Gertsamtkunstwerk

Report from Berlin

For those of you don't always read comments, Nonie has posted a report on her trip to Berlin to Simon Boccanegra.

I took my teenage daughter to the Staatsoper last Tuesday night, having explained the rather complicated plot and reminded her that Plácido would not be the tenor I was met with a bored blank expression.

You can imagine this was just a teensy weensy bit irritating given the cost of transport & accommodation from Cyprus to Germany &tickets ...

At the end of the Prologue she leaned over and whispered "Bastard!" , who is darling ? "that oriental-looking guy who just shafted Simon out of his baby daughters life. Bastard!"

Likewise the unfortunately over-ambitious Paulo, his parents marital status being questioned.

The father-daughter recognition climax had tears streaming down her face, and in the last act she could barely contain herself, actually she didn't.

Which was pretty much the moment I absolutely understood the term "total theater" as used by His Maj in reference to Opera.
Watching my teenage daughter jumping to her feet yelling her head off during the applause ( nearly 30 mins according to the numbness in our hands and arms),it occurred to me that while we have every right to demand top notch performances from people who call themselves 'professional' and take our money for their performances it's easy to get side-tracked by musical- dramatic intellectual analyses .

The bottom line is not wether the tenor was inconsistent ( yes he was a little), or the costumes boring ( conservative to put it mildly) ,or the projected calm/stormy sea imagery works ( it doesn't it looks ridiculous since instead of being at Plácidos feet the images are level with his nose with the crashing waves sending spray well above his head!)etc etc.

Really what counts is wether or not the audience connects with the characters and their experiences through the music... for us it was a resounding 'YES'!

The cast were amazing, they were perfect.

I believe Daniel Barenboim plays a large part in that in the sense that he is the only conductor I know who connects so completely with the music he becomes a bridge between composer/orchestra/singers/sound, he literally completes the circle.

There was wild rapturous applause for all the principals , especially Anja ~Harteros who was Maria/Amelia and Placido, many people were calling out their names.

However it was no coincidence that the name the audience was calling out loudest and for the longest time was " Danny " .

When the daughter saw the whole marine thing her whispered response was ;" Oh God it's a Tsunami, should we throw him a life jacket and call out the coast guard ??" she was convinced there was a guy right at the very front who flinched, " maybe he can't swim".

I'd like to say thanks to Nonie for that, and also congratulations on bringing the teenage daughter into the fold!

Forthcoming documentary

Imagine line-up revealed

The BBC has unveiled the artists that will be explored in the forthcoming series of flagship culture programme Imagine.

The new season will start with a show on sculptor Anish Kapoor on November 17 at 10.35pm...

...Later episodes are set to cover Shirley Bassey, Placido Domingo, Joan Baez and Scrabble.

When I know a transmission date I shall post it here. I am sure that, for people beyond the reach of BBC broadcasts, the programme will be available from the internet in one way or another within days! ;-)

Plácido as Simon Boccanegra

Just typical that the weekend that the world's Greatest Tenor takes on a truly* baritone role, I am stuck somewhere with no internet**, so short of googling on my phone in bed, I really had little idea of what was going on in Berlin on Saturday. The disadvantage - this blog didn't contain news and reviews hot off the wires. Advantage - I can collect a wealth of stuff and pick and choose what's worth blogging!

A selection of rehearsal photos, taken from Plácido Domingo gastiert auf Berliner Bühne

El gran sueño de Plácido Domingo

"Pre-match" interview from last Saturday - not actually saying anything new!

And the reviews

Placido Domingo tries out Verdi baritone role - Associated Press

To be sure, the sound of Domingo's voice — even miscast — ringing out at full cry in an opera house is something to be treasured, especially now that he is cheating time with every performance. So it was natural that the first-night audience responded with foot-stomping enthusiasm and curtain calls for him and his fellow performers that lasted 20 minutes.

After 50 years as a tenor, Placido Domingo turns baritone for Verdi - The Times

Suddenly Domingo can hope to compete for key baritone roles and broaden his market appeal. “We look forward to the day when he plays the super-bad Iago, baritone of course, in Verdi’s Otello,” says the Rheinische Post critic Wolfram Goertz. “And if his tenor colleague playing Otello should lose his voice, I am sure that Domingo could jump in and play both roles.”

