A Musician on a Mission to Make Us Pay Attention to the Viola
The violist Lawrence Power has spent his whole career playing 'Harold in Italy.' But, he said in an interview, he has always been 'completely uncomfortable and just confused by the whole piece.' It's essentially a symphony, but completely different from a conventional one, with a viola solo part that drifts in and out of the action. Berlioz 'obviously had something in mind to have the viola separate from the orchestra,' Power said, guessing that the composer 'had something theatrical in mind.'
In a dramatized performance of 'Harold in Italy' with Aurora Orchestra at the Southbank Center in London late last month, Power leaned into that wandering, theatrical spirit, something that has also become a hallmark of his recent work. After whistling the piece's idée fixe, or recurring theme, while strolling from a raised platform amid the ensemble, Power recited searching sections of Berlioz's memoirs and wandered through the auditorium, playing sections of the obbligato part with a distant, slightly aloof expression.
This is just another idiosyncratic project by Power, somebody who has championed the viola for the past 25 years, with a particular focus on new work. He's not alone: Viola soloists often have to become champions for their instrument, which has been underappreciated throughout its history.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Brooklyn Beckham May Reportedly Pull A Prince Harry To Address Family Feud
The drama within the Beckhams' household continues, with Brooklyn Beckham allegedly learning a lot from his new pal Prince Harry. The oldest of Victoria and David Beckham's four children has been making headlines in recent months due to his estrangement from his family. The rift in their relationship reportedly stemmed from his parents' poor treatment of his beloved wife, Nicola Peltz. Brooklyn Beckham's issues with his family bear a resemblance to the allegations Prince Harry leveled against the British Royal Family regarding his wife, Meghan Markle. He dropped his scathing accusations in the memoir "Spare," a move the other doting husband considered using, per sources. An insider recently shed light on Brooklyn's blossoming friendship with Prince Harry, claiming the media personality might follow in the royal member's footsteps. They alleged he strongly considered writing a book about the ongoing feud between his family and the Beckhams, saying: "Brooklyn doesn't seem to care what they think anymore – he's going to write a Prince Harry-style memoir to rub their faces in their feud." They told RadarOnline the Duke of Sussex has become an important figure in the former model's life, noting Brooklyn saw Harry as "something of a mentor." The insider added: "He really admires the way he's stood up for himself and his wife – and that's got him fired up to do the same." The source predicted that Victoria and David would be upset if Brooklyn wrote a memoir about them, with other insiders echoing similar sentiments. These informants claimed the famous couple were "fed up" with their son and his wife, especially regarding their "constant drama." However, the source stressed that Brooklyn wished to pen his emotions like Harry did because he admired the way the Duke stood up for Meghan against the Royal Family. They claimed the media personality was not only eager to do the same for his wife but also wished to clear the air. "Brooklyn feels very misunderstood, so following the same path as Harry and sharing his truth is incredibly appealing. He just wants to get his side of the story on the record," the insider shared. The blossoming friendship between Brooklyn and Harry first made waves in May. Brooklyn choosing to write a "Prince Harry-style memoir" feels on brand for the former model. The Blast reported last month that he and his wife had followed in the Sussexes' footsteps by hiring the same lawyer they used to manage their reputation. The couple enlisted the services of British solicitor Jenny Afia, who works for Schillings law firm. Meghan was believed to have introduced the attorney to Brooklyn and Nicola after they bonded over their similar experiences at a party in Montecito in early May. Sources noted the intimate dinner was hosted by Brian Robbins, chief executive at Paramount Pictures. During the event, Meghan and Nicola became firm friends over their infamous status as "home-wreckers — the women to tear apart their husbands' families." Days earlier, sources alleged Brooklyn was partly to blame for his estrangement from his family. The Blast covered the story, reporting that an insider claimed the media personality had given his parents a strict warning, telling them to stay clear of his new family. The source alleged that Brooklyn stressed that he wanted them to stop contacting him and claimed he would not respond to anyone who did. Because of this warning, David and Victoria did not alert their son about his father's highly anticipated knighthood from King Charles. However, another insider claimed that Brooklyn and Nicola wanted to hear the news directly from David, rather than through the media. Despite not being told about his father's big honor, the informant noted the incident did not stop Brooklyn from being happy for David. Brooklyn recently raised eyebrows on Instagram after sharing a picture of his shirtless back housing a tattooed note from Nicola. The Blast shared that the message detailed his wife's vow to treasure him no matter the odds, partly reading: "I hope I never go a day without your love. I think you are incredible. Just know we can get through it all together if you breathe slow and trust. I love you beyond. Love always, your future wifey." Nicola wrote the note to Brooklyn before their 2022 wedding, and his decision to flaunt it amid his estrangement from his parents sparked mixed reactions. Many advised him to reconcile with David and Victoria, while others defended his continued support for his wife. Will Brooklyn Beckham follow Prince Harry's footsteps and write a scathing memoir about his family?
