19th and 20th of September 2010

Just in case I forget, I thought I would jot down that on the 19th of September my father and I attended "Von B-A-C-H zu Mozart" at the Konzerthaus Berlin. Despite not knowing much about Baroque or Classical-period music, I can write about what I enjoyed and in this concert it was Mozart's Konzert für Klarinette und Orchester A-Dur KV 622 (Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K. 622). I felt that the clarinet solo by the 73-year old Karl Leister was exceptional and I have since come to learn that it was Mozart's final purely instrumental work as he passed away in the December of its publication (1791). Overall, the concert was performed by the excellent Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Chamber Orchestra and it was the first time that I saw a Clavier played live.

- 19.09.10, Berlin, Germany

Today, Borhan said something remarkable that I found immediately funny but I now wonder what other people would have thought of it. While we were watching Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) and I was translating the particular scene where Mr. Smith forlornly stares at the statue of Abraham Lincoln before leaving corrupt Washington DC, Borhan asked me: Was Abraham Lincoln Muslim? His impression may just have been because of the beard or the name 'Abraham' but it wouldn't be amiss to say that Honest 'Abe had many of the characteristics of an ideal Muslim.

- 20.09.10, Berlin, Germany

P.S. Hopefully I'll get to writing about my visit to Autostadt, Wolfsburg and Danone's project in Bogra, Bangladesh. It got deleted by mistake =/