The Newest Catch on the Road ~~~~

末夏，倘若你。。。

一顆受傷的心要用牛奶般柔美的樂曲。。。

撫平，啟發，

受苦之心的

渴望。。。。

Spain 2 : Casa Mila, Barcelona

Gudi ....

Roof ....

Spain 1 : Sagrada Família, Barcelona

August 2012

The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (English: Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family; Spanish: Basílica y Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia), commonly known as the Sagrada Família(Catalan pronunciation: [səˈɣɾaðə fəˈmiɫiə]), is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926). Although incomplete, the church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site,^[5] and in November 2010 was consecrated and proclaimed a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI.^[6][7][8]

Though construction of Sagrada Família had commenced in 1882, Gaudí became involved in 1883,^[5] taking over the project and transforming it with his architectural and engineering style—combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms.

Milos and Argentine Tango .....

Milos Karadagalic 1 : Legend of Austiria

Milos is a young highly regarded classical guitarist in the new genre of 21st century.
The more I watch this promotion excerpt, the deeper I am attracted to his charm, passion, beauty, and his exotic feature....
Not only did he express such immensely talented technique, but he also emerged his personal feelings into the Latin music he loves. Rarely have I seen such a critically acclaimed musician look so relaxed and handsome walking and playing music on a beautiful Mediterranean  beach.
Artistic and romantic ....

Nevertheless, combining personal charisma of the musician and his musical talent is the main stream of the classical music market nowadays! For better or worse, music is a form of fine art and beauty that expresses feelings of the artist, and entertains the senses of the audience.

 Legend of Austiria . From Isaac Aleniz  piano work Espanola Suit op. 47 .

He has both Passion and Beauty in a special Latin spice ...
聽他彈琴，以及看他彈琴，
都是一種很異國風情的愉悅。。。！

Wagner 1: Tristan und Isolde. Love to Death....

華格納的樂劇總是在追求著一個他心目中完美女性的形象：

無私無我的犧牲、為愛而救贖男性的罪衍。在真實世界裡，在他不斷的如同《弄臣》的無良公爵一樣唱著“Questa e quella”（這個還是那個）周旋於女性之間時，這問題也深深的苦惱著他。

在他為數頗豐的著作裡，完全可以見到他對這裡想中女性的期盼與渴求。在這種對愛情無法滿足的情況下，華格納很自然地對《崔斯坦與伊索德》這種「愛到死」而且「死也無所謂」的愛情充滿了嚮往。

在1854年底寫給李斯特的信裡，華格納自我剖白了他對愛情的渴望：「我的一生裡從未品嚐過真正愛情的歡愉，我一定要為我夢想的至美樹立紀念碑，讓我的愛情獲得完全的滿足...在我心中，那就是計畫中的《崔斯坦與伊索德》...」。

Tristan und Isolde (Tristan and Isolde, or Tristan and Isolda, or Tristran and Ysolt) is an opera, or music drama, in three acts by Richard Wagner to a German libretto by the composer, based largely on the romance by Gottfried von Straßburg. It was composed between 1857 and 1859 and premiered in Munich on 10 June 1865 with Hans von Bülow conducting. Wagner referred to "Tristan und Isolde" not as an opera, but called it "Eine Handlung" (literally drama or plot), which was the equivalent of the term used by the Spanish playwright Calderón for his dramas.

Wagner's composition of Tristan und Isolde was inspired by his affair with Mathilde Wesendonck and the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer. Widely acknowledged as one of the peaks of the operatic repertory, Tristan was notable for Wagner's advanced use of chromaticism, tonality, orchestral colour and harmonic suspension.

