Sunday, December 7, 2014

A Moving Handover

Last day of the FIL, ending appropriately with a handover ceremony from Argentina to the UK. Speeches were given, gifts were exchanged, we showed a specially shot video of the kind of things people could look forward to next year and a short recital was performed. It was all strangely moving, partly because of the two countries involved, but also - for us - at least, knowing that we now have to start work in earnest preparing for next year. 
The recital was interesting. We chose a sonnet, If music and sweet poetry agree…, attributed to Shakespeare from the collection known as The Passionate Pilgrim, spoken in English first, then Spanish. It was an appropriate choice I think. The UK, as Guest of Honour, will be a passionate pilgrim to Guadalajara next year, and the theme of music and poetry chimed with FIL. Also, apparently - amazingly - the sonnet had never had a Spanish translation. So two weeks ago we asked Mexico's foremost Shakespearian translator (now living in Britain) if he might do the job, and he did, overnight! So, a premiere of sorts. The recital itself was performed by a husband-and-wife team of Sophie Alexander Katz and Morgan Szymanski, she an actress with a beautiful voice, he a classical guitarist - both Mexican (even with names like that!) and both trained in London. It was meant to be.

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