Vienna Philharmonic

Got 7 $600 tickets for 24SEP06. Only four people have confirmed they are going. 3 tickets left. Got to sell them.

I swear I will not buy tickets for anybody in the future.

Lost

對，路不會迷失，迷失的只會是方向。

- 方卓如 信報專欄作家

35 means what?

I have just turned 35. What does it mean to be 35? I have been thinking about it lately. I will turn 40 in five years. What have I achieved? What impacts have I made? What have I done to last? What friends have I made? ...

Le Mieux Bistro

Le Mieux Bistro
地址: 柴灣嘉業街18號明報工業中心B座407-408號
電話: 2558 2877

Went to this restaurant (See Fong Choi) on 18JUL06. The menu is as follow:

Gazpacho Jelly
~~~~*~~~~
Tian Of Lobster,Scallop & Salmon
~~~~*~~~~
Tong Yum Consomme
~~~~*~~~~
Risotto with Yunan Mushroom
~~~~*~~~~
Rack of Lamb
and
Rib-eye steak
~~~~*~~~~
Dessert
~~~~*~~~~
Coffee

$500. I have to say it was not cheap, but it was value for money. The decor of the restaurant was somewhat basic, but it was quite comfortable. I brought my own wine and there was no cockage charged. The Consumme was the best. The Tian of Lobster, Scallop and Salmon was refreshing. The risotto was quite heavy but it tasted really good. The lamb and steak were tender but not particularly good, perhaps I was already full when I had the steak and lamb. Overall a very enjoyable evening. The only drawback is the location - you have to take a minibus or taxi from Hang Fa Chuen.

I would recommend it to my friends. Oh, forgot to mention. They also serve lunch. So those work in Chai Wan can try it.

718

718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718 718

伊莎貝拉

Watched this film during the weekend. The story was so so. 梁洛施 was quite charming in that her acting was quite natural - something that a new star usually can't do. 杜汶澤 was quite serious this time, indicating that he has the potential for more. The music was brilliant. Peter Kam is not only good at composing melodies, but he also managed to enhance the scene by creating the atmosphere through different styles of music. An entertaining film.

「12把大提琴」滬遇停演風波

【大公網訊】被稱為「德國最佳室內樂組合」的「１２把大提琴」，１１日晚在上海音樂廳舉辦「弓弦之舞」音樂會時，又尷尬地遭遇了觀眾的種種不文明行為。

據新華社上海７月１２日電，兩周前，小提琴「女神」穆特在上海因聽眾不文明行為而罷演３分鐘，讓一場原本完美的音樂會變成了永遠的遺憾。

不知是否因為晚間下雨、交通不暢，德國「１２把大提琴」在上海音樂廳演奏完了第一首曲目《天使的歌謠》之後，大量觀眾開始蜂擁入場，找座位，相互講話，製造出很大的噪聲和騷動，讓台上的音樂家面面相覷，摸不著頭腦。

一曲德彪西的《淹沒的教堂》之後，相同的一幕再次上演：幾十位遲到的觀眾再次蜂擁而入。台上的演奏者只好暫時放下手中的弓，以良好的修養等待觀眾安靜下來。

沒想到更令人尷尬的一幕還在後面﹔一位姍姍來遲的男子在找座位時因與人發生爭執而倔強地站在劇場中，德國大提琴家們只能停演。停演風波持續了兩、三分鐘。

根據演出安排，德國〝１２把大提琴〝在上海的音樂會共演繹１６首樂曲，分為「天使的舞蹈」和「世界的舞蹈」兩個部分。演出伊始，音樂廳兩旁的大屏幕上即打出字幕，反複告知觀眾，「應藝術家要求，在曲目之間請不要鼓掌，謝謝！」。

不過，熱情的上海觀眾卻對這樣的提醒置若罔聞，每當一曲結束，觀眾席上就會傳來一陣陣凌亂的掌聲。本該一氣呵成的「天使的舞蹈」，因此變得方寸大亂。對此，德國音樂家們也只能彼此交換錯愕無奈的目光。

對於上海觀眾的種種不文明、沒修養行為，嚴謹克己的德國音樂家並未像穆特一樣怒形於色。加演之前，樂隊「當家人」格奧爾格﹒福斯特對觀眾說，「你們是非常好的觀眾，會很大聲地拍掌」。

