Click the Picture to View the Full Catalogue of Igor Tcholaria(large PDF file, it will take a an extra few seconds to download ... but its worth it)You can also visit The Oriel directly at www.theoriel.com Igor Tcholaria paintings are found in many famous collections around the world, including such distinguished persons as John Galliano, Luciano Pavarotti, as well as many international art... Similar posts

When someone mentions the city of Modena in Italy I immediately think of that great of great tenors - Luciano Pavarotti. He was talent for his native city to be proud of. But now Modena has hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Apparently the archbishop wants its young folks to abstain from text messaging, social networking websites and computer games for Lent!!  Why, oh why would any one want to do that? Cut yourself off from your friends, deprive yourself of a source of fun, cause confusion in your social life because you cant text your mate that your group is going to club x instead of club y. What if you have e.g. missed the last bus home and are now stranded. How do you let your friends and family know what’s up. The list goes on. But apparently, the archbishop of... Similar posts

Former Taoiseach and Ireland's favourite northsider Bertie Ahern put Tina Turner and Luciano Pavarotti to shame this year - by staging the longest career goodbye ever seen in Ireland.Thanks to the Mahon Tribunal, Bertie Ahern had been walking on a tightrope for some time and it was a case of 'when' rather than 'if' he would bow out of politics.The spectacle of seeing the Taoiseach of Ireland being probed by senior lawyers about his personal finances as far back as 20 years ago became too much for his colleagues in Fianna Fail and for the Irish people in general.Love him or loath him - his credibility was quickly eroding and he was taking the Fianna Fail party down with him.But it was only after his former secretary Grainne Carruth was forced to tears in the witness box at the Mahon... Similar posts

One of the great British institutions is The Proms, so called because they are a series of Classical Music Concerts where Promenaders, people who walk in, can get unreserved tickets on the night. Now days these concerts are run by the national broadcasting service, the BBC, and are still open to Promenaders who can walk in on the night to the main venue, the magnificent Royal Albert Hall and the Cadogan Hall which is also used. The other unique feature of The Proms is the promenaders stand in the floor of the hall and their enthusiasm and eccentricity lends a very definite flavour to the proceedings.The first Proms concert took place on 10 August 1895 and was the brainchild of the impresario Robert Newman, manager of the newly built Queen's Hall in London so this year is the 112th year of... Similar posts

There have been many congratulations for the former Taoiseach and we now have had a month of praise and thanksgiving. Much of it has been deserved, some of it less so, and some of it has been bordering on the nauseating. It is now time to get down to business. I wondered at one stage over the last few weeks whether the former Taoiseach would outdo Luciano Pavarotti, who has the world record of 165 curtain calls in a single performance. The former Taoiseach went close to that record. While it is a matter for debate whether this is a new Government, it is an opportune moment for us to have that wider discussion. I ask the Leader to arrange for the new Taoiseach to come into this House and to set out his ideas, his proposals and his vision for the post-Celtic tiger Ireland into which we are... Similar posts

I won’t bore you with long entries today. I just thought it would nice to leave you with my favourite Christmas song on this special day of the year. Well, if this is actually a Christmas song. A lot of you have probably forgotten Passengers, a moniker used by U2 to release a concept album back in late 1995. Unlike the rest of humanity I actually thought the album was quite good, or at least interesting which is a lot more than you can say for the band’s last release How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. In case it has slipped your mind the album, titled Original Soundtracks 1, featured fourteen songs written for films that didn’t exist. One of them was Miss Sarajevo, a track featuring U2 and the now sadly departed Luciano Pavarotti. I must admit that at the time I found the track... Similar posts

It's one week now since Jimmy, my brother-in-law left us to go to a far better place.He is now resting near my father, mother and other family members in St Fintan's in Sutton. If you walked a bit down the slope at St Fintan's, and looked to your centre left, and if the light was just right you would be treated to the lovely serene view that you see here to the right. My father used to say that it was "The healthiest graveyard in Ireland!" because of the clean and fresh sea air. Jimmy appreciated that kind of humour too.I mentioned below that Jimmy loved the tenor voices of Mario Lanza and Luciano Pavarotti. So I will now bid a final adieu to you Jem.... no one that ever knew you will forget you..... walk with God my friend.... Similar posts

This is a photo of Jimmy McLoughlin singing in a bar in Spain. A happy day for him and for all who were with him.But on Tuesday 30th of October 2007 Jimmy left us. Many from the Summerhill area drop in to read this blog, many who will know Jimmy. Bide a moment and remember him.And to help you remember him, he lived at one time in 42K, right next door to Terry Kelly's pub which later became Hourican's. It stood at the corner of Lower Rutland Street and Summerhill. And Jimmy went to Rutland St school.Jimmy, (or Jem as we used to call each other -- both of our real names being James) was a husband to Joan, a dad, a grandad, a brother, a brother-in-law...... a man of a big, loving family.... and a son still grieving at the passing of his dear mother May and of his father John. He was a... Similar posts

