 5 to 11 June 2017

Here is my latest Negroni version - the delicious Negroni Brunella. Inspired by a very lovely tango partner - Brunella.

The classic Negroni is:

1 Part Vermouth Rosso;
1 Part Campari;
1 Part Gin.

The Negroni Brunella is:

1 Part Triple Sec;
1 Part Vermouth Rosso;
2 Parts Valpolicella Ripasso Red Wine
Ice Cubes
Frozen Orange Slices

Triple Sec

Vermouth Rosso

Valpolicella Ripasso

The Triple Sec Orange Curaçao is 35% ABV so about the same as a Gin. Campari is 25% and the Valpilicella Ripasso is 14%.

Start with adding the Ice Cubes and Frozen Orange Slices to a large bowl glass.

Add the Triple Sec and to that add the Vermouth Rosso

Then add the 2 Parts of Valpolicella Ripasso

That's it. The Negroni Brunella.

As a variant to cut down on the sweetness add an extra part of Valpolicella Ripasso. The tannin in the red wine offsets some of the sweetness.

So The Negroni Brunella becomes:

1 Part Triple Sec;
1 Part Vermouth Rosso;
3 Parts Valpolicella Ripasso Red Wine
Ice Cubes
Frozen Orange Slices

Oh here is the Brunella that inspired this Negroni Brunella.

My Negronis are all named after my Favourite Tangueras. By that rule I have 348 more Negronis to create ...

More Negronis

And here are Brunella and me Tangoing.

________________________________________________

Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines

Bellini I Capuleti e i Montecchi at The Vaults Theatre

noreply@blogger.com (catenians) — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 00:57:00 +0000

Bellini's 'I Capuleti e i Montecchi' was an appropriate opera to watch just weeks before attending the Vinitaly 2017 wine fair in Verona.

This was a production I had seen before in an equally strange theatre. The last time was perhaps a good deal stranger in a disused cross Thames tunnel - The Brunel Tunnel in east London. This performance at the Vaults Theatre was under the railway lines approaching London's Waterloo station.

The regular low rumblings of the trains approaching and leaving Waterloo station added to the sound effects of a single grand piano. For me a single pianist functioning in the role of repetiteur makes for a one-dimensional experience. But adding a few string instruments adds to the costs of Pop-Up Opera which is a sadly unfunded company.

The performance opened even before the audience had quite settled down. Giulietta, of the Capuleti family was on the floor going through papers in her trunk. They turn out to be love letters from Romeo of the Capulet's enemies and rivals the Montecchi.

Sitting in the front row is a privilege that in the Royal Opera House or indeed in Verona can cost a substantial sum. It is almost like popping up on the stage and only a few feet from the singers. But far enough to be safe from flying singers' spittle.

There were no subtitles or surtitles but captions broadcast to a screen at the back of the stage. I suggested that perhaps they could have been called "capulets" but that would have introduced an element of bias in the local war. I wonder if people at the back of the audience or even in the middle could read the script. I suspect not.

Many reviews describe such operas as "opera for a modern audience" or "bringing opera to the masses". I don't see it like that. This is a well produced and very well sung opera across the board.

One of the singers, Tebaldo, had tonsillitis so a singer mimed while an understudy sang from sheet music standing behind the piano. There was no sign from his singing that he did not know the music. The singing from the sidelines was clear and excellent but it did have the feel of a concert performance rather than an acted one.

He was unfortunately occasionally overshadowed by the piano. Another location away from the piano might have been better.

None of the singers was below par but the star of the show was Romeo. Played by a woman of course - Mezzo Soprano Flora McIntosh. She's got quite a forceful delivery and a fine actor in a male role.There was even a passionate kiss with Giulietta. Oh Giulietta was played by a woman for the avoidance of doubt - Alice Privett.

Oh a warning about the toilet facilities. They are clean but limited. Just two and insufficient for the 100 or so seated theatre. Luckily I had been to The Vaults Theatre before so I used toilets before going to the theatre.

Pop-Up Opera as stated is unfunded. So I would have thought they would have come up with some marketing schemes - perhaps such as serving Bellini's at the bar.

