The Misanthrope

Once again I found a local play via the TO.Tix website.  This time is was The Misanthrope by Molière.  Unlike the last play I went to see (The Mousetrap) this one was set outdoors.  The setting was the Guild Inn Gardens in Guildwood, on the outskirts of Toronto with the Guild Festival Theatre staging the play.

Before purchasing my ticket I had quickly read a little about the play.  Phases and words like “comedy of manners”, farce and satire instantly appealed to my taste.  So for the price of $24.90 I click “buy”.

On with the play itself and I found it to be everything I thought it to be.  It was a hilarious look at one man’s quest to not partake in any “folly” or fake niceties that was prevalent in 18^th Century French aristocracy.  He decides that he will say nothing but the truth.  This leads to all sorts of problems including a trip to court after he insults a fellow member of high society when he writes a love sonnet.  Whilst the words of the sonnet were truly bad, the over-the-top way in which it was delivered made it a highlight of the show.

The main problem our “honest aristocrat” faces is the fact that one person who does enjoy a good gossip happens to be the lady he loves.  She enjoys the high society lifestyle to the full, which means never saying no to a host of suitors who vie for her love and attention. 

As the story unfolds, we see all the backstabbing and bitching that comes with putting on airs and graces instead of being honest.  In the end the truth comes out and everyone is left in no doubt as to where they stand.

Carmen - A Disappointment

I should have looked into this a little more before purchasing my ticket.  I must also learn the difference between what I deem Ballet and what passes for "modern" these days.

This performance was nothing like a Ballet, nothing at all.  For me this was a dance production, a modern dance and not a very good one.  Granted, I have never seen Carmen before and bar one piece of music, was not too sure on the music either, but this was just a mess.  I have no idea what was going on when our ears had to suffer through minutes of almost Neanderthal type noises, that I think were supposed to represent the "passion" between the characters.  It was hideous and most off-putting.

Thankfully I was in the same seats as my previous visit so only wasted $25 on this poor pretence of a Ballet.

Canadian Opera Company - Dialogues des Carmélites

It is time to revive this Blog.  Now that I have a job I can start visiting the Arts once again.

On Saturday 25 May I went to the Four Seasons Centre for The Performing Arts to watch the final performance of Dialogues des Carmélites .

I bought my tickets via T.O.Tix Whilst they were Level 5 and one row from the very back they were fine, in no way too high up.  My only complaint was the safety bar that ran along the seats in front.  As the seating sloped downwards towards the middle of the row, the bar was in my sight-line.  Thankfully there were empty seats nearby so I moved 3-4 seats along and the bar was out of the way.

The opera itself was very good, very few props but lots of people.  The story was simple, nuns during the French Revolution being forced to abandon their faith, they stand true to their beliefs and are killed for it.  The final scene, as they fall, one by one, to the sound of the guillotines blade was very chilling.

So for the cost of $25 I had a very satisfying first trip to the Opera.

The National Gallery of Scotland - Edinburgh

Again no photographs were allowed in the gallery so I went around with my pad & pen writing down the details of those paintings that caught my eye.  Unfortunately I have not been able to find pictures online for all the paintings I liked.  The ones I have been able to find are shown below.

I found the Gallery to be very nice with large rooms giving everyone enough space to move around and view.  There were two little exhibtions within the Gallery that were free, I only got to the Bute Collection.  When I arrived I was greeted by a very helpful Gentleman on the reception desk who went through the map with me, pointing out highlights for me to view.  I dined in the Restaurant on the Lower Ground Floor.  The prices are on the high side (£15 inc tip for soup, sandwich and a pot of tea) though the soup was lovely and they gave me a pot of hot water to get a few more cups of tea.

Overall it is an impressive Gallery and I am glad I made the trip.  I was there around 4 hours including lunch break and shop browsing.  The only downside is that they do not offer an audio guide.  Lockers are available as large bags etc are not allowed in the gallery (£1 refundable on collection).

Here are the paintings I enjoyed (and have been able to find online)

 

Aelbert Cuyp -   A Horse, Cattle and A Cowherd Resting in a Landscape (Bute Collection)

John Emms - Callum

 David Teniers the Younger - The Card Players (Bute Collection)

 Pier Francesco Mola - St Jerome

Raphael - The Holy Family With a Palm Tree

Titian - Venus Anadyomene (Venus Rising From The Sea)

Andrea del Verrocchio - The Virgin Adoring The Christ Child

Sandro  Botticelli - The Virgin Adoring The Sleeping Christ Child

Edgar Degas - A Group of Dancers

Bernardo Bellotto - A View of Verona with The Ponte Delle Navi

Aelbert Cuyp -  Cattle Watering by An Estuary (Bute Collection)  

 Aert van der Neer - Frozen River Landscape (Bute Collection)

Claude Monet - Boats In A Harbour

Claude Monet - The Church at Vetheuil

 Edgar Degas - Portrait of Diego Martelli

Waller Hugh Paton - Entrance to the Cuiraing, Skye

Gabriel Metsu - An Old Woman Feeding A Dog (Bute Collection)

Camille Pissarro - Kitchen Garden at L'Hermitage, Pontoise

Goffredo Wals - Landscape with Christ and St Peter

Pietro Berrettini - Landscape With The Penitent Magdalen

Meindert Hobbema - Wooded Landscape

Philips Konnick - An Extensive Landscape

Claude Monet - Poplars on The River Epte

 Nicolas Poussin - 7 Sacraments (Marriage)

Rembrandt - Self Portrait Aged 51

 Jacob van Ruisdael - The Banks of A River

Jacob More - The Falls of Clyde

The Honourable Mrs Graham - Thomas Gainsborough

Camille Pissarro - The Marne at Chennevieres

Titian - The Three Ages of Man

John Constable - The Vale of Dedham

Eugene Delacroix - Vase of Flowers, 1833

Rouen & Vernon

The last two days have been spent in the nearby town of Rouen and the town in which we are staying, Vernon.

Rouen is famous for its Cathedral, which was painting over 20 times by Claude Monet and Joan of Arc, she was tried, convicted and executed in Rouen.  We spent just over 4 hours here and visited the Musee des Beaux Arts de Rouen (Fine Art Museum of Rouen), the Cathedral and then strolled the streets with their half timbered houses.

More photos of Rouen can be found here and here

We are staying in Vernon and today we went for a walk around the small town to take in the few sights and visit the small museum.

One of the main attractions in Vernon is the Old Mill House by the River Seine.  In 1947 the owner of the house passed away and despite attempts no heir could be found.  The house fell into disrepair and was only saved when the Town Hall intervened.  Whilst it is not open to visit the view from outside is still stunning.  This too, like Rouen Cathedral, was a favourite of Monet.

 

From here we continued to the AG Poulain Museum that houses a small collection of Monet, his Wife and other painters.

The rest of my photos from the Gallery and from around Vernon can be found here