We've been having some heated discussions about Wagner. They date from the time, earlier in the summer, that my eldest son William and I saw The Ring. My wife cannot dissociate him unhistorically, as I point out from the Third Reich. Alas, although Wagner employed many Jewish musicians and, early in his career, fawned revoltingly on Meyerbeer to further his career, he was, inescapably, anti-Semitic. In fact, he was a horrible man. I’m drawn as by an irresistible force to the music, but I don’t think I’d much care to meet him.
Which raises the question: if one could spend an evening with any artist from the past, who would it be? Dr Johnson, in this anniversary year, comes high up my list, but perhaps a trifle dominant in conversation. Dickens would be good value (those amateur theatricals), but possibly a show off. George Eliot? Rather hard work, I suspect.
If a painter, best to go for a courtly one, such as Rubens. Turner would be surly, Cézanne should be avoided. Composers are not invariably conversationalists (think of Beethoven), but Puccini would be charming, if unsafe with women. For conviviality, I’d pick Rossini, who retired, at the top of his game, aged 37. Professionally, I’d like Shakespeare, greatest but most shadowy of writers. An interview would make my fortune.
-
You can’t always rely on the Great British summer — but you can rely on its watchesBritish watchmakers have excelled themselves in recent months — releasing bright and beautiful timepieces that you'll want on your wrist through summer, and beyond.
-
Simon Jenkins: 50 years of saving Britain's buildings, from triumphs and disasters to the great country house we bought for £1In 1975, a new organisation was set up with the express aim of saving Britain's most beautiful and historic buildings from the wrecking ball. How has SAVE fared in the 50 years since then far? Simon Jenkins — who was involved as a trustee right from the very start — looks back on half a century of successes... and one or two painful failures.