The opera was profoundly influential among Western classical composers and provided inspiration to composers such as Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, Karol Szymanowski, Alban Berg and Arnold Schoenberg. Many see Tristan as the beginning of the move away from conventional harmony and tonality and consider that it lays the groundwork for the direction of classical music in the 20th century.^{[1] -- Wikipedia} 

he magic love-philtre is the excitant in this story of rapture and gloom. The Vorspiel therefore opens most fittingly with a motive which expresses the incipient effect of the potion upon Tristan and Isolde. It clearly can be divided into two parts, one descending, the other ascending chromatically. The potion overcomes the restraining influence of duty in two beings and leaves them at the mercy of their passions. The first part, with its descending chromatics, is pervaded by a certain trist mood, as if Tristan were still vaguely forewarned by his conscience of the impending tragedy. The second soars ecstatically upward. It is the woman yielding unquestioningly to the rapture of requited love. Therefore, while the phrase may be called the Motive of the Love-Potion, or, as Wolzogen calls it, of Yearning, it seems best to divide it into the Tristan and Isolde Motives (A and B).

The two motives having been twice repeated, there is a fermate. Then the Isolde Motive alone is heard, so that the attention of the hearer is fixed upon it. For in this tragedy, as in that of Eden, it is the woman who takes the first decisive step. After another fermate, the last two notes of the Isolde Motive are twice repeated, dying away to pianissime. Then a variation of the Isolde Motive leads

with an impassioned upward sweep into another version. Full of sensuous yearning, and distinct enough to form a new motive, the Motive of the Love Glance.

This occurs again and again in the course of the Vorspiel. Though readily recognized, it is sufficiently varied with each repetition never to allow the emotional excitement to subside. In fact, the Vorspiel gathers impetus as it proceeds, until, with an inversion of the Love Glance Motive, borne to a higher and higher level of exaltation by upward rushing runs, it reaches its climax in a paroxysm

of love, to die away with repetitions of the Tristan, the Isolde, and the Love Glance motives.

In the themes it employs this prelude tells, in music, the story of the love of Tristan and Isolde. We have the motives of the hero and heroine of the drama, and the Motive of the Love Glance. When as is the case in concerts, the finale of the work, "Isolde’s Love-Death," is linked to the Vorspiel, we are entrusted with the beginning and the end of the music-drama, forming an eloquent epitome of the tragic story. --- from Opera Synopsis

Bel Canto, Edita Gruberova

Age 65 with an unchangingly beautiful and expressive voice , Miss Gruberova  is a true artist !!

"A Cut" Steak House, Taipei

A Cut Always serves the best steak in town !!

Peach and Parma Ham Salad 

Chinese Valentine's , 七夕。。。

With a good collection of Wine .....

七夕情人節快樂！

今夜，

大雨帶走了海的沈默，

颶風築起了一道道的相思。

親愛的，

喜鵲橋勾畫那深深遠遠的記憶，

星星之河把我們的心跳糾結，

飛向天堂的旅途中，

一個熟悉恬靜的笑，

永恆的，

烙印。

不必問，我是誰，

不必問，你是誰，

航遊在宇宙間最清澈的琴，

飛越在星際中最閃耀的鷹。

Let's Fall in Love

Let's Fall in Love .......

Fireworks in Taipei

Fireworks in Taipei ~~
在大稻埕的煙火秀!

Photo by Lingming T. 

Woody Allan 2 : Midnight in Paris

"Midnight In Paris "

Let's Fall in Love....

Featured in science fictional style, this film was shoot in Paris, the most romantic and avant-garde city in the world.  Not only did the director reveal our misconception for understanding of our own genre not being the golden age, but he also seemingly employed the essential elements of falling in love.

Beside the elements of hormones and chemistry,  this true love should  make you feel " fearless of death".

As usual, Woody Allan mocked these so called scholars and experts in our time, by comparing them to the great masters and artists from an earlier  generation in 1920's. Almost every well known master from 20's was present on screen, including Scott Fitzgerald, Earnest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Dali, Mattise and more.

This is an interesting,  eye-catching and meaningful film which needs a full concentration to watch. Rarely have I seen such a wonderful film touching deeply but natrually on the subject of both art and love. As a result, I have viewed this film twice this weekend. :)

"We all fear death and question our place in the universe.
The Artist's job is not to succumb to despair,
but to find an antidote for the emptiness of existence! " --Gertrude Stein 

------Angel L.