Clamor por Domingo en Berlín - El Mundo

Domingo parecía un coloso en escena. Le arropaba un manto púrpura de terciopelo y agradecía los clamores con la sonrisa de un debutante. Tiene 68 años, pero la frescura de la voz y la fortaleza escénica desmienten cualquier atisbo de decadencia.

Just as a note on audience appreciation of productions, this reports that the production booing was for the conventionality, predictability and vulgarity.

Berliners Boo Director, Cheer Domingo as Baritone: Review - Bloomberg

he found vocal happiness in Verdi’s somber (sic) opera...has aged without losing his sex appeal...exuded alpha- animal charisma throughout. This is no tectonic shift in voice type or technical miracle. Domingo simply sang as he always does, with crackling presence, musical intelligence, fastidious attention to detail, and bold imagination. The low notes are not always the loudest, but the high notes are effortless, and everything in between is utterly compelling.

Singers weighed down by proto-Renaissance robes, brought to mind “Batman” and “Shrek.” Domingo sang his final death scene in a floor-length gold frock with matching tea-cosy hat, while his daughter stood about in white lace (costumes: Giovanna Buzzi). Perhaps the more conservative and differently fashionable Milanese will love the show

Jubel für Plácido Domingo an Berlins Staatsoper - Zeit

Doch mit seiner Bühnenpräsenz schafft er die richtige Mischung aus Autorität und Zerbrechlichkeit. Nach mehr als einem halben Jahrhundert Karriere dürften wenige Sänger das Publikum so stark beeindrucken.

Brokatkugel und Flatterkleid - Zeit

in which the Stage Director gets torn apart (if there was a German word for 'Met Trash' it would surely be in this article!)

Der reife Debütant ist die einzige lebende Bühnengestalt in einer grotesken Veranstaltung

Plácido Domingo überzeugt auch als Bariton - Welt

Plácido Domingo gibt dieser durchaus zwiespältigen Verdi-Figur Kraft, Würde und Wärme, er ist leidenschaftlich und souverän bei der Sache, mit herbstlich strahlenden, rotgoldenen Tönen

Simon Boccanegra - Guardian

Conveying the near Shakespearean journey of the soul suffered by Verdi's troubled doge was never likely to be a problem. He achieved it beautifully. The surprise was seeing him play a man his own age, knowing he could just as easily play the young hero, Gabriele Adorno (perhaps even better than Berlin's somewhat uneven Fabio Sartori).

Yet his voice still has a lightness which meant that the impact was strangely reversed: top notes which frighten a baritone were golden and resounding, whereas the lower notes, though confidently negotiated, seemed slightly underpowered. By the end of this year, he will know where his voice has landed. With dates booked until into his eighth decade, this adored singer, who won a 20-minute standing ovation, is in a fascinating state of flux

Domingo Excels as Boccanegra- New York Times

Mr. Domingo’s burnished tone was deeply moving when urging peace and love. In sterling form throughout, he brought a deft touch to the final word, “figlia” (daughter), of the recognition duet with Amelia, a problematic moment for baritones.

And thanks to Rossignol for the only blog post I can find!

Plácido Domingo: Simon Boccanegra

If anyone knows of other blogposts, or would like to write their own, for posting here, in any language, please let me know!

And a short YT clip of the Sixth Curtain Call...

* we know that he has taken the baritone part in several duets, and that Oreste is a slightly-adjusted-for-tenor baritone role

** My mother's several neighbours helpfully call their secured wireless networks by easily identifiable names; she wasn't keen on me going from door-to-door asking for passwords!

Plácido Domingo - My Greatest Roles

Plácido Domingo is the most important person alive in opera.

Greatest of the stage tenors still performing, experienced conductor, intendant of not one but two US opera houses these bald facts hardly begin to delineate the man.

Major sponsorship flocks to him, his influence is felt in opera houses worldwide, and his support can be the making of a singers career. And once every ten years he allows television cameras in. This time is probably the last television look at his active career and takes the form of a retrospective of his greatest work, building up a picture of this unique man throughout his extraordinary career.

