Richard Jones reviews - The Concert

THE CONCERT (M)

Andrei Filipov was once a famous conductor of the Bolshoi Orchestra in Moscow who fell foul of the Brezhnev regime back in the 1980s.

Now a cleaner at the company’s theatre Filipov (Alexsei Guskov - pictured above)  is given another shot at glory.

He intercepts a fax in the company office and immediately hatches a plan. If he can cobble together an orchestra comprised of his former musicians they can play one last performance of Tchaikovsky’s famous concerto for violin and orchestra. In Paris.

Finding the surviving members of his group is hard enough for Filipov. So he enlists the help of former KGB man Ivan (Valeri Barinov) to round up the motley crew.

More importantly, Filipov needs a violinist competent enough to perform as the soloist.

Enter Anne-Marie Jacquet (Melanie Laurent) an acclaimed young violinist. Once ensconced in Paris, Filipov invites her on board as his soloist.

Pictures from Margaret Lewis

Margaret Lewis sent us some pictures from one of their trips this year, to South Australia. On the trip they met up with Val Rivers (62/63) and they visited Maggie Beer's (of ABC-TV fame) Farm and Winery.

Margaret Lewis and Val Rivers (62/63) outside Maggie' Beer's Farm and Winery

They also visited the tourist town of Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills.

Val Rivers and Peter Lewis (62/63) at a restaurant in Hahndorf

Amongst the pictures Margaret sent, were a couple of the historic Paterson Tavern in the Hunter Valley, when Colin Huggins (62/63) passed through on the way to the PNGAA AGM in May.

Peter Lewis (62/63)outside historic Paterson Tavern

Colin Huggins and Peter Lewis enjoy a beer

at Paterson Tavern.

Pictures from Haus Burrell

Colin Huggins (62/64) sent the following photos from a visit in summer to Dennis (62/64) and Ros Burrell's house. Shown here are some of their pets, although I suspect the last one to be an intruder.

Click on the pictures to enlarge

Lunch at The Harlequin in Brisbane (62/63)

Peter and Margaret Lewis are in Brisbane for a few days so what better chance than to catch up with a lunch at The 'Harlequin Restaurant' at the Sofitel Hotel above Central Station.

f.l.t.r. Diane Bohlen, Peter Lewis, Bill Bohlen, Margaret Lewis and Colin Huggins

As usual, the food and company were excellent. Peter and Margaret fly back home next Tuesday. 

Happy Grandparents

Bill and Diane Bohlen (Speakman 62/63) are happy to announce the arrival of their first grandchild Fox William, born in Sydney on the 13th May 2010 to Sonya and Bernie.

Bill and Diane and Fox William

The star of the show

Colin Huggins (62/63) reports from Sydney

Colin sends us his Report from Sydney:

" Dear friends"

Just a couple of days ago, I flew out from Brisbane on "Jetstar" to Newcastle where I was met by Peter and Margaret Lewis, who had only the day before returned from a trip to SA, where they were able to catch up with Val Rivers and David and Lorraine Westover. There will be a forthcoming report with photos of this trip at a later date.

Staying with "P & M" is just so wonderful, we have many laughs and managed once again to visit that great little pub at Paterson for lunch, hopefully photos of this place, also photos of a large "open-house" at an Agricultural College on the way. To see the number of cars there was to believe.

Then on the Sunday I left on the Intercity Express for Hornesby and then a taxi to Killara Golf Club.
 Not the largest of turnouts and all the reports can be found - President's and Treasurer's annual reports on the PNGAA website. Terry Chapman, the Groewegens,Riley Warren and the Walshes of ASOPA days (Education) seemed to have been the only attendees of education ASOPA. However, the camaradie was wonderful and I was at last able to meet Nancy Johnson, who is a most delightful lady and a fountain of knowledge on colonial PNG. Also I was able to speak with PP Harry West and past treasurer, Ross Johnson. The table I sat at was a great group and many laughs were had - especially on LATIN LESSONS!!! You are never to old to learn!

 Also Andrea Williams was present and hopes that with a site which will be attached to this blog, some of us may see fit to give our opinions on the new Australian history curriculum in relation to the old TPNG (colonial times under Australian control) and the war history, if anyone knows something, of WW2 that they feel should be included in the new history curriculum. Actually I think that Andrea, Riley Warren and Deveni Temu ( Committee member of PNGAA) will be accessing these ideas.

Next stop will be Young and on the return to Brisbane, I hope to catch up with the one and only " Moose" in Canberra and also, David Weeden during my 5 hour stopover there.


Cheers


Colin

Henry went fishing

OK .... here is the evidence - this fish won the fishin' competition at Dundee  (25 minutes by light plane SW of Darwin) recently. Measured 93 cm.....was released, of course. Cheers and beers, Henry B

He caught a whopper

and another