What are you watching?

[Peter]

Karol - a man who became Pope and the sequel Karol: The Pope, The Man. I've Just finished watching the 2nd dvd about the amazing life of Pope John Paul ll - Piotr Adamczyk is absolutely superb in the role and the make up team were incredible in how they aged him for the 2nd DVD.

First dvd covers his early life with his run ins first with the Nazis then the Soviets up until the time he became Pope. This was incredible and you may think no point in bothering with the 2nd dvd - you'd be wrong, the acting gets even better in the 2nd dvd and it is very moving.

I highly recommend this even to any atheists amongst us - if nothing else the bravery of John Paul, the historical context (covering the period from WWll through the cold war to the 2nd Iraq war post 9/11) and the stunning acting will have you gripped.

[Megan]

Very interesting Peter. The point about Blessed JP2 is that he really does seem to be the first Pope whe attracted a large following around the world from people who are not particularly religious, who admired him and liked his direct man of the people approach.

[Peter]

Over the weekend I'll be watching Julian Bream - my life in music which I bought on dvd. Fascinating man and of course a wonderful musician.

[Enrique]

When I was a boy I was mad with the Aranjuez Concerto and with some money I gathered I bought 7 discs, one of them that concerto and Dances from Gloriana by Julian Bream. I enjoyed it.

[Sorrano]

When I was a boy I was mad with the Aranjuez Concerto and with some money I gathered I bought 7 discs, one of them that concerto and Dances from Gloriana by Julian Bream. I enjoyed it.

Occasionally, I hear that concerto on the radio and quite like it, although I am not real keen with the guitar. Seems that somewhere I have some piano music by Rodrigo, as well.

[Enrique]

I take it you know he was blind already as an infant. I knew a doublebass student who was almost blind and besides he studied physics at college! I do not know, Braille or no Braille how they can do it.

[Peter]

When I was a boy I was mad with the Aranjuez Concerto and with some money I gathered I bought 7 discs, one of them that concerto and Dances from Gloriana by Julian Bream. I enjoyed it.

Bream describes how as a 15 year old he was approached by the BBC and asked to perform the Rodrigo concerto but had never heard of it - he went out, bought all the orchestral parts and despite finding it incredibly difficult, learnt the concerto in 3 weeks but then refused to perform it because he didn't think the BBC were offering enough - the BBC offered him more and he performed it!

[Peter]

I take it you know he was blind already as an infant. I knew a doublebass student who was almost blind and besides he studied physics at college! I do not know, Braille or no Braille how they can do it.

Watch this for inspiration - blind pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii giving an encore after a spectacular performance of Rachmaninov's 2nd concerto. Music starts at 1'44

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbAoeZZvntk[/YOUTUBE]

[Peter]

I am not real keen with the guitar.

Try this:

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhZ1lTLgb5Y[/YOUTUBE]

[Enrique]

Watch this for inspiration - blind pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii giving an encore after a spectacular performance of Rachmaninov's 2nd concerto. Music starts at 1'44

Really moving. Happy to live in a time when such people are given a break. A first rate execution.

[Enrique]

My cello professor used to say: "There are three instruments: The piano, the violin and the 'cello to which I'd add a fourth: the guitar". "This", he added, "because a friend of mine really does miracles with the guitar."[!] Peculiar observation! Though I would not compare a piccolo with a violin, I think all instruments are wonderful when playing in collaboration. One thing that goes in detriment of the guitar is its low volume (very difficult to write for guitar and orchestra because of this) and the presence of frets, but after all the guitar is essentially a polyphonic instrument and the piano also has fixed pitch keys.

[Peter]

'Il cielo cade' - (The sky is falling) - Isabella Rossellini

[Enrique]

Greedy (1994) with Kirk Douglas and Michael J. Fox.

[AeolianHarp]

Star Trek Enterprise on my HD off my brother.