tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827040061563065922.post4719388772854226704..comments2024-03-27T23:06:03.736-05:00Comments on The Music Salon: On My WayBryan Townsendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09482696991279345516noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827040061563065922.post-68973882570882049312016-05-24T20:36:11.200-05:002016-05-24T20:36:11.200-05:00Now I am definitely encouraged to post a journal o...Now I am definitely encouraged to post a journal of my trip since you all seem interested! Personal experience seems to be one of the things that keeps the blogosphere humming<br /><br />No David, no theme music as of yet. But looking over a book on Madrid Style 2016 in my hotel room, I see that Madrid's opera house the Teatro Real is offering a host of new productions over the next two seasons. It looks like the only one being performed while I am here is Moses und Aron by Schoenberg. Not my favourite, but unless there is something else on, a Mozart opera, for example, I may attend. Yes, when I first taught at the Victoria Conservatory they were indeed in Craigdarroch Castle. I remember one studio where the view was so lovely it was hard to practice! But then we moved down to another building near Beacon Hill park, that was a bit more practical. I understand they are in another facility now.<br /><br />Thanks Christine! Most people haven't been moved around as much as I have (and moved myself, of course). My ex-wife, until she met me, had lived in the same small town in Germany. But then she moved to Montreal and then we moved to Mexico. She is now back in her hometown, but I do think she is glad of having seen a couple of other places.<br /><br />Oh yes, there are significant differences in pronunciation! The fellow at immigration at the airport asked me how many days I would be here and I said "diez" (meaning ten) pronouncing the "z" as an "s" as in Mexico so he asked me again in English. Here, the "z" is pronounced as "th". In general the pronunciation here has a sibilance to it--not heard as "th" usually, but more like a "sh". They speak with the tongue further forward. It is interesting--they often don't refer to the language as "Spanish" but rather as "Castillian" ("Castellano").<br /><br />Terminal 4 is quite a lovely building. I will try to get some photos when I leave. But there are some formidable escalators and a long, long walk (though with sideways) to get from your gate to the exit. It feels like a mile, at least.Bryan Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09482696991279345516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827040061563065922.post-37245715125505895122016-05-24T14:16:14.752-05:002016-05-24T14:16:14.752-05:00I wonder if the differences in pronunciation &...I wonder if the differences in pronunciation &c between <i>castellano</i> and the Spanish of Mexico are fewer these days than, say, twenty years ago? <br /><br />"The new Terminal 4 is meant to give passengers a stress-free start to their journey." Hope this proves true!Marc in Eugenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04331547981498637474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827040061563065922.post-82320991660600623092016-05-24T11:13:24.974-05:002016-05-24T11:13:24.974-05:00I enjoyed you post about your trip and the reasons...I enjoyed you post about your trip and the reasons for it. I wonder how people who have lived all of their lives in the same place experience the world compared to people like you, and me I might add. I'm looking forward to your trip updates.Christine Lacroixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02006109075551438090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827040061563065922.post-65739849887359818982016-05-24T10:57:22.279-05:002016-05-24T10:57:22.279-05:00Bryan, have a fantastic trip. Do you have theme ...Bryan, have a fantastic trip. Do you have theme music for your journey of (re-)discovery? Maybe R Strauss, DonQ? It's not really authentic Spanish, but it does have a great subtitle: (Fantastic Variations on a Theme of Knightly Character).<br /><br />When you taught at the Victoria Conservatory was it located in Craigdarroch Castle? They have done a fantastic job of restoring the building as a museum. It is one of my favourite attractions when I visit Victoria.Davidnoreply@blogger.com