上海一位樂評人對記者表示，這句看似平淡的評語，怎麼聽起來都像一句諷刺。好的觀眾應該是懂得欣賞音樂、尊重藝術家，而不僅是只知道大聲地、夸張地鼓掌。「但願上海觀眾能品出其中滋味。」

德國「１２把大提琴」是在卡拉揚擔任柏林愛樂樂團音樂總監期間成立的，樂隊成員全部來自柏林愛樂。自１９７４年初次登台演出，這支組合已走過３０多個年頭，樂手不斷更新換代，卻始終保持著不俗的藝術水準，廣受歡迎。

穆特上海“罷演”請觀眾離開

穆特上海“罷演”請觀眾離開

長江網訊　 據北京娛樂信報消息，“你不要再拍了，光不停地閃，使我不能集中精神演奏下去，請你離開。”前天晚上，正在上海東方藝術中心演奏音樂會最后一支曲目《降Ｂ大調小提琴和鋼琴奏鳴曲》的小提琴家穆特突然收弓，表情肅穆地用英語“請”這位一直用相機拍照的觀眾離開。演出被迫中止３分鐘之后，美妙的琴聲再次回蕩在劇場。據記者了解，穆特的經紀人昨天已經電話要求北京主辦方嚴格遵守演出合同的規定，嚴格控制劇場內秩序，如果出現上海的情況，穆特會隨時中止演出。

穆特“火”了：你必須離開
令上海樂迷翹首以待很久的小提琴女神穆特終於亮相東方藝術中心的舞台。在下半場意想不到的事情發生了，正當觀眾們陶醉在最后一支曲目《降Ｂ大調小提琴和鋼琴奏鳴曲》的旋律中，一個坐在第六排中間的男觀眾不顧演出規定和音樂會的慣例，拿著相機不停拍照。這時，正在演奏中的穆特突然收弓，一向溫文爾雅的她被激怒了，表情嚴肅地對這位觀眾說：“你不要再拍了，光不停地閃，使我不能集中精神演奏下去，請你離開。”

中止演出三分鐘繼續演出
這名男觀眾隨后被工作人員快速地帶離現場，全場觀眾報以熱烈的掌聲來支持穆特這一率真的行為，其間演出被中止３分鐘。之后，穆特說：“現在我們可以真正好好欣賞音樂了。”發過火后的穆特很快又投入演出狀態，以令人炫目的小塊板收尾。被絕大多數上海觀眾的文明素養所感動的穆特，又加演了幾個曲目，觀眾們則以更熱烈的掌聲表示感謝和歉意。當晚，穆特在兩個多小時的演出結束后，情緒飽滿地為樂迷簽名長達一個多小時，直到夜深才離去。

這是給上海人臉上抹黑
昨天，上海媒體也紛紛就穆特“罷演”一事作了相關報道，並給予了評論。上海《文匯報》的標題是《滿分是怎樣失去的》，文章說，“本來就是這樣一台該打滿分的演出由於一個觀眾的不文明行為，滿分令人惋惜地失去了。”同時還說，“個別人的不良行為不能讓上海人為之負責，但事情的發生，無疑給我們生活的這座城市抹上了污點。這是最令人痛心的。”

Crash

What a superb film this is. It was so provocative. The film is about racism and stereotypes, but it is not just about these. It's got much more to offer. A bunch of people looked separated, but they are linked through different (co)incidences. There are so many surprises in the film. It makes you think.

In my view, the issues discussed in the film will never be resolved, because this is the nature of human beings. I was left in a disturbed mood after watching the film.

Krystian Zimerman

Attended Zimerman's recital on Sunday evening. I have been waiting for the past three years for his return - his visit in 2003 was cancelled due to SARS.

Zimerman is the kind of pianist that you would sacrifice any gathering to attend his concert. His playing is highly intellectual. The Mozart Sonata was not something he is famour for, but he played it so well that it is one of the most impressive Mozart Sonatas I have heard live. The Gershwin and the Ravel were also inspiring.

The Chopin in the second half - the Mazurka and Sonata No.3 were very well presented. He played it poetically with intellectual depth. Needless to say, you can hardly find any wrong note from his playing.

I heard that he doesn't give encore. But he did give us two encores - Chopin's Ballade No.4, and another 20th century piece. I was overwhelmed by his playing. What could be more satisfying than attending a concert with such a high quality music for two and a half hours!

One more thing: He brought his own piano, which sounded a little different from the usual one in the Cultural Centre.