We got up late and didn't do much during the morning. I cooked lunch while Clare and Ann went out for a walk. Then I walked in the park for an hour and a half after we'd eaten.
I had an encouraging email from Diana, who's read my finished novel and thinks it's certainly worth seeking a publisher for. A story worth telling - she says. There are a few more punctuation corrections to make and a page re-format before printing a couple of copies to send to interested parties. A lot more work to do. It also means exposing myself to the critical eye of others and having to promote myself as an author. And a lot more work ahead, with no guarantee of reward or satisfaction. Am I ready for this?
We drove down to the Millennium Centre after an early supper for a WNO supporters' drinks reception before the evening's performance of Verdi's Rigoletto, a long standing Company favourite. A new production with minimalist scenery, but in period costume, with an international cast of singers with Mancunian Soraya Mafi as Gilda, and Daniel Luis de Vicente, a Spanish-American Rigoletto, an Italian conductor, Pietro Rizzo and others from France, Russia, Austria.
Soraya Mafi has an amazingly powerful voice for such a diminutive person, definitely the shortest person on stage it seemed to me. Her several bel canto duets were perfectly sung, and emotionally moving. We were fortunate there was a full chorus on stage tonight. No strike in protest at the punishing cuts in arts funding imposed by government. It was good to see many house staff wearing protest tee shirts, and the chorus wore them for the curtain call over their costumes.
A great night out although driving home in the dark afterwards was not pleasant. The new generation of LED street lights are bright as well as economical, but it's high contrast illumination which makes looking into shaded areas more of an effort. Lucky to find a parking spot when we got back. The one I left from was still vacant, a relief when you're tired.
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