New Year Dinner Party - choose your guests

[Alison]

How about

(i) a musician

(ii) someone not famous / local to you

(iii) a messageboarder

(iv) a wildcard for anyone else !

[Petrushka]

How about

(i) a musician

(ii) someone not famous / local to you

(iii) a messageboarder

(iv) a wildcard for anyone else !

(i) Bernard Haitink, no question
(ii) Pass
(iii) Yourself, Alison, if you will be so kind
(iv) Pass

I think there will be plenty to talk about there!

[french frank]

(i) a musician - Iestyn Davies

(ii) someone not famous / local to you - John, down the road

(iii) a messageboarder - I'll put all the names in a hat and draw one at random

(iv) a wildcard for anyone else ! - My MP

[antongould]

Glenn Gould
Lady Gould
Salymap
Napoleon the Third

[Alison]

(i) Bernard Haitink, no question
(ii) Pass
(iii) Yourself, Alison, if you will be so kind
(iv) Pass

I think there will be plenty to talk about there!

Thanks Petrushka. WHAT an interesting conversation we could have !

[Alison]

As I am already meeting Mr Haitink and Petrushka on another occasion I think I am plumping
for

(i) Stephen Hough, whose pianism I rate fallible, but seems a very nice and interesting man.
(ii) There's a nice waiter in one of the cafes in Chelmsford, name unknown, who has long intrigued me.

'John down the road' sounds an interesting proposition too.
(iii) Milly Jones from the old BBC Board seemed a most engaging personage, and pianist, and would balance the sexes.
(iv) Richard Osborne or Jonathan Swain.

[Petrushka]

Oh yes, Richard Osborne would make a wonderful guest not just for his musical knowledge but also for his wide knowledge of English literature and his inside information on Karajan.

[Alison]

I must look up again Richard Osborne's record of 2010 ...

Something by Trinity Choir and Stephen Layton ??

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

It would be tempting to put Cellini and Roger Norrington at the same table!!

[Alison]

I suspect your choices would be from the world of opera, Mark.

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

I suspect your choices would be from the world of opera, Mark.

Difficult choices, Alison, and I'm sure I'd choose a different selection tomorrow, but for now:

i) Antonio Pappano, who I have met briefly and is a warm, engaging chap and would make for lively conversation
iv) Rob Cowan - ditto
ii) Amanda, who is as passionate about food/ cooking as I am and would help to steer conversation away from music for the entire evening!
iii) rather than risk upsetting anyone here, I'll invite a former messageboarder... Ron Dough

[Mr Pee]

How about

(i) a musician

(ii) someone not famous / local to you

(iii) a messageboarder

(iv) a wildcard for anyone else !

(i) Ivan Fischer, to find out when he's going to record some more Mahler!

(ii) There's a rather gorgeous young lady called Katie who works at the local Co-Op.

(iii) Donnie Essen, because I think his American twang would add some colour.

(iv) Sarah Palin, just to try and find out whether she really is as stupid as she seems.

Happy New Year everybody!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

1. Sir David Willcocks. I met him once but his minders pulled him away during our conversation.
2. Frau Alpensinfonie
3. I don't have favourites, so I'll pass.
4. Cheryl Cole

[Vile Consort]

I might plump for:

David Briggs - who always seems a nice bloke and who might improvise for us on the Steinway in the music room*

The new Bishop of Bradford, who seems to come highly recommended

Sydney Grew - we might strangle him before the New Year came in, but never mind! And when I say "we" I am not necessarily incuding anyone else.

Paracelsus - better get Taylor's brewery on overtime in preparation

Could be an interesting evening!

* subject to availability

[Anna]

How about

(i) a musician

(ii) someone not famous / local to you

(iii) a messageboarder

(iv) a wildcard for anyone else !

i. Nigel Kennedy

ii. Our new Vicar

iii. Mahlerei

iv. Russell Brand