But even without a refreshing half-time Bellini I thoroughly enjoyed the Bel Canto performance of Bellini's 'I Capuleti e i Montecchi' at The Vaults Theatre by Pop-Up-Opera.

For the synopsis of the opera see Wikipedia.

________________________________________________

Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines
Sticky Wines and Wine for Spice
Hyde Park Wines on Facebook

Two Lorca Plays in London

noreply@blogger.com (catenians) — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 16:15:00 +0000

A review of a dramatised reading of two Lorca plays

Amor de Don Perlimplin y Belisa en Su Jardin' (The Love of Don Perlimplin and Belisa in the Garden) - play written in 1928

El Maleficio de la Mariposa (The Butterfly's Evil Spell) - his first play from 1920

I saw the plays in Spanish. They are also performed in English on other days.

Opened in November 2016 the Cervantes Theatre is predominately for Spanish plays and works, half of the production will be in Spanish language. There is wheelchair access.

The Cervantes Theatre is not signposted on Union Street. It is 100 yards down the passage of under arches establishments past some restaurants in Old Union Yard Arches.

Just outside there is a large "Cervantes Theatre" sign. There should be a small one at the entrance. Or a sign listing all the establishments in Old Union Yard Arches.

The Theatre itself is very well designed. Very modern.

Very friendly welcome in English and Spanish.

The bar area is simple with a small but adequate range of drinks. A bottle of wine costs £18 or £5 per glass. There is a La Mancha Tempranillo and Verdejo. There are 3 Spanish and Mexican beers and soft drinks.

The toilets are designer Porcellanosa brand. All in all a very modern Spanish feel to the theatre.

The modern theatre downstairs is simple, small but comfortable. Tall people would find the front rows of the three sides best.

It was a warm but not hot. One scene required an actress to be scantily clad. Best to remove winter coats. There could be a cloakroom but the theatre may be too small for that.

The play itself was a fully dramatised reading with actors using a variety of accents. The director explained at the outset that there are 450 million Spanish speakers with different accents and Lorca belongs to all of them.

Some of the second play got a bit surreal so a pre-reading of the play would be helpful even for fluent Spanish speakers.

There were no weak links in the eight strong cast and I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. Though perhaps one or two of the actors over-acted somewhat with a touch of shouting. I get the feeling that the English version may only have two readers.

The occasional trains rumbling overhead were a bit disconcerting making the Cervantes Theatre unsuitable for musical theatre or opera.

I look forward to my next visit.

Cervantes Theatre
Arch 26, Old Union St Arches
229 Union Street
SE1 0LR

Nearest Station : Southwark tube station

________________________________________________

Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines

Hyde Park Wines on Facebook

Hyde Park Wines List for Wokingham Wine Festival 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 00:14:00 +0000

Here is Hyde Park Wines List for Wokingham Wine Festival 2016 on Sat 3rd December 2016

Wine for Spice List

Wine for Spice: Viceroy White for Mild curries Recommended Price £7.99 Each Bottle. Show Price £6 Each Bottle (*Mix and Match £30 for 6)

Wine for Spice: Rani Gold for Hot & Spicy Dishes. Recommended Price £7.99 Each Bottle. Show Price £6 Each Bottle (*Mix and Match £30 for 6)

________________________________________________

Sticky Wine List

Bodegas Gonzalez Palacios, Lebrija, Sevilla, Spain

Lebrija is just north of Jerez and Sanlucar. But because of the hill-top location of the bodega it is even cooler than Sanlucar on the coast. So the layer of all-year round flor is thicker. So basically Manzanilla with knobs on.

M Fina Flor de Lebrija, 12 years Lebrija, Spain 37.5cl;
RRP £7.99 Show Price £7

Very Dry. Like a Manzanilla except much more yeasty flor. After this no going back to a standard Manzanilla and a Fino will seem insipid by comparison

Lebrija Old Oloroso, 30 years Lebrija, Spain 37.5cl;
RRP £12.99 Show Price £11

Very Dry. Glorious roasted walnuts and almonds. Very different from the normal supermarket artificially sweetened Olorosos. Bought from me by Julian Jeffs who wrote the definitive book on Sherry.

