Today we are going back to England, to be more exact - to the Royal Albert Hall, London. This is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941.
Since its opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the world's leading artists from several performance genres have appeared on its stage and it has become one of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings. Each year it hosts more than 350 events including classical concerts, rock and pop, ballet and opera, sports, award ceremonies, school and community events, charity performances and banquets.

It's huge, isn't it? I guess I would kill for an opportunity to just be there. But the building itself is not what I'm going to talk about. I want to draw your attention to just one event that took place here in 2011.
Any guesses? Except the Adele's concert in November?
I won't tease :):):) Today I'm talking about the latest and the greatest staging of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera", devoted to the 25th anniversary of this worldwide famous musical!

First I must confess that I'm a FAN of this wonderful musical :) After hearing it's leading aria (which is well known all over the world) for the first time I just couldn't let it out of my mind, so I decided to watch the whole thing. For a start I chose the film version, starring Gerard Butler as the Phantom, Emmy Rossum as Christine, Patrick Wilson as Raoul, and Minnie Driver as Carlotta, which was released in December 2004.
I loved it, I really did, but it wasn't perfect at all, mostly because of the mediocre voices of the actors and partly because something seemed to be missing. So when I found out that the movie and the original variant of the musical greatly differ, I started looking for the one to satisfy me in all the aspects. I looked through all the records, trying to find the perfect one, but all for nothing. I didn't like either the voices, or the performing, or costumes et cetera. Even the original cast which is admired by everyone, was a complete disappointment - Sarah Brightman as Christine, making funny eyes all the time and singing as if she has a huge bull-frog on her chest... Well, tastes differ.
And finally I came across this one - BINGO!
In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, Cameron Mackintosh produced a unique, spectacular staging of the musical on a scale which had never been seen before. Inspired by the original staging by Hal Prince and Gillian Lynne, this lavish, fully-staged production set in the sumptuous Victorian splendour of London’s legendary Royal Albert Hall features a cast and orchestra of over 200, plus some very special guest appearances.
At last I found the perfomance that embodied everything I wanted to see in the "Phantom", and now I introduce it to you :)
But before I show you the cast, let's just spare several moments of our attention to the person who actually created the most popular and long-living musical of all the times.

Andrew Lloyd Webber

And now - the cast! Best cast of all I've ever seen.

The main parts of the Phantom and Christine are now performed by Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Bogges.

Don't be fooled by Sierra's Barbie-look - she has absolutely beautiful voice and makes an extraordinary passionate and not brain damaged Christine (which is actually ve-e-ery rare). And this handsome man wonderfully embodies ugly, hideous, heart-broken yet genius composer. Mark my words: his voice will make your soul fly.

The part of  Raoul is performed by Hadley Fraser

Though Raoul is far from music and art and, perhaps, too practical, he is still noble and acts like man. From the beginning I wanted to see Raoul like this, and now I do. And he is handsome too :)

Wendy Ferguson as Carlotta Guidicelli

I can't put down in words, how great she is. You'll have to see it for yourself.

And many, many other actors, dancers and singers. All that is left to say - just watch and enjoy!

http://www.tubeplus.me/player/1969247/The_Phantom_of_the_Opera_at_the_Royal_Albert_Hall/

WELCOME TO THE 15TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF "SPORT FOR YOUTH"
"Sport for Youth" is the organisation that encourages young people to become more involved in sports.

Here is the scedule of the first day of the conference:

1. Registration desk opens at 8.30. There you will receive your "Welcome Pack" with the Certificate of Attendance in it. Registration will be open all day.
2. 9.30 - Peter Taylor's opening talk about the state of sports in schools.
3. 10.30-11.00 - coffee in Avon Room
After coffee you will be able to have a non-official talk with other delegates.
4. 1.00-2.00 - Lunch in Avon Room
Till 5 o'clock you will have an opportunity to make the acquaintance of all the participants of the conference.

The evening is free. Internet access will be available upon request.

Cincerely,
Charles Winkle, the head of the committee of "Sport for Youth".

Around Ireland Without a Car

Touring the Emerald Isle by Public Transport

(By Bernd Biege, About.com Guide)

The best way to travel around Ireland is by car - no contest. But what if a visitor does not want or simply cannot use a car? There are alternatives available, none of them perfect, but a combination of road and rail travel is an interesting option.

By far the most sensible, budget-friendly and convenient way to travel Ireland without a rental car is ... using the bus. Cross country services are numerous and a variety of ticket options, though at times confusing, can make bus travel very economical. Connections between the major towns are generally fast, frequent and reliable.

Local services tend to be more patchy and require some planning if used for touring. Even major attractions might not get serviced more than once or twice a day - this is the curse on the tourism industry being geared towards independent car users. If you plan on visiting a number of attractions in any area enquire about organized tours at your hotel or local tourist office. In most tourist areas these are provided by Bus Éireann or local companies.

