Inauguration

A bottle of Prosecco broken over the bows to launch this blog. Day 1, Blog 1. I'm off to Birmingham to talk to a group of opera goers about Mozart and da Ponte, with special reference to da Ponte's origins in the ghetto of Cesena, and his arrival in Vienna. Looking forward to the train ride up the Severn, especially where the river widens above the old suspension bridge (a huge double aeolian harp when seen from the side) and there is a view up to the red house on the western bank. Gloucester cathedral seen across the watermeadows is another treat. Then something fiery in the ma po do fu line at a Birmingham Szechuan restaurant, the talk and a trainride home with loquacious colleagues. Bed before midnight, with luck.