Notre-Dame, Paris

[ahinton]

This is true. And yet... one of the factors contrributing to anger regarding the Grenfell fire is that the fact it happened, and what happened in the aftermath, and what is still happening in terms of making similar builingd up and down the country safe for habitation, are symptoms of a more systemic greed and inequality. It's not just about someone else's loved ones being lost, but also despair at the state of a society that is constructed so as to make such things likely. It's the very visible tip of an iceberg. As such it dwarfs the loss of an "iconic" building which of course would have been reconstructed even if it had burned to the ground, and I say that having just as much attachment to NDdP as anyone else, remembering very clearly the first time I saw it as well as many other encounters. Also, humanity is destroying its own conditions for continued existence in a way that might well cause future generations to view the grief over the damage to a single building as a somewhat pathetic symptom of how the people of our time had their priorities upside down. Different circumstances, yes, but they're all connected.

Spot on in every particular. All that I might add here, FWIW, is that what happened at NDdP appears to have been an accidental misfortune whereas what happened at Grenfell was clearly something that could and should have been avoded and for which blame will be ascribable once the inquiry has reached its conclusions.

[Boilk]

From "stalkerbook" which some of you might want to read but resist the beast

...Despite all the damage in the Cathedral, the organ miraculously escaped the flames, as well as the water supposed to extinguish them. It is very dusty, but will continue to enjoy us as soon as the building will be restored...

With warmest regards.
Olivier Latry[/I]

Coincidentally Olivier Latry, Notre-Dame's organist, returns to the Proms for an 11am recital on Sunday Aug 4th. Could be a sell-out this time? He will likely have plenty of spare time to practice...somewhere.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ejv9hn

[Bryn]

Coincidentally Olivier Latry, Notre-Dame's organist, returns to the Proms for an 11am recital on Sunday Aug 4th. Could be a sell-out this time? He will likely have plenty of spare time to practice...somewhere.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ejv9hn

What, no Messiaen?

[doversoul1]

France is to invite architects from around the world to submit their designs for a new spire to sit atop a renovated Notre-Dame cathedral.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47959313

It will be very interesting to see which way France will go: re-build or re-create.

[Bryn]

France is to invite architects from around the world to submit their designs for a new spire to sit atop a renovated Notre-Dame cathedral.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47959313

It will be very interesting to see which way France will go: re-build or re-create.

I think they went for re-creating after the original was dismantled during the French Revolution.

[Dave2002]

Not quite a fair comparison (beyond the fire similarity). How many people worldwide contributed to the US victims funds set up after mass shooting in Las Vegas or Orlando? Lost lives are first and foremost private tragedies, whereas - however questionable it may seem, the cathedral was a building loved and valued by the public, worldwide.

Apart from the very sad loss of lives of the families in the Grenfell disaster many of those who lived there and survived still don't have satisfactory homes to live in - or so I hear.

[ahinton]

Apart from the very sad loss of lives of the families in the Grenfell disaster many of those who lived there and survived still don't have satisfactory homes to live in - or so I hear.

Sadly true - although to try to make some kind of comparative issue with the NDdP fire seems utterly pointless; one can only hope that, once the Grenfell inquiry has reached its conclusions, heads will roll, survivors receive due compensation and all other buildings similarly affected be rendered safe before another Grenfell goes up in smoke.

[french frank]

Apart from the very sad loss of lives of the families in the Grenfell disaster many of those who lived there and survived still don't have satisfactory homes to live in - or so I hear.

Two points: unfortunately - and scandalously - there are many who had no involvement with the disaster but who nevertheless don't have satisfactory homes to live in. It should not be true in our wealthy society, but it is.

Secondly, apparently French secularists are protesting at the huge sums raised being spent on … a cathedral. But again, this is merely writ large what is seen everywhere on a smaller scale: why are football stars paid as as much as they are? Why are pop singers paid so much? BBC presenters? And so on. The answer is the same as for the Notre Dame donations: if that's where people want to spend (or give) their money, they are free to do so. Almost £30m was raised for the (comparatively small number of) sufferers through the Grenfell disaster because people were moved to give to that appeal. Just as they are moved to go to a concert or buy a CD. The greater the number of people moved to give in whatever way and for whatever reason (even for publicity or to show off), the more money is raised. And people who have different priorities will complain about it.

[BBMmk2]

I wonder if the programme will be changed now?

[bluestateprommer]

Not sure if it was noted that Olivier Latry will be at Southwark Cathedral on May 9:

https://cathedral.southwark.anglican.org/whats-on/southwark-cathedral-celebrity-organ-recital-olivier-latry/#.XLbb4wmDKvc.twitter

Note at the end:

"There will be a post- recital collection in aid of the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral after the horric [sic] fire that took place on 15 April."

Separately, there's an interview with Latry from NPR:

https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2019/04/21/715271953/after-the-flames-notre-dames-centuries-old-organ-may-never-be-the-same-again

[Serial_Apologist]

Not sure if it was noted that Olivier Latry will be at Southwark Cathedral on May 9:

https://cathedral.southwark.anglican.org/whats-on/southwark-cathedral-celebrity-organ-recital-olivier-latry/#.XLbb4wmDKvc.twitter

Note at the end:



Separately, there's an interview with Latry from NPR:

https://www.npr.org/sections/decepti...the-same-again

I might well go. Thanks, BSP.

[BBMmk2]

I’m keeping updated via Facebook on the progress on Notre Dame, especially the grand organ. This seems quite safe, needs work on it but mainly cos e-ticket from what I can gather.

[oddoneout]

It's not just Covid some choirs have had to deal with...
I happened to see reference to this in my local paper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52UiW_MxAMM

[Serial_Apologist]

It's not just Covid some choirs have had to deal with...
I happened to see reference to this in my local paper
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52UiW_MxAMM

What awful arrangements, though!

[oddoneout]

What awful arrangements, though!

I didn't listen I'm afraid, other than to check that the link actually worked.