Twilight view of Verona a
Valpolicella vineyard. Yes, we tasted. Call it intellectual curiosity.
Cathedral in Cremona, home of Antonio Stradivari
View of Mantua
These “swallowtail battlements are everywhere in the area. To me they look like centurions on guard
Chez Lilas Pastia
John under the bell on the Torre Lamberti, which had just struck the hour. Luckily it was only one o’clock
First scene of Carmen at the Verona Arena. The young men waiting for the cigarette girls to appear look like characters from Henry James.
Concert in the Valpolicella area.
Church of St Zeno, Patron saint of Verona
Swan family on Lake Garda
Painting in the dome at Mantua cathedral
They used real horses and donkeys in Carmen. At times this caused some consternation
View down Via Mazzini, the main shopping street
Redondesco castle
Torri dei Benaco
Final view of Verona past and present
View over the terracotta rooftops from Piazza del Erbe, the old vegetable market.
Grebe and dabchicks (Google says that’s what they’re called) in the moat at Sirmione castle
St Anastasia’s church, Verona
Mantua cathedral and its painting
Colours of Verona
Canal at Mantua
Fierce looking MsDD just before her concert
Mantua cathedral: this is paint not plasterwork
Bougainvillea at Torri dei Benaco on Lake Garda
View from Torre Lamberti towards the Arena.
The band dedicates “Sleep,” to peace.
Ancient Rotondo church at Mantua
Here’s another overview of Verona photos. Please excuse the rudimentary nature of the gallery: it’s partly the software, I think but also my lack of creativity.
I loved Verona: it’s clean and quiet and generally very civilised, and the surrounding countryside is predictably beautiful. I loved the ochres and sienna colours, which were set off beautifully by the blue sky, and the feeling that around every corner would be a beautiful vista.
We went to the opera in the arena. I’d say that this is more an experience for lovers of experiences than for lovers of music. Although we paid quite a lot for our tickets, we were a long way from the stage and the orchestra, so the wonderful nuances of Bizet’s music would have been lost to anyone who didn’t know the piece well. My recommendation: take a warm wrap with you. Even on the hottest of days, the arena can get very chilly as the night wears on, and performances don’t finish until 1am. This is mainly due to the intervals: opportunities to pose in one’s gladrags. If you are lucky enough to have stalls tickets then no outfit is over the top, and plenty of people were obviously there to show off their finery.
Of course the band did themselves proud. They are great ambassadors for the skill and dedication required to play classical (and popular) music at such a high level. They are truly ambassadors for this country, and I couldn’t help feeling that such young people should not really have had to deal with being the focus for the aftershocks from the stupid EU Referendum vote. The message resounded, however, that music and culture are the things that can bring peoples together, that can help us foster friendship and understanding in the future. The tour was overshadowed also by the murders in Nice and the carnage at the attempted coup in Turkey and the shocked band were keen to commemorate this with one of their pieces..
What is always astounding in the places that welcome our young people so warmly, is the audience’s thirst for culture, and their joy at the glory of music. The standing ovations were proof of this. I feel proud and privileged to know these young people and to be able to share in their some of their adventures. Long may their tours continue. And Verona? Oh yes! I can’t wait to go back.
