Shopping, September 2011

Check out what I bought during last month:

Dr. Sun Yat Sen - opera. Review.

Last night I went to see the brand new opera Dr. Sun Yat Sen in Hong Kong Cultural Center (Grand Stage). I truly believe that this is one of the ugliest buildings in Hong Kong, but inside it's quite nice.

This year it is 100 years since the Xinhai Revolution (辛亥革命) - the one that completely changed the history of China. It overthrowned the last Chinese dynasty (Qing) and established the Republic of china.
Dr. Sun Yat Sen was the leader of the revolution, so this year he is a sort of Chinese celebrity - his name is in every magazine, his face is on every wall.

About the opera itself.

It was produced by the Opera of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra.


The libretto. 
The scenario is about the very special wedding gift Dr. Sun received on his wedding day with his friend's daughter. The libretto is OK. I bit too simplified for my taste, but this I can handle.

The music. 
This is a really interesting part. The piece has two musical scripts - one for the western orchestra, one for the Chinese orchestra (the orchestra composed of traditional Chinese musical instruments). The version I've heard was for the Chinese orchestra. I think the orchestra was very professional, but the music was just SO BAD. I think the author thought he can do both Mozart, Rahmaninov and Chinese folk music and this can work out. NO IT CAN'T. I think you have to be a real master to deal with disharmony. Dear Huang Ruo, don't play with the music. It sounded sooo bad. 

The singing.
This was really weird. Classical belcanto (very, very nicely performed. I loved the singers!) + it was in Mandarin (sounded very unusual) + bad music, performed by a Chinese orchestra. It wasn't unbearable, but in wasn't good either. No likeee.

The direction.
This was weird as well. They made really western interludes, in English, absolute Stanislavsky method, but all the acts were in, I think, traditional Chinese technique - when all the actors motions are hugely exaggerated. Also, all the actors looked like they are Chinese playing foreigners.

My conclusion:
I'm either too old for that or to dumb for that, but it didn't touch me at all. In the end, may be I just don't like fusion at all. 

Pre-Birthday depression

Today I came up with 3 important conclusions:
1. Your brain needs at least  1 hour break between work and  class. Today I fonished working at 18:25 and started studying at 18:35. It was the most useless lecture since the beginning of September, felt like I was just watching TV.
2. I don't like holidays anymore. They just make me realise how lonely I am and how far away from me are the people I love.
3. I lovr the way you lie by Eminem and Rihanna really makes me feel  better and stronger. For me it's a rebellion song.

Looks. September 22, 2011.

On my way to work about to weeks ago. I know, I'm slow =)
I felt incredibly sexy that day. I don't know what it was, but this outfit works 100 times better than a mini skirt for me.

Blouse - Zara, top - Cotton On, belt - H&M, pants - Marks&Spencer, sandals - Lauren, Ralph Lauren

Масяня - antistress

All my Russian friends should understand.
Crazy Monday, 18:00, more than 50 items in my work to-do list.
Here is the only thing that can help in such moment

Enjoy!

HK Jazz Festival 2011

I liked jazz since I was little. Once I fell asleep in a jazz bar in the Russian Museum of History where my dad took me. I was about 10 y.o. then. 

I fell in love with jazz in Shanghai, I think. It was more than music there. It represented the culture, the artistic lifestyle which is missing so much in China. I remember, how we used to meet with my dear Caroline nearly every Monday, after a hard working day, in a dark JZ club in the heart of French Concession, sip our red wine, talk and enfoy the music... 

Last year I went to my first jazz festival - in Shanghai's Century Park. And it was amazing! 

So you can imagine, how much I was looking forward to this jazz event in Hong Kong. 

And it SO didn't dissapoint me. 

It's hard to describe...

Beautiful park in the heart of Hong Kong, beautiful weather, spritzer (white wine with soda which we brought along), beautiful people, the music that love... It just felt so wright to be there. 

Of course I've been thinking long in advance of what I'm gonna wear and tried my best to be AJAP  - as jazzy as possible.

We took a lot of pictures, and I'll also post a lot.

Look: dress - Cotton On, scarf - Cotton On, bag - Hosannart, shoes - Top Shop