Plácido Domingo has selected the roles he regards as his greatest, and the particular performances at which he was at his peak, which were all filmed:

Vienna Opera:

• Carmen
• La Gioconda
• Lohengrin

The Royal Opera Covent Garden

• Andrea Chenier
• The Tales of Hoffman
• La Fanciulla del West
• Otello

Film version:

• Tosca, the settings and times of Tosca

I' ve ordered this but it won't actually arrive until January. It is released earlier elsewhere, but there seems little point in getting a DVD with the wrong region (besides, who wants NTSC when you get PAL)

Echo der Stars

A short description of his achievements (in German) and then,Domingo sings Amor,vida de mi vida and gets a lifetime achievement award.

 

 

Or, if you just want to cut to the chase, here is Amor, vida di mi vida

(He is so seriously cute)

Echo Klassik

Premio "Echo Klassik" para Plácido Domingo

Roter Teppich für die Klassik: Echo-Preise in der Semperoper verliehen

Der eigentliche Star des Abends war Plácido Domingo. Der in Spanien geborene Tenor wurde für sein Lebenswerk geehrt. Das Publikum stand geschlossen auf, als die Opernlegende die Bühne betrat - zum ersten Mal die der Semperoper, wie der 68-Jährige später bekannte. Und er will wiederkommen. Nachher im Interview streute er auch ein paar Lebensweisheiten in die Runde: „Die Jugend ist das einzige Missverständnis im Leben, das mit zunehmenden Alter verschwindet.“

Placido Domingo honored for life's work with German Echo award

With Anne-Sophie Mutter

Echo Klassik Preise: Plácido Domingos Lebenswerk geehrt

(I drafted this post last week and was then taken away from the internet without time to publish it)

The Birgit Nilsson Prize

Thanks to White Rabbit, who left a comment with links some time ago (I'm in catch-up mode!)

Here's an interview with Plácido where he expounds on why opera is so important, and refuses to state what his favourite aria is. (He was sounding very husky when he recorded this!)

And here's an almost hour long video of the award ceremony

Get Flash to see this player.

More matters of interest at the site dedicated to the prize

Plácido in Tampico, Mexico

Background on the orchestra who will accompany him:

Sinfónica de la UAT acompañara a placido domingo en el F.I.T.

What you get for Gold and Platinum tickets

Casi agotados los boletos de Plácido Domingo

Short news clip with interview excerpts (video)

Press Conference: Plácido Domingo lamenta que quienes salen de la crisis sean los que la causaron

El tenor español Plácido Domingo afirmó ayer en México que los que provocaron la crisis económica mundial "con su avaricia y corrupción" son los que están saliendo de ella, mientras que los que perdieron su trabajo, aún no ven la luz al final de túnel.

Plácido Domingo llega a Tamaulipas para festival

Desea Plácido grabar su segundo disco ranchero

Conquista Plácido Domingo Tamaulipas - a report on the concert which is basically a playlist interspersed with superlative adjectives and adverbs of praise!

Hipnotiza Plácido Domingo a público tamaulipeco

Plácido Domingo muestra su esencia y orgullo mexicano

Plácido in China

Tenor Domingo hugs baby panda in Chengdu

Plácido, with Lang Lang

Placido Domingo's golden voice shines in Chengdu

On Tuesday night, thousands of people in Chengdu were immersed in the golden voice of Placido Domingo when the Spanish tenor was performing...

At the end of the concert, Domingo and song joined hands with 100 kids from the earthquake-affected areas in Sichuan to sing the Auld Lang Syne, one of most recognized songs worldwide, leading to the climax of the concert, and delivering a perfect ending.

Meanwhile, outside the gym, the scenes were spectacular with thousands of folks gathering together on the squares. They watched the live show via LEDs and sang the Auld Lang Syne with the singers and kids in the gym.

Plácido in Caracas

Placido Domingo offers free concert in Venezuela

Spanish tenor Placido Domingo thrilled several hundred Venezuelans on Tuesday (15/9)  by showcasing his soaring voice during a free concert and heaping praise on the founder of the South American country's famed youth orchestras.

Domingo said composer Jose Antonio Abreu "deserves a monument" for inspiring more than a million Venezuelan children to take up music since he founded "The System," a network of more than 200 youth and children's orchestras, over 30 years ago.