FOR almost four decades, make-up artist Ron Freemangot about as close to the late great Luciano Pavarottias anyone did. Freeman began working in Covent Gardenas resident make-up artist in 1959, and already hadthe run of the place for five years when an athleticLuciano Pavarotti made his debut in 1964. The youngItalian tenor caught Freeman’s eye instantly.“His debut was magical. It was hard to imagine thishuge tenor voice came from this very handsome man ashe was then,” he says, “His debut was such a successthen, that his career began to lift straight away. Inthose days there was a TV programme called Sundaynight at the London Palladium. I remember they hadPavarotti second top billing and he made such animpact that a week later he was brought back as top ofthe bill. They say it was... Similar posts

Today, Luciano Pavarotti died. Every paper bore his name, and every radio station woke us up to his voice. But here in London, the Italians got it right, as Italians are want to do. I was flying on my bike, thinking about Florence, and I heard it.Today was the day that ice cream trucks blared Nessun norma as they did their... Similar posts

I don't think the moment has passed for an appreciation of Nessun Dorma, the late Luciano Pavarottis signature theme for those of us uniniated in the ways of such fine music. Having listened to it aplenty over the past few weeks, it struck me I have no idea what the song is about. A random bit of googling lead to this description which sets the scene nicely, essentially the piece is an aria the final act of Giacomo Puccini's Opera Turandot. It is sung by the Prince, Calaf, as a challenge to Princess Turandot who has proclaimed that everyone in her kingdom shall spend a sleepless night attempting to find out the name of this unknown prince. Calaf challenges her that, if his name cannot be discovered by morning, the emotionally cold Princess will marry him. In his aria, Calaf indicates his... Similar posts

Luciano Pavarotti October 12, 1935 – September 6, 2007 ITALIAN; Nessun dorma! Nessun dorma! Tu pure, o, Principessa, nella tua fredda stanza, guardi le stelle che fremono d'amore e di speranza. Ma il mio mistero e chiuso in me, il nome mio nessun sapra! No, no, sulla tua bocca lo diro quando la luce splendera! Ed il mio bacio sciogliera il silenzio che ti fa mia! (Il nome suo nessun sapra!..... Similar posts

we have the same birthday, he was the most famous 12thoctobery around and now he's no more. I think its just Winona Ryder left. Us 12thoctoberies need a new uber leader. He/she's out there somewhere, waiting to hit the... Similar posts

An Spailpín Fánach loves opera, even though he seldom listens to it and certainly doesn’t fully understand it. After having a good whine for myself recently about a certain cynicism existing in modern popular music, your constant quillsman has to tip his hat to the opera boys and girls. They might diva and divo left, right and centre, but once they get up on stage they don’t mail it in. It’s a very thrilling art form, and we are correct to mourn the passing of its most famous exponent in our times.Luciano Pavarotti told a story about his father that sums up the remarkable power of opera. Luciano’s father, who could be counted on for a few bars of a song himself, loved Beniamino Gigli, the tenor who succeeded Caruso as the greatest singer in the world. Father and son would listen... Similar posts

I get goosebumps with 54 seconds to go. There is no need to know anything about Opera to understand this piece of video.... Similar posts

Pavarotti once said. And what great pleasure he has given.   Thank you... Similar posts

This morning, we lost probably one of the greatest voices the world has ever encountered. Luciana Pavorotti the infamous Italian Tenor died this morning surrounded by his family at his home in Modena, Italy. He had been diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in 2006. Pavorotti, was of course one of the most famous opera singers, but was also famous for the number of duets he partook over recent years. He’s proformed with bands such as Queen, as well as James Brown (who died on Christmas Day 2006) and Barry White (Died July 4 2003). He was mostly known for his role in the Three Tenors, whom toured during the 1990’s and in recent years. The Late Pavarotti and The Late James Brown... Similar posts

Lucian Pavarotti has died at the age of 71 following his operation for pancreatic cancer in July last year and hospitalisation last month. The 71-year-old was considered one of the greatest voices of his generation, and achieved success well beyond the ranks of classical music enthusiasts.He won first prize in a competition in 1961 and was rewarded with the role of Rodolphe in Puccini's 'La Boheme' in nearby Reggio Emilia.Despite his success, he never fully learned to read music, preferring to memorise his roles.In 1996 he left his wife Adua after 35 years of marriage and three grown-up daughters for his secretary Nicoletta Mantovani, whom he married in 2003, they had one child.The singer's weight caused him increasing health problems in his later years, and he also ran into trouble with... Similar posts

Pavarotti... Similar posts