Watching the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in concert at the famous Opera House a couple of weeks back, I thought the principal cellist looked a bit familiar. 'Who's that?' I whispered. 'Nathan Waks,' said my neighbour. 'Never!,' I exclaimed. The last time I was in Sydney, in 1995, Nathan Waks was head of music at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, a man of influence and authority. I could hardly imagine a BBC executive giving up the trappings and going back to play in an orchestra where he … [Read more...]
A Snowstorm in the Sahara
September 9, 2007 By
Before leaving for Australia a fortnight ago I left a Pavarotti appreciation at the paper, sensing from the medical reports that he did not have long to go. Even so, the sad news came as a shock and, just off the long-haul return flight from Melbourne, I found myself having to adjust my perspectives to a world without the big man. Through a haze of media calls, I tried to remember where and how I first heard that voice. And then I realised that it is the first impression will abide. The … [Read more...]
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