Interviews: "En la ducha he cantado las mejores funciones";

Plácido Domingo quiere ser redescubierto

He received the keys to the city (I think he has quite a collection by now!) Caracas rinde homenaje al tenor español Plácido Domingo

Plácido Domingo canta en acto popular en Caracas

Sueño con dirigir la Simón Bolívar

Luego escuchó algunos gritos de la audiencia y respondió: "Me han pedido que cante, pero yo llegué a las 6:00 am y no sé si tenga voz". Tras una pausa, sin calentamiento previo, pasó el switch del tono hablado al cantado, y dijo: "¿Y que pasaría si yo les dijera?: Yo nací en esta ribera del arauca vibrador..." Su voz retumbó en las cornetas, pero en el estribillo pareció exprimir las nubes. Cuando la lluvia arreció cantó una estrofa de "Granada" y observó los fuegos artificiales en el cielo gris, que marcaron el cierre de su visita fugaz a El Calvario.

Quince minutos con Plácido Domingo

- report from the Sponsor's reception.

And of course, a visit to Caracas means a visit to Hugo Chavez:

Chávez: "Plácido es el mejor cantor del mundo"

El mandatario suramericano, afirmó sobre Domingo que "además de ser un gran cantor, es un hombre con una gran sensibilidad social" que está llevando su canto "a las bases populares"

Manifiesta Plácido Domingo admiración por música latinoamericana

Concert reviews!

Emociona Plácido Domingo a miles de caraqueños

En un ambiente de clima frío en la zona montañosa de Caracas, el tenor español Plácido Domingo emocionó anoche a miles de caraqueños, en una audición en la que interpretó áreas de ópera y canciones vernáculas...

...A invitación del maestro venezolano José Antonio Abreu, creador del movimiento Orquestas Sinfónicas Juveniles de Venezuela, Domingo tomó la batuta para dirigir el cuarto movimiento de la Quinta Sinfonía de Tchaikovsky.

Plácido cantó con "alma llanera"

Plácido Domingo, imponente y apasionado

Plácido Domingo, quien inició su repertorio con El Cid; en segundos tendría a todos postrados a sus pies, al ser testigos de un talento sin comparación, de un personaje eminente de la música, que aunque tiene más de medio ciclo cantando, sigue conservando una vos imponente.

Plácido in Peru

Presidente García recibió a Plácido Domingo en Palacio de Gobierno

The President promised Plácido that he would be the first guest of honour at the Gran Teatro de Lima (was that the building site?)

Plácido Domingo dispuesto a participar en reapertura el Teatro Municipal  - interview

Video interview, five minutes, in Spanish (so I don't understand...)

Lima Soul - The Spirit of Peru has photo galleries from the Press Conference and concert, but, unfortunately no permalinks (at present, the galleries are easily accessed from the front page) Also a video of Plácido singing O Souverain. Although recorded from the audience on a handheld camera, with the inevitable shortcomings, it is definitely worth a look.

Plácido Domingo delighted opera lovers in Lima - brief report

Apoteósico concierto de Plácido Domingo en Lima Reading this through Google translator this seems full of gushing praise. During the concert he was awarded the Grand cross of the Order of the Sun by Peru's Foreign minister. Includes a 3½ minute video-clip of excerpts.

A most excellent photo-gallery

Plácido Domingo entregó fascinante concierto a miles de fans peruanos - another glowing report

Así concluyó uno de los mejores conciertos que el país ha tenido en mucho tiempo en lo que a música clásica se refiere, con un público satisfecho a pesar del inclemente frío limeño, y un tenor con ganas de volver a pisar nuevamente suelo peruano.

Plácido Domingo encandiló Lima con su privilegiada voz

Resumir en palabras lo vivido ayer en el concierto de Plácido Domingo sería un intento frívolo y algo presumido ante la singularidad y belleza de la velada. El recital ofrecido en la explanada del estadio Monumental de Ate hizo que las más de 15 mil personas que asistieron entendieran por qué el tenor de 68 años es considerado el mejor cantante de ópera del siglo XX.

My great thanks to Peruvian media for this cornucopia of coverage, and especially to RPP.

A detour from Lima to Los Angeles via New York: For Nadal, Placido Domingo Goes Out of His Way

“I love to watch Rafa play,” he said of Nadal. “I think right now we have a golden age in tennis, with Rafa and Roger, and Djokovic and Del Potro. But especially with Rafa and Roger, they are special.”

(no mention of the surly scowling over-rated Scot!)

