It’s been an intense couple of weeks.
Events predictably cancelled or postponed by some clients and players in the Gulf region. A short but nevertheless exciting business visit to Paris, where I haven’t been for four years. Several awe-inspiring shows and two art fairs. Mum came to visit. We went to a wonderful production of Rigoletto. Some great books I’ve read. Half of the family down with COVID. Two very good singing lessons. Two huge exhibition reviews I’ve just written after procrastinating over them for a couple of weeks, at least.
I am tired, I need to keep going, I will breathe out in December. Until then – all hands on deck, we have to plough through. This dispatch will, therefore, be more of a list today.
Last week Paris was miserably rainy on day one of Paris+ par Art Basel and Bourse de Commerse - Pinault Collection, both of which I’ve seen for the first time, and gloriously sunny on day two, when I went to Asia Now and to the most awe-inspiring Rothko retrospective at the Fondation Louis Vuitton. I loved Paris+: the vibe was much calmer than at Frieze, galleries showing a somehow more refined curation. I also just miss Paris: I used to visit once every two months or so in my glory days at Dior, I spent 15 years of my life studying French with all the trimmings of literature, culture et al. Last time I went was in 2019, when my dearest Julia and I chased Dmitry Tcherniakov’s double bill of Iolanta / The Nutcracker at the Opéra de Paris. What can I say? Paris is still the best city in the world, albeit I now understand I would not be able to live there, probably. No, let me put it differenty: Paris is my parallel universe. I live in Paris in another life, where I am single, childless, unattached. Probably heartbroken on a daily basis. While this image may seem enticing, this is something I deliberatly did NOT choose at some crossroad in my life. And I love having Paris every now and then only to myself, as a possibility of an alternative tiltillating scenario, which I am happy to forgo.
Back in London, I saw Rebel: 30 Years of London Fashion exhibition at the Design museum. I didn’t particularly like several latest Design museum shows I’ve seen lately, so was very pleased to see how thorough and dense this fashion review was curated and produced. My review of the show, going until mid-February 2024, will soon be out and I’ll make sure to share the link in my next substack.
My husband also took me to see UVA’s Synchronicity show at 180 Strand, and please go if you are in London – these Massive Attack’s flatmates are one if not the best light art collective rn on Earth. They do simple elegant sometimes primitive artworks which wrap your heart and soul in a mesmerizing blanket of love, excitement and awe. The show’s quite pricey: 20 quid fee, but this will be the best expense, I promise. It’s on until 11 December 2023; allow your self a good hour or two, indulge, immerse in the experience. You won’t regret it.
OK, Rigoletto, very quickly! One of the best Verdis ever; haunting and beautiful production by Oliver Mears; stunning young Mongolian baritone Amartuvshin Enkhbat, do learn his name.
I enjoyed the opera with my glorious mother who came to help with Masha’s half-term. Once in, she cooked us a wonderful red lentil Israeli soup which I’ve almost forgotten (she’s got the recipe from her friend who lives in Israel) and I’ve done my attempt at it today. Apparently it’s called ades soup or smth like this; the recipe may vary, but red lentils, celery, lemon and coriander are a must. I also love putting whole cumin instead of grounded. Here’s a version; we skip tomato paste and carrots; I put the juice of two lemons and never puree the result as, if left until the next day, the lentils will absorb water and puree itself, if you will.
Books! I’ve read Jessica Pan’s hilarious and charming Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come about introverts and how she, being one, bravely overcame her fears over the course of a year. I am introverted too, although, I absolutely ADORE being on stage, public speaking and enjoy the limelight in general. However. many of her networking tips I will remember and use as I am bad at it. Jessica’s also launched a substack about her part-time work in an indie London bookshop (w h a t? yes!) so I suggest you all give her a follow.
I am now reading A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth, a book regularly praised by Amy Smilovic, so who am I to skip a reco of an intelligent woman I admire? It’s wonderful, I am very happy.
I also am singing Dido’s Lament, an aria by Purcell; seemingly simple, but very complex when one starts working on it. It’s full of chromatics, which consist the cry, the wail of Dido; below Joyce DiDonato performs it with Il Pomo D’Oro – and she will be in presence in London’s Barbican in February 2024 with that very repertoire, so you know what to do.
I thought I could do with a list; instead I again wrote a diary. I will learn nothing from this.
Have a good Sunday,
Yours,
Anastasia.
Are your shopping lists like that as well?
"Cherry tomatoes: unusually, an American cultural import is delivered in XS — I wish they were this tactful more often;
Grated cheese: a symbol of modern capitalism, its deep division of labour and its pressure for efficiency grinding at slower communal pastimes like cooking with family and friends. But I do need to save time this week..."
etc.