Finding time to do things that are personally important to us, is a major part of life to get right. So much that we do is for other people, other causes. Perhaps it is more important these things come first. I have been meaning for a while to write a few things here. I have some case studies to prepare for tomorrow and it is already a quarter to eleven. Still though I am going to find time to write about a concert that I went to recently. Mainly because these small things are important too. I reckon it will make me feel better, than anything else that I can do now.

Last Thursday I saw Libor Novacek as the concert guide describe:

“A formidable Liszt interpreter, the Prague-born Libor Novacek has already been compared to such great pianists as Claudio Arrau and Wilhelm Kempff, his music-making described as being of ‘exceptional poetic verve and inwardness’. The former Young Concert Artists Trust performer follows a delightful sonata from Hadyn’s middle period and eight capriccios and intermezzos from Brahms’s middle years, with the fantastic nine-part product of the Swiss period of Liszt’s colourful years of pilgrimage.”

I am not familiar with his work so it was a first time experience. I can testify that it was an electrifying performance. I have seen quite a number of piano recitals but nothing like this. He was unstoppable even though the stool was squeaking he was not to be deterred or distracted. I was truly moved by his soft delicate interpretation of Liszt in the first half of his performance. After a break of 20 minutes he focused on slightly heavy and less well known pieces. To play dissonance requires impeccable timing and a thorough understanding of the music. Although I could not reach the left cerebral heights enjoyed by the first half. It was an uplifting experience. Performing for over an hour and a half, I was so glad that he choose to play pieces that are not so well known. I believe that we will be able to buy the record soon as that was his last performance before going into the studio to record these songs that he has been performing on this concert tour.

Vivienne Westwood was on a TV chat show on Friday evening. She is probably someone who we have heard a lot about but cannot quite put a picture to the face. As the one of key figures of the punk movement to being recognized today as a top clothes designer. I do not know all that much about clothes so I want even try to talk about what she has done. She did make one very interesting comment though. She said that she never watched TV or listened to the radio. She found that they distracted from here work and sense of well being. I think if one looks at what she makes one can get sense of that. I thought also it was a very interesting comment about life in general.

One of the great freedoms of modern western culture is the right to hold a point of view. Nobody in the world may agree with you but you are entitled in this democracy to speak your mind. If one is given such a fantastic opportunity then surely they should use it. All too often it seems that people would rather avoid a confrontation and instead talk about cows and sheep (meaning nothing).

One of the reason that I love the Jewish faith is that they are encouraged to discuss and actively debate their faith. It is through debating subjects that we establish the reason behind our choices and logic.

Admittedly not all people can master the art of conversing with other people and far too frequently we

Glen Gould Plays Bach that really is it, those 4 words that might look plain and dull, but they are loaded to anyone who has heard Mr Gould play. A child prodigy that grew up in Canada. Glen was able to redefine an art form. An art form that has been alive for hundreds of years. Will the same to happen to pop in a couple hundred years?

The combination of Bach and Glen opens new worlds on a very personal level. You can feel the development of soul with every beat that passes by. It induces new meaning to the word love and relationships. When people talk about a better world or higher ideals than Glens music would be a good place to start. There is so little of him or his music on the internet. I am sure that it helps any development of children or adults for that matter, although admittedly children will never admit it, but what comes around go around and it will return to them when they are older. Enjoy.