I am grateful that I was lucky enough to witness the miracle of my daughter's birth and even had the honour of cutting her umbilical cord.
It was rather poignant that months of nurturing and nourishing was ended in seconds with the snip of a pair of scissors, wielded by me.
Poignant, because my role in creating this wonderful new life was neither arduous, nor was it demanding of my time.
Her mother meanwhile, has gone through the agony of cramps, back pain, kicks, nocturnal internal gymnastic displays and a diet lacking many of the things she enjoys.
ETO’s first new Verdi production for several years is Simon Boccanegra – a mature masterpiece, and an intimate drama uniquely suited to venues like Exeter Northcott Theatre.
The story comes from the history of Genoa, for centuries a great maritime republic, and from it Verdi creates an impassioned plea for Italian unity. The title character is a former pirate who returns to the city to become its leader.
The composer’s musical depiction of the shimmering Mediterranean is wonderful. So too are the characters he creates, from the rough-hewn buccaneer-turned-ruler (the title...