The match was heavily interrupted by rain - they really should get a roof on their showcase court, y'know ;-)

Also, looking forward to 30 September concert in Tampico, Mexico

Plácido in Cartagena, Colombia, and Lima

Cartagena está lista para el concierto del tenor Plácido Domingo el sábado

So many logistics for a concert. Meanwhile he played in the hotel pool with Alvaro jr, and baby Plácido.

More details - Feliz Placido Domingo en Cartagena

Report here from Press conference with link to photo gallery.

Cantando 'La Múcura', los niños del barrio Nelson Mandela recibieron a Plácido Domingo

He sang Besame Mucho with the kids. He also received the keys to the city of Cartagena

Cartagena se gozó el concierto de Plácido Domingo

Plácido Domingo deleita en Cartagena

Plácido Domingo deleitó a los cartageneros

Plácido Domingo le regaló una gran noche a Cartagena

Plácido Domingo, el famoso tenor español que tiene un acento neutro y que ha dado muestras en Cartagena de ser una persona atenta y afable y un caballero a carta cabal, a pesar de sus charreteras...

The orchestra comprised of players between 13 and 16.

Una noche sublime con Plácido Domingo

He's now in Lima.

Precisamente, el tenor se mostró emocionado cuando vio una fotografía de sus padres en el Teatro Segura, lugar que visitó junto a Castañeda tras la ceremonia en la Municipalidad de Lima.

"Es muy emocionante ver este teatro que acogió a mis padres con tantísimo cariño. Dos de mis hijos están aquí conmigo, y es como si estuviéramos presentes las tres generaciones", afirmó el tenor...

Plácido Domingo fue nombrado Doctor Honoris Causa from the Universidad San Martín de Porres (with video) .

Another video in which he is critical of reality shows -

"Este es un concurso que se hace a base de micrófonos, no es una voz real. Vamos a ver  (qué sucede cuando) esa voz va a (cantar) a un escenario, si va a tener la posibilidad de cantar sin micrófono"

With all due respect, though, unlike his mate Katherine Jenkins, the pitiful Susan Boyle has never described herself as an 'opera singer' and the lamentable Paul Potts has actually performed in operas, albeit with 'pay to perform' companies, unlike the plastic wannabe Jenkins.

Also, he received a medal from the city of Lima - photo gallery (not quite sure why he's on a building site...!) - also video:- Plácido Domingo se emociona al ver foto de sus padres en el Teatro Segura.

His concert will be on Wednesday evening.

Recibirán a Plácido Domingo con arroz con leche

Plácido Domingo es un adicto confeso al gazpacho (una sopa fría) con paella y al criollísimo arroz con leche

I'll have the gazpacho and paella, but pass on the rice pudding!

Panis Angelicus

Plácido Domingo and Yo Yo Ma perform at Edward Kennedy's funeral, today

Operalia Gala Rehearsal Photo Gallery

I should have posted this a week or so ago:

Operalia Gala

It must have been hot, because Plácido has three buttons unfastened on his shirt

 

There appears to be several clips on YouTube - just search Operalia 2009 - but I haven't got time to be sucked into watching them just now!

New Puccini CD

A snippet picked up from Opera-L

P.S. Announced for release in Europe at the end of the month is an album "Puccini Ritrovato" which features selections from Puccini operas we generally don't hear in the opera house. Some are edited by Michael Kaye and others by Linda Fairtile (some of the latter apparently from the recently "rediscovered" manuscript of the original four-act Edgar.) Urmana and Domingo are the soloists.

C'est toi? ... C'est moi

Don José, aged 68 - still the best!

YouTube clips

I was in two minds whether to post these because I really don't like Andrea Bocelli - there's something about his voice that reminds me of that high pitched interference you'd get on radio broadcasts from the continent back in the 70s.

Andrea Bocelli Placido Domingo Pearlfishers Teatro del Silenzio 2009

Plácido Domingo and Andrea Bocelli sing Nessun Dorma

And this compilation from the concert contains a brief excerpt of Plácido singing Amor, vida di mi vida, also Katherine 'Warbling Barbie' Jenkins remaining frigid while singing/waltzing Lippen Schweigen with Mr Charisma, and far too much of Andrea Senzatalento nasal whining (I sat through ten minutes of this, dDear Reader, for your sake)

And to clear the palate, a tantalising 36 second clip from Otello at Verona

and a minute and a half of Cyrano's death scene, again tantalising because he gets as far as falling onto the chair, but the falling on to the floor, and rolling, is yet to come.