Woody Allan 1 : Purple Rose in Cairo

故事是這樣開始的：

"..........「看電影」成了她最快樂的時光，她迷上了「開羅紫玫瑰」這部電影，一直重複看也不厭倦。
一天，片中男主角竟然走出來和她相會，女孩驚訝不已並馬上墜入情網。在此時，她又碰上了飾演男主角的男演員，讓她左右為難，不曉得應該情歸何處，並試圖找出真實和夢幻的界線。"

多少時候，戀愛時的浪漫，虛虛幻幻？

多少時候，睡夢中的擁吻，真真實實？

忽近，忽遠，
忽深，忽淺。。。。
謊言的故事，
欺瞞的夢幻，
一道如雲彩築起的界線，

釐不清，理還亂。。。

－－－－－Angel

If you have lost your memories ....?

倘若,

此時此刻，

你的記憶都喪失了，

你會不會深深的

愛上我？..........。。

Bach B Minor Mass

清晨快六點了，精神還是好好。。。
我想，人聲最美，也最催眠。。。
就讓巴哈莊嚴的彌賽亞，
帶我進入天堂。。。

Music is the purest and the most mysterious form of art that touches our heart.
As the profound choral sings in Bach's B minor Mass,
I am finding the pathway entering the gate of heaven....

Do not betray your own Soul !!!

千萬不要背叛自己的靈魂！

當妳走在冰冷的黑夜裡，

逺處魔火剎現，

引誘妳迷惑的心屝，

燃燒著無主的慾念。

跳入火焰吧，解脫吧。。。

不，長老說：

魔火野火亦非金鋼之火。

那只會加倍妳的
空寂背叛憤怒，
千萬，千千萬萬 

不要背叛自己的靈魂。

At Lawry's : Happy Father's Day !

At Lawry's Prime Rib Taipei :

10 Oz Vertical Thick Cut is the best choice with the accompanied of a bottle of a good French Red.
Although it is not a good year of harvest for red wine in Bordeaux,
Chateau Cos D' Estournel actually did not disappoint me.

Angel Rating 92 .  Parker Rating: 92
It has a dense Fruity fragrance of plum and blackcurrant.
Absolutely no acidity and tannin taste, although a bit bitter at times...
Delicate, smooth, but not a full body red...
It is  a wonderful young red wine with no pressure of pricing considering a prestigious brand name.

I Love its High Ceiling, grand decorated mirrors,  and Large Paintings in this Restaurant,where projects an English tradition classical noble atmosphere.
Desserts are not their specialties I would add, because it did not match the quality of its steak ....

Summer Smile ..... Afternoon Tea in Taipei

A sound mind in a sound body,
 is a short but full description of a happy state in the world. 

Wine Tasting at La Vinotheque

金色筆記:

Reflecting in the City....

I love to live in the city....., but things do happen so closely to you around cities....

Jenny has interviewed many times in the past 2 months and was crestfallen when she found out that her best friend has obtained the position she always wanted. She was so credulous when her best friend Kate took a cursory look at her mailing list of her resume and said she would like to help. That is why Cynicism has become the attitude in metropolitan areas all over the world, provided no body should trust any body any more!!

I do not think I am a curmudgeon, since our neighbor's children were acting totally undisciplined and thunderous in the evening on their deck, which located adjacent to mine. Some parents cosset their children so much that, these spoiled kids never learn how to respect and on top of everything else, always act craven to any challenges. The earlier the intervention, the  more corrigible the condition; if these children were cozened in such parenting for too long, it will become very difficult to fix.

As a result, do you think residing in a crowded city as Taipei is a good idea, to train your mind becoming more aware and more compassionate ?

Is this why many practitioners hide themselves and become hermits for practicing purpose?

As I asked my self these questions, I concluded that as long as you have a stronger mind by practicing, you may be able to pamper these situations, only if ....

愛人，出於自動自願，

Looking out the Ocean from my Dream Garden...
愛人，出於自動自願，
健康，出於自動自願，
助人，出於自動自願，

凡事，只要有一點的不情願，
就會期待回報，
一定會痛苦.........

真愛, 當你想它時，你是快樂的。

慾望, 當你想它時，你是痛苦的。