Highlights from a Life in Canterbury
Recent highlights of living in Canterbury:
- A classical concert to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee in the main nave of the Canterbury Cathedral. Handel's Cornation Anthems (including Zadok the Priest, aka "The UEFA Champions League Theme"!), Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks (Big! Bold! Brassy! ka-Blammy!), and Mozart's Coronation Mass (booooooring). The huge space lent its majestic authority to the proceedings. The first movement of the Cornation Anthems (Zadock), really does it for me. Nothing declares "awesome" as a backed chorus roaring "God Save The King!" over full orchestra, with an abrupt musical pause just after to let it reverb in the great hall. Power!
- A classic Sunday walk through the countryside on a cold and bleary day, finishing at a 14th century pub George and Dragon for a Sunday roast.
- A phone line that still hasn't been activated after a month of patient negotiating. !@#$ the British Telephony service. That is all.
- I'm seeing two Shakespearean plays this week: "The Winter's Tale" and "Henry V". Why? Because they are playing at the local theater, and because I can. That's why. I hope I can survive 5 hours of iambic pentameter.