While it is not impossible to travel Ireland by rail, the choice of places to visit will be limited. Generally the railway will bring you to a central destination and from there you will have to rely on other modes of transport. More than likely buses. Add the fact that Irish railways are not known for either cheap fares or luxury and bus travel becomes a sensible option in many cases.

But on longer journeys the train may be better value for money - travel times are usually shorter than on a bus, there are toilets on board and you can stretch your legs by walking about a bit.

Note that there are also organized railtours from Dublin to main Irish attractions available, these sometimes include accommodation and can be an alternative to a self-guided tour.

Travelling Ireland on a bicycle is an interesting proposition and has been a preferred mode of transport for touring students in the 1970s and 1980s. Then the "Celtic Tiger" roared, "no-frills-airlines" brought a massive influx of visitors and suddenly road traffic exploded, making riding a bicycle on many roads definitely an adventure sport.

If you stick to the main roads you will have to share these with enthusiastic (but not necessarily competent) other drivers and (even in the remotest areas) 18-wheelers. If you leave the main roads you will find winding lanes with high hedges on both sides and sizeable potholes to navigate. And wherever you ride you will have to face strong winds, frequent rain and some long and steep inclines.

Gipsy Caravans were long touted as the "typical Irish holiday" (though most Irish people would not agree) and acquired an air of ethnic ecotourism. Generally a very unique way to see a small part of the island. Temporary "gipsies" will have to stick to a certain area and a selection of roads. Consider this mode of transport only if you want to spend lots of quality time with your travelling companions!

P.S. Isn't that just great being able to travel the country without a car? Not only Ireland but any country in the world. It gives you an opportunity to see more, to hear more, to spend more time studying the culture and life of people who actually live there. Such an exiting experience, isn't it?

Much Ado About Nothing (1993)

Today I want to introduce you a marvellous movie, which is actually based on William Shakespeare's play. Frankly speaking,  I couldn't even stand everything connected to this British playwrite and his works, especially Romeo and Juliette (to my opinion, nothing but a story of hatred, hormons and stupidity, but this is not what I'm talking about now).But after watching this film I had to change my attitude, at least to Shakespeare's comedies. Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce you "Much Ado About Nothing" (1993).

It was adapted for the screen and directed by Kenneth Branagh, who also played the role of Benedick.
The film was released on May 7, 1993, reaching 200 U.S. screens at its widest release. It earned $22 million at the U.S. box office and $36 million total worldwide, which, despite failing to reach the mark set by Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet, made it one of the most financially successful Shakespeare films ever released. It was also entered into the 1993 Cannes Film Festival.

To my own opinion, the movie is absolutely adorable. Wonderful music, beautiful scenery and awesome actors - the combination that literally made me laugh and cry at the same time.
I'll be brief about the plot: it's a story about love and slander and all the troubles it can cause. But don't be worried, everything ends happily :) And now let me show you the main characters of the movie and the actors that performed them.

Kenneth Branagh as Benedick, a nobleman in the court of Don Pedro. He is very arrogant but shows himself to have a good character. His pride and arrogance make his relationship with Beatrice a tumultuous one, but at the end of the film, Beatrice and Benedick agree to marry.

Absolutely adorable character and a fantastic actor :) Everything he says and the way he says it will make you burst into laughing almost every moment.

Keanu Reeves as Don John, Don Pedro's evil half brother; his dissatisfaction with his own lot in life leads to his attempts to foil the happiness of his perceived enemies.

He conspires with his men Borachio and Conrade to ruin Hero and Claudio's wedding by impugning Hero's honor. When his plot is found out, he attempts to escape but is captured and imprisoned.
To my opinion, Keanu Reeves is a great actor, but in this movie he's a little spooky. Not his best part, but still looks good performing the character.

Denzel Washington as Don Pedro of Aragon; remarkable for being one of the few "marriageable" men in the piece who does not get married by the end of the play, though he does play matchmaker for others.

The only question is: why Don Pedro is black??? But despite this fact he did very well.

Emma Thompson as Beatrice, Leonato's niece, and Hero's cousin and chamber-mate. She is a strong-willed woman who charms and beguiles all who know her (even Benedick eventually) with her wit and cleverness.

Emma is one of my favourite actresses :) She brings something very tender and touching in each part she plays, even the part of a strong and independent woman. After watching this movie I realised that I want to be like Beatrice performed by Emma Thompson.

Robert Sean Leonard as Claudio, a close friend of Don Pedro and Benedick, and fiancé to Hero, with whom he has been in love since before the men went to war.

Seeing Robert somewhere besides "Dr. House" for a change is a great relief, because he had been a good actor and performed a lot of impressing parts long before he became Dr. Wilson. The film is a proof.

And Kate Beckinsale as Hero, the sweet, innocent only child of Governor Leonato, in love with Claudio. She is falsely accused of being unfaithful to Claudio on the night before her wedding.

At the end of the play, Don John's plot against her and Claudio is revealed and they are happily married as was planned in the beginning.

Young and lovely Kate Beckinsale and romantic Robert make a perfect match on the screen.