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
David Beckham Acknowledges Estranged Son In Anniversary Tribute After London Snub
took the high road in his anniversary message to his wife, , giving a rare nod to their son, Brooklyn, despite ongoing tension within the family. While marking 26 years of marriage, David thanked his wife for their children, subtly including their estranged eldest. recently made headlines for secretly flying to London to shoot a fashion campaign with his wife, Nicola Peltz, without seeing his parents. David Beckham, who met his wife in 1997 and tied the knot in 1999, shares four kids: Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, and Harper, but the rift with their oldest continues to draw public attention. David marked 26 years of marriage to Victoria by sharing a heartfelt tribute that included a rare public nod to their eldest son amid ongoing family tension. The soccer legend posted a series of nostalgic family photos on Instagram, featuring moments from their 1999 wedding and tender memories with their four children. In his caption, he thanked Victoria, writing, "26 years today you said YES to me. Happy Anniversary, and thank you for giving me our beautiful children and building the life that we have together. I love you, Lady Beckham @victoriabeckham." In a move that did not go unnoticed, David tagged all their children in the post, including Brooklyn, despite their strained relationship. While David acknowledged their son on their big day, Brooklyn and his wife, Nicola Peltz, made no public mention of the Anniversary. Instead, Nicola shared a carousel of romantic snaps featuring just the two of them. The lovebirds might be one of pop culture's longest-running couples, but their story started long before they ever spoke. David claims he was already smitten with Victoria when she was still touring as Posh Spice and he was climbing the ranks at Manchester United. The couple grew up just 15 minutes apart in London but did not meet until fame brought them into the same orbit. PEOPLE reports that their first real conversation happened in the players' lounge after a game. Victoria, who had taken a train to see him, scribbled her number on a train ticket, one David says he still keeps. By 1997, they were officially dating, and the following year, they got engaged and soon announced they were expecting their first child. In July 1999, they tied the knot in a castle outside Dublin, with baby Brooklyn, just months old, serving as their ring bearer. Their family continued to grow with the arrival of Romeo, Cruz, and Harper. In 2017, David revealed that the couple had quietly renewed their vows, marking another milestone in a relationship that had endured fame and family drama. Brooklyn and Nicola stirred up fresh tension with the Beckham clan after quietly flying into London for a high-profile Moncler fashion shoot without notifying his family, despite being just minutes away from their West London home. As reported by The Daily Mail, the shoot, billed as a "love letter to London," took place just two miles from David and Victoria's house in Holland Park and a short walk from the Chelsea Flower Show, where David appeared as a guest. The couple, dressed in coordinating Moncler jackets, posed for the luxury brand just weeks after skipping David's 50th birthday bash. The timing and secrecy surrounding the shoot have reportedly only deepened the rift, especially as the rest of the Beckham family, including Romeo, Cruz, and Harper, were said to be hurt by the continued silence from Brooklyn and Nicola. The shoot, described by Moncler as a "love letter to London," was especially striking given its location. In statements released with the campaign, the two recall sharing their first "I love you" in the city and say the shoot "takes us back to that moment." Nicola called the project "special," while Brooklyn added, "Nicola and I move in sync. This shoot felt like a snapshot into our life, walking through the city, laughing between takes, wearing pieces that we would wear in our everyday lives." To many, those words hit harder than the photos themselves. A source close to the Beckhams told the outlet that David and Victoria were devastated to learn secondhand that their son was in London, just minutes from their home. "What about Cruz, what about Harper? There were no issues between those two and Brooklyn, yet he travelled 5000 miles and didn't arrange to see anyone," the source noted. Brooklyn may be ready to break his silence and follow Prince Harry's lead by writing a tell-all memoir about his strained relationship with his famous family. The Blast reports that the 26-year-old is growing closer to the Duke of Sussex and views him as a mentor. A source claimed that Brooklyn is inspired by how Harry defended Meghan Markle and feels ready to stand up for his wife, Nicola Peltz, in a similar way. "Brooklyn doesn't seem to care what they think anymore," the insider shared. The potential book could be Brooklyn's way of clearing the air and expressing his frustrations after years of reported tension with his parents. While no official project has been confirmed, the insider stated that the idea of a "Prince Harry-style" memoir has become more appealing as Brooklyn continues to feel misunderstood. Will David Beckham and his son, Brooklyn Beckham, reconcile soon?
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
The Queen's Cousin Makes Wild Claims About Drama Between Her Majesty and Prince Harry
Apparently the Queen's cousin, Lady Elizabeth Anson, had a lot to say about the vibes between Her Majesty and Prince Harry before she passed away, and it's only just been revealed. Anson was friends with biographer Sally Bedell Smith, who published parts of their conversations in her Substack, Royal Extras. Per her reporting (via the Daily Mail), Anson said "It's worrying that so many people are questioning whether Meghan is right for Harry. The problem, bless his heart, is that Harry is neither bright nor strong, and she is both. Meghan is clearly brighter than Harry, but she has to be careful not to overshadow him." Um, rude! But there's more. Anson also accused Prince Harry of being "rude" to his grandmother during a ten minute meeting, and said the Queen noted that "Meghan and William and Kate were not working well" together. Per Bedell Smith's recollections of her chat with Anson (aka "Liza"): "According to Liza, the Queen was dismayed that Harry had asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to perform the wedding service in St. George's Chapel without first requesting permission from the Dean of Windsor. 'Harry seems to think the Queen can do what she wants, but she can't,' said Liza. 'On the religious side, it is the Dean of Windsor's jurisdiction.' Bedell Smith also recalls Anson saying "Harry has blown his relationship with his grandmother. She said she was really upset. I was shocked when the Queen told me this, how she was so saddened. I had no idea about the conversation, that he was rude to her for ten minutes. They had tea with her the day before yesterday. She was trying to find out about the wedding dress, and Meghan wouldn't tell her." Meghan and Harry haven't responded to these claims, but a source close to the pair said it was "just gossip." Which, true! You Might Also Like Here's What NOT to Wear to a Wedding Meet the Laziest, Easiest Acne Routine You'll Ever Try