Moscatel Reserva de La Familia 3 years Malaga, Spain 50cl
RRP £13.99 Show Price £12

Wood fermented in the sun. So caramelised. Créme Caramel in a glass. Sticky toffee.

Bodegas Navarro, Montilla-Moriles, Spain

A pair of old and very old Pedro Ximénez (PX) wines from Montilla.

Sticky Wines: PX 5 yrs min (+16yrs solera) Montilla-Moriles, Spain 50cl
RRP £13.99 Show Price £12

Delicious. Christmas pudding in a glass. Sweet but balanced with acidity and so not cloying like some PXs. Pour it onto ice cream or porridge.

Sticky Wines: PX Fundación 1830 - 25 yrs min (+16yrs solera) Montilla-Moriles, Spain 50cl
RRP £23.99 Show Price £20

This blend started in 1830. And although an average of 40 years it feels like a single vintage of much older - perhaps 60 years. Browned though age and smooth. Like a mature Christmas pudding. Just dip your (or your best friend's) finger into the glass and lick it., Mmmm.

________________________________________________

Pinot Gris Vendange Tardives Cave de Ribeauville 2003 Alsace France, 50cl

RRP £26.99 Show Price £24

Tropical fruit aromas with lemon and lime to balance with natural acidity. Sheer delight. Pinot Gris

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Chateau Pierre-Bise Coteaux du Layon 2005 Beaulieu Loire 2005 France 13% 50cl

RRP £18.99 Show Price £16

Lovely soft gold colour, ethereal and delicate nose of candied tangerines. Great purity and freshness on the attack with beautiful sweet fruit giving a balanced wine. Chenin Blanc.

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Recioto della Valpolicella Classico Nicolis 2004 Veneto Italy, 50cl

RRP £28.99 Show Price £27

This sweet red is a great alternative to Port and although expensive is worth it. This is the sweet variant of Amarone. Complex aromas of coffee, marzipan and red berry. Sweet, but not overtly so, with fresh acidity, ripe tannins.

________________________________________________

Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines

Hyde Park Wines on Facebook

Wokingham Wine Festival 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

The Wokingham Wine Festival 2016 is now in its 9th consecutive year, in aid of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society.

Call 01189 862 591 for tickets.

Saturday 3rd December 2016, 11am - 6pm

Ticket prices held for yet another year

£5 per person or 4 for £15

Location:

Wokingham Old Town Hall,

Market Place,

Wokingham

RG40 1AS

With your ticket you can:-

• Learn more about wine, regardless if you are a novice or an expert!

• Try a huge range of special wines from around the world - free of charge!

• Discover new wines, in an historic setting and guided by professionals.

• Buy what you like from independent merchants at great prices – get those Xmas presents sorted out and have some fun as well.

Having shown wines at the first seven events, I will once again be showing Hyde Park Wines at The 8th Wokingham Wine Festival this Saturday 12th December 2015.

The Wokingham Wine Festival is an exciting wine event where wine-lovers can come to taste and buy fine wines supplied by members of the ASDW (the Association of Small Direct Wine-Merchants). ASDW members offer between them a huge range of fine wines from around the world.

The event is organised by the ASDW, The Windsor Forest Unicorn Club, the Thames Valley Region branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Wokingham Round Table. It's a charity event, and profits from the sale of tickets goes to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Wokingham Wine Festival

The Wokingham Wine Festival is a now a one day event, and is being held in the Main Hall, upstairs in the old Town Hall, in the Market Place in the centre of historic Wokingham.

There will be a number of wine-merchants in attendance, each with a superb range of wines to taste and buy.Pre-purchased tickets for the event will be available, and once inside, you can taste as many wines as you like for no additional charge.

It's a fantastic opportunity to stock up for Christmas, by buying from the exhibiting merchants.

Avoid that heavy lugging with our Free Wine Carrying Service!

We will carry your wine to your car for you! Just ask one of the merchants or stewards and we'll get your wine carried to your car. [parked nearby of course]

How do I find out more? Call 0118 9862 591 or visit the website. The Wokingham Wine Festival is in aid of the Multiple Sclerosis Society

Location

Wokingham Town Hall
Market Place
Wokingham
Berkshire RG40 1AS

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Warren EDWARDES

Hyde Park Wines

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