Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much over-spicy fish, having recently eaten a hugely over-spicy chicken breast and wing from a jernt that’s new to me – I think it’s a chain – Louisiana Southern Fried Chicken. They had a BOGO – for those who think that stands for Bruce Obviously Gets Ornery – no – it stands for buy one, get one (free) – should really be BOGOFF. Anyway, it’s like Popeye’s and I decided to try that for my evening snack. You have to check several options, which include crispy, crispy spicy, grilled, and mix. I, of course, checked crispy. It arrived and looked very good. I took a bite of the breast, and it was nice and crispy, but for those who are already ahead of me, it was spicy times 1000. I hate when they don’t even look at what you ordered. Anyway, I managed to eat the one breast, but the rest went into the trash and I got a partial refund. I may try it again at some point, but when they screw up it makes me nervous to order again. Otherwise, I am listening to a new recording of William Walton’s two symphonies, with Japanese conductor Kazuki Yamamda conducting the City of Birmingham Orchestra on Deutsch Grammophon. First of all, Walton is one of my all-time favorite composers for classical, film, and opera. Second of all, I love these two symphonies and have perhaps all the recordings of them. It’s really hard to top Andre Previn’s RCA albums of these – they’re on fire and amazing. But there are a couple of other contenders for excellence. There are also a couple of headscratchers that don’t seem to get the music at all. When I put on the first movement (it showed up on Apple Music last night), I didn’t know what to think – it was such a different interpretation to any of the others and I was ready to shut it off, but then I said to myself, “Myself, stop being an old fogey and give it a young fogey chance.” Now that I’ve heard most of symphony 1, I can say I’m glad I did. At times, this sounds very fresh and alive and yes, unlike any of the other recordings. But the interpretation is strong, the band is great, and Yamada has real control over the symphonies many moods. It’s a wonderful alternative reading to the Previn recording and all the others I have that I really like. Looking forward to symphony two in about ten minutes.
Yesterday was quite the non-day. I got about six and a half hours of sleep, no important envelope that is clearly never arriving, had a Chinese chicken salad from Stanley’s – very good – I answered e-mails, cast two roles in the recording I’m producing – Mr. Jason Graae and our Drat! star, Sydney DeMaria. An excellent start. One other offer out and as soon as that’s set, I’ll move on to the other roles. Then I had little nappy of four HOURS – did not make me happy, plus the couch itself, as I keep saying, is a real issue – I look like a slap of beef at an alarming angle, and it screws up my breathing and everything else.
Once back up, I ordered the crispy chicken that was spicy and then began listening to this new Walton album – and the second symphony is as interesting as the first, interpretation-wise. Really enjoying this, and I went and read some of the reviews that have just come out and it’s getting raves.
Today, I’ll be up by ten, I hope, and I’ll go put gas in the motor car, although I’m sure there’s enough in there to make the trip to the show and back easily – we shall see. Then I’ll relax, shave and shower, then Kay Cole will be here at three and we’ll be on our way to the Beach of Long, first to sup with Barry Pearl at five, and then to see the show he directed at eight. Then we’ll come home.
Tomorrow will be a ME day any way you slice it. Then this week is getting book files to the publisher, many meetings and meals, announcing pre-orders for the book and our new CD release, finishing the recording casting and booking the recording date, and whatever else needs doing.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up by ten, maybe put gas in the motor car, relax, shave and shower, sup with Kay and Barry, see a show, and come home. Today’s topic of discussion: You and spicy food. How much can you take (I cannot take any), why do you like it, what are your favorite spicy foods, what do you think of hot chicken – that sort of thing. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall hopefully have dreams that are not spicy.