Otello, Don José, Cyrano

L'Arena.it - Fotogallery - Domingo, serata di gala in Arena.

Pictures from last night's gala concert in Verona

Concert in Moscow

I've heard him sing better, just this week, although a video of a minute and a half is no guide.

He has a concert scheduled in Chengdu in September (when I was on loan at work, my on-loan boss viisted Chengdu on business).

A wonderful headline!

Plácido Domingo "Nel mio futuro c'è la passione non la pensione"

He will be singing Oreste in Iphigénie en Tauride in Madrid in 2011. I will be there (DG, inshallah, touch wood etc)

Praise for colleagues:

E dei colleghi in carriera che dice?
«Secondo me, Ramón Vargas ha avuto un passato, ha un presente e ha un buon futuro, Juan Diego Florez appartiene a una categoria a parte e Vittorio Grigolo spicca per voce e presenza scenica».

Crede che il suo pupillo Rolando Villazón tornerà a cantare dopo l’operazione alle corde vocali?
«Sì, assolutamente. Lo sento spesso e credo che Rolando abbia una forza incredibile. Per ora deve solo riposare».

Jonas Kaufmann le piace?
«Molto. È un talento completo».

Also mention of a concert next Saturday with Andrea Bocelli (and also the blow-up Barbie Doll, who, if her Tweets are anything to go by has actually condescended to rehearse).

I have to say that performing in Quebec on Friday and Tuscany on Saturday is madness even by his standards!

Singing in the rain

Granada, from a very un-Granada-like Baden-Baden (weatherwise).

I suspect it was cold as well as rainy; I don't suppose his scarf and Virginia Tola's shawl were part of the original plans.

And a report from the concert, in German of course! (I love the headline!)

    Der "Marathon-Mann" trotzt dem Regen

He did a Press Conference earlier in the week, and, as the concert was held at a race-course, he was asked whether he bets on the horses. His answer was basically 'no', and his reason, his lucky number is 21 and you don't get many horse races with 21 horses-and-riders in them.

I found a report (in Russian) of the concert last Sunday in Astana

Vocal Fireworks

In summary, he was being Mr Wonderful, on-stage and off-stage. As always!

Tomorrow, Moscow.

Meanwhile I am getting TASS (Ticket Acquisition Stress Syndrome) or perhaps pre-TASS. I think booking opens in September for Tamerlano at ROH. Jimmy and I are intending to go away on holiday, probably in September. We haven't booked anything yet, for good reasons I won't bore you with here. But I have this vision of booking a lovely remote villa in a remote mountain location without electricity, and being away when booking opens, so having to cycle down mountain passes and fording streams to reach an internet café in some village; an internet café with just one PC, worrying about whether someone will have got to it first, just to check their email or touchbase with their office (both of which could wait). I know I could make a postal application (which would then result in a long anxious wait, not knowing if I was lucky) or could delegate the task. But delegation makes it difficult to make judgements - I'll take that seat because even though it's labelled as restricted view, I know from experience it's only a hand rail. Or I'll take Upper Slips standing on that date and front row of the stalls that date, rather than mid-range seats for both dates! And if there is a Friends' Rehearsal, that would mean two cases of TASS.

So, I'm not just stressing about acquiring the actual tickets but about when 'About the House' will arrive announcing the date for when booking opens. I suspect that is a such an extreme case of TASS it would be very difficult to beat that!

There's a couple of performances of Tamerlano scheduled where Kurt Streit is appearing as Bajazet rather than Plácido. I'm intrigued why; this has been the  plan for a long time (it's been on Kurt's website for well over a year); and there's nothing I can see in Plácido's schedule that would necessitate it.  Maybe ROH wanted a decent cover just in case Plácido decides to call it a day before then; you don't get decent covers without offering them a couple of performances (I don't know whether that means that Plácido is also covering for Kurt).

But I did notice that one of those dates coincides with Katherine Jenkins appearing at 02 (which is a big pop venue in Greenwich, probably better known as the former Millennium Dome). I sincerely hope he is not planning to make a guest appearance, singing A Mother's Wonderment with her. I mean, I wouldn't go even if I could get a decent ticket. And yet I'd be full of resentment that he's appearing in Sarf London, and I'm not there!