January 17, 2012

Not in any particular order...

MSO at the Sydney Myer Music Bowl

Every February under (hopefully) warm summer skies the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra plays a succession of free concerts at the Bowl. These are staged on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
With friends we have regularly attended one – occasionally two – of these outstanding events on Saturday evenings. Bring your own picnic rugs and baskets, low-backed chairs and bottles of wine and enjoy arguably Australia’s finest orchestra at your leisure as you lounge on the grass.
This year we were transported by the soaring sounds of Beethoven’s Fifth.

Krak des Chevaliers, Syria

Described by Lawrence of Arabia as the finest castle erected by the invading Crusaders, it’s set high among rolling green pastures.
Driving in from the eastern Syrian desert, the sight of not only grazing sheep and goats but also contented dairy cattle is a monumental surprise.
Hard to believe they have a dairy industry in the arid Middle East, but true.
Viewed from our nearby hotel windows the Crusader castle, set atop its mountain pinnacle, commands a panorama stretching right across the surrounding green valleys.
It’s possible to walk around the castle’s outside walls but there’s nary a handrail or guardrail in sight, so steadiness on the pins is absolutely essential.

Petra, Jordan

Anyone who has seen the Indiana Jones movies might remember the one where Harrison Ford and mates charge out of a Middle Eastern siq (or canyon) on their horses.
Well, that’s the siq which leads to the 6th century BC city of Petra.
World famous for its rock-cut architecture the Treasury, hewn into the face of a sheer cliff, is the best-known of the attractions in Petra. But there are many, many other tombs, public building and shops carved into the rock walls. Then there’s a massive amphitheatre halfway along the main street.
After a long day of walking it’s a relief to find Jordanians with horses prepared to lead the weary, and seated, tourists back to the parking area where the mini-bus awaits. For a small fee, naturally.

Opera Australia, @ the Arts Centre, Melbourne

Mozart’s Don Giovanni with Shane Lowrencev commanding as the master seducer.
The Don lives every day as if it will be his last. And since we know what we’re watching in Act 2 is indeed his last 24 hours before he’s condemned to the hell fires maybe we’re with him.
Are we on the side of the bad guy or do we harbour some sympathy for the wronged, but still yearning Donna Elvira (Jacqueline Dark)?
Lowrencev sang the final two nights as Don Giovanni, including on the evening we were there. Teddy Tahu Rhodes had been the lead in early December.

Persepolis in Iran

Long touted as the ‘cradle of civilisation’, one of ancient Persia’s gems is the city of Persepolis.
Up and along the magnificent access steps to the 120,000 square metre raised terrace you walk towards the living areas of King Darius the Great and his entourage.
We pass through the enormous Gate of Xerxes towards the sculpted friezes on the sides and walls of the buildings. The gigantic winged bulls and the two-headed griffins, some of which have been carefully re-worked and restored, are amazing.
Even though Alexander the Great’s armies attempted to burn down and obliterate Persepolis around 330 BC, a little way down the road they left the monumental tomb of Cyrus the Great intact.
The ancient Persians apparently told the invading Macedonians/Greeks it was the resting place of Solomon’s mother. Suitably impressed, Alexander’s rapacious hordes moved on.

NOTE: We spent five weeks in Jordan, Syria and Iran in April/May. The aftermath of the weekly Friday Prayers were in full swing in Damascus when we were there in mid-April, but we managed to avoid the demonstrations and even the riots which have followed ever since.
Even in the now-turbulent city of Homs things were, superficially at least, surprisingly placid.

AND it was a great year at the footy. Catters beat Collingwood three times, the only AFL club to win even once against the Pies. Just as importantly, and to cap it all off, the Geelong-Hawthorn score since Sept. 2008 is now 7-zip – including the 98-67 2011 qualifying final romp – in the hoops’ favour.
And all this since Chairman Jeff opened his cakehole sometime in late 2008 or early ‘09.

Beating Collingwood is nice. But beating the Squawks is something you just gotta do when you follow the Catters!

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