Stan Adler listening to Mark Lockett premiering his piece, Les Cloches et le Vent... a huge success and sealed by the pianist and composer hugging on stage at the end. I was too engrossed to have the camera ready for that, dammit, would have been a smashing pic. You'll have to imagine it.
Mark played Philip Glass, Debussy, Mompou, Messian, Chopin, Arvo Part - and more - without a score. He sat there and played like it was normal. The audience were left wondering if he was actually human. So proud to know these guys - musicians all seem like gods to me.
http://www.wrigglypig.com/marklockett.htm
The event kicked off the Toques et Clochers in Limoux. It won't all be to that standard but it bodes well.
Toques et Clochers? Difficult to explain... Toches et Clochers are the bell towers of these parts, often walls with several bells in them. They are distinctive and specific to the region. So sometime ago - dunno when - the local vintners started to raise money to protect them, restore, rebuild, whatever. They do this by having a weekend party where you taste and buy wine, each vintner donating a chunk to the cause.
There are functions around this simple premise and this year the party is in Limoux. The town centre is closed off and buses run up and down, hither and yon, so no chance of drunk driving. There are artists in caves (cave being where the wine is stored, as I'm sure you know) and cultural events. You can't just get pissed, in short.
The opening procession has local grandees in robes from each commune carrying a model of their bell tower on their shoulders; a charming ceremony. After that you pay for a glass which you can fill however many times the ticket you buy with it says you've paid for; you can buy a holder for the glass that you hang round your neck. Then, weird really, everyone starts singing and putting their arms around strangers and saying how much they love them. Late Saturday is the high spot for this, followed by the Ancient Rite of Vomiting, often done communally and nowhere near the portaloos which will be full by then.
Notwithstanding, its well policed, quite safe, very festival of fools but with art, music, oh and food, there are always great food stands. I'm supposed to work today - which is why I'm not exhibiting this year - but if I've got over Lorraine's party by this evening might pop down.
2 comments:
Sounds like a wonderful event!
it was amazing. Held in the pîano museum in Limoux and world-class content! Bizarre and yet another very good reason for living here.
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