1)The Magic Flute ,Sydney Opera House
On Saturday January 2, 2016 my girlfriend, Maria and I attended the Magic Flute at the Sydney Opera House.
Julie Taymor created and directed this production for the Metropolitan Opera of New York in 2005 .Taymore filled her production with bright colours, giant puppets, flying birds and an impressive perspex set. It was an impressive production.
The composer Wolfgang Mozart, wrote themes for each of his characters . The priest, Sarastro’s music for example, is deep, whilst the Queen of the Nights’s music is fast , agile and very high.
At the end of the performance ,the audience cheered the goodies, and booed the baddies . The couple sitting next to me were from near Birmingham in England . The lady said earnestly to me “Oh, we would never do that at Convent Garden “ . My tactful response to her was that “we are very open in this country.“
2)Tom Roberts Exhibition, National Gallery ,Canberra.
The exhibition includes 133 major works from public and private collections, which covers the period 1883 until 1931.
It explores Australian imagery in the lead up to Federation in 1901. A significant painting is of the opening of the first Australian Parliament in Melbourne on May 9,1901.In this painting, Roberts captured 265 dignitaries, who attended the opening of the Parliament. The painting was hung in Parliament House, Canberra in 1988. It is one of my favourites ,along with a painting of Sir Henry Parkes, who is regarded as the Father of Federation .
The Tom Roberts Exhibition included paintings, pastels ,drawings , prints and sculptures,which allowed visitors to see some of the greatest art work ever produced in Australia.
I attended the Tom Roberts Exhibition with Maria and Lillian on January 27, 2016 . I am delighted to learn that an ex-school captain (1994 ) from St George Girls High School , Kogarah was involved in the curating of this exhibition.
3)The Greats Masterpieces from The National Gallery of Scotland Exhibition at the NSW Art Gallery , Sydney .
I have seen many of these paintings during my last visit to this gallery in Edinburgh , Scotland, in early June 2013. However, I was fortunate to be able to view this exhibition in Sydney on its final day. Paintings by Botticelli, Velazguez, Rembrandt, Gaugin and many others were on display.
4)The Movie “Suffragette”
Described by those who have seen it as dour , it is also described as a timely lesson in how hard women had to fight to gain the right to vote.
The movie highlights a crucial period in the movement that sought to win the right for women to vote in Britain.The Suffragettes took huge risks to allow their voices to be heard. An excellent supporting cast in Meryl Streep, Helena Bonham , Anne- Marie Duff enhances the political relevance of this film .
I reflect back to my Constitutional Convention role play titled “A Nation at Last.” This was performed on August 10, 2001 in the School of Arts, Kogarah to honour Federation. The leading ladies of Kogarah in this role play walked to the School of Arts, from the corner of Queens Road and Gray Street , carrying placards . These placards demanded such things as equality, and the right to vote.
The programme from the 2001 Constitutional Convention will be posted to my web sites: annefieldauthor.com.. and annefield.net.au
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5)Back to the Eighties, Concourse Chatswood , Sydney
On Saturday January 16, 2016 I had the opportunity to attend this concert with a friend, who has his own rock’n roll radio programme .
Some of the songs played included Nine to Five, Material Girl , Wake Me up Before You Go Go , Footloose, 500 Miles , Love Shack , Total Eclipse of the Heart , Girls Just Wanna Have Fun …..
6)Robert Burns 257th Birthday Celebrations .
I had the opportunity to attend this function with a friend . It was wonderful to see most of the men in attendance dressed in their kilts. I wore a scarf in the Princess Diana Memorial tartan to acknowledge my Scottish background – my maternal grandparents.
The dinner was held on Saturday night, January 23 2016 at the Cello’s Restaurant, Castlereagh Boutique Hotel, Sydney although Burn’s birthday is January 25 . A traditional Burns supper was held :the address to the haggis, the Immortal Memory Address, Burns poetry , and the Toast to the Lassies and a reply to the Laddies .
Toasts were given in whisky from William Grant and Sons – delightful 12 year old whisky.
7)The Sun Records – All Stars
I attended this concert on February 13, 2016 at Revesby workers Club. The show was described as a celebration of the birth of Rock’n Roll in the 1950’s ,tracing music from its humble beginnings in Memphis Tennessee ,to its peak as a worldwide musical and cultural phenomenon. Sun Records became the launching pad for Elvis Presley, Johhny Cash , Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Roy Orbison .
Song highlights include “That’s Alright Mama” “ Blue Suede Shoes” “ Folsom Prison Blues “ “Great Balls of Fire “ “I Walk the Line” and many others. Other songs include “ Heartbreak Hotel “ ‘All Shook Up “ and “Ring of Fire .“
8)Guest Speaker Scottish Association , Granville
I was invited to be the guest speaker at the Scottish Association book sale. on March 5 , 2016. I spoke on my Bottle Overboard Adventure ,and my Scottish grandmother . I decided to not show my You Tube , Anne’s Adventure choosing instead to tell the story .Slides added to the interest, along with a tea caddy my Grannie brought with her in 1912. I talked of some of my other current and planned writing projects .
Anne Field March 16 2016
