If you know me well, you know that I can tend to be a bit obsessed with numbers even though I'm crap at Maths. This week's focus has been on the number 2.
Yesterday I watched two plays at two different theatres: Henrik Ibsen's "Villanden" (The Wild Duck) at the National Theatre, with all the Y13 students. It was a crazy and post modernistic version of the play. Very interesting! In the evening 'the cultural club' watched "Sorga kler Elektra" (Mourning Becomes Electra by Eugene O'Neill). Five hours with theatre in one day! Interesting! What impressed me most was the music in both performances, and the video design in "Sorga kler Elektra". Incredibly effective.
I was invited to the Melody Gardot concert on Sunday. It was an interesting concert, but her musicians were more fascinating than the leading lady. At some point, the saxophone player actually played on two saxophones at the same time. Wow! I think this is one of Melody's best songs. Turn up the volume and dance!
The two ladies in the video below are doing some impressive work with their feet. I have actually played this part on the piano, and it was too difficult for me. My guess is that these ladies burn quite a lot of calories while playing this masterpiece.
So how do I write a good conclusion on this strange blog post? By telling my dear friends in Spain that it is minus two degrees outside now?
If you know me well, you know that I'm scared of dogs. If you know me really well, you know that I'm trying to do something about it.
When my friend S. and I went for a walk in the woods today, she brought her dog Diesel. I hadn't seen Diesel since Christmas, but we soon became friends again. And I enjoyed keeping him on a lead up in the nice, Norwegian nature.
I even think I managed to use "my strict voice" on him when he approached (or was approached by) other dogs. It's really fun, actually. And I got to wear my hiking boots again -- last time I used was on the beach in Tarifa, I think, or up at La Concha. Gosh, those were the times ... It made me miss Spain a little bit actually, finding my hiking boots full of sand.
It will probably take some more training to look as natural as S. does with her dog in this picture, but I'm getting there! Slowly but surely ... But I'm not ready to pick up his poo yet ... :)
I have a
new project: Concerts every Sunday! This is my way of getting ready for
Christmas, of giving myself some time to relax and listen to beautiful music.
It wasn’t until I was invited to Melody Gardot’s concert last night that I realized
that I am going to concerts five Sundays in a row now. I love it! Do you
want to know which concerts I am going to?
The a capella group Apes & Babes gave a great performance, as always. The choice of songs was interesting, and their vocal skills are absolutely fantastic! Unfortunately their great voices seemed to "drown" in the microphones sometimes ... After the concert M. and I had a nice (yet spicy) meal at one of the best Asian restaurants in the area, according to a survey in Aftenposten.
Concert 2: Melody Gardot @ Oslo Concert House Sunday 25 November (mañana):
This lady reminds me a bit of Norah Jones and Katie Meluah. Looking forward to hearing her live, and apparently we have great seats!
Concert 3: Händel's "Messiah" @ Oslo Domkirke, with Oslo Domkor etc, Sunday 2 December:
My mum used to sing "Messiah" and "the Christmas Oratorio" in the choir she was in when we lived in Brumunddal. We were equipped with books, raisins (and other kinds of food that don't make a sound!) and had to endure the 3 hour long concert every Christmas. Now it's my own choice, and I'm looking forward to going to this concert with C. It's our gift to ourselves!
Concert 4: Music for a while: Klassisk jul @ Parkteateret, Sunday 9 December:
I discovered Tora Augestad and "Music for a while" in September, and have to admit I love the mix of songs on their new album. It is fantastic the way they have arranged the classical songs, and the musicians are absolutely first class! I have invited K. to this concert and I'm really looking forward to going to this concert with her. It was fantastic to observe how she reacted the first time she listened to the album.
Concert 5: In dulci jubilo - Vi synger julen inn @ Oslo domkirke, Sunday 16 December: I couldn't find this concert on You Tube, but basically it is a concert with all the choirs in Oslo domkirke. My parents have been to this concert before and they say it's absolutely marvellous. This year the whole family is going, including my niece and nephew.
Yes, it has been an autumn term with a lot of music, and there is more to come! I didn't really go to that many concerts in Spain, so it's nice to be back in Oslo and go to concerts again!
I'm sorry that you've been left idle the past couple of months. Living in Norway doesn't really require using you as much as when living in Spain. I have missed the sun lately. It is getting dark here in Oslo at 4pm now. It's too early.
Yesterday, however, on my way to meet Ingvild at Majorstua, I should have brought you. I should have used you. You should have protected me. The sun was sooo strong. It nearly hurt my eyes. But I had left you at home. Can you forgive me?
Today I have done some proper garden work. Spent more than an hour raking the autumn leaves in a garden full of leaves.
Not only did we get fresh air, but also some good old physical work. Lovely. Unfortunately it got too dark before we finished, so nobody really knows what the garden looks like in daylight.
Have had a nice Sunday with the little ones; my niece and nephew. Met them in Hønefoss because the niece was going to play at a concert there, with Mr Aleksander Rybak and a local youth symphony orchestra. It was a cool concert with folk, pop, classical and jazz music in perfect harmony.
The nephew is not yet five years old, but he managed to write this while we were wheeling away some time, waiting for the concert to start.
Impressed? I am. We also stopped by at my grandmother's house where all my aunts and uncles were having dinner, so yes, it has definitely been a family Sunday.
I started this blog when I moved to Spain in August 2009 to work as a teacher at an international college in Marbella. When I moved back to Oslo three years later, my friends in Spain suggested I keep them posted about life back in Norway. I did, but after a year back in Norway I decided to stop blogging.
