First Concert

A few days ago, I went to my first concert since the beginning of corona lockdown. Provided distancing regulations can be met, Frankfurt now permits events with up to 100 people attending. In its hall of 1370 seats, the Frankfurt opera company organises such concerts, for which it is now allowed to sell 100 tickets.

Finally, the opportunity to go to a live concert again – It was a moving evening. The restrictions probably made it even more moving.

Frankfurt’s wonderful opera studio, members of the younger generation of soloists who get to start their professional lives at the Frankfurt Opera, accompanied by a pianist delivered an unforgettable evening. The final piece, an aria from Il Seraglio was even accompanied by an ensemble of a cellist, violinist, flautist, oboist, and pianist. Their sound was so rich that for a moment one forgot that there were only five of them and not a small orchestra. I am not normally a fan of a potpourri of arias – but this was just wonderful.

Having three free seats to the left and to the right and no one directly in front, is something I could get used to...

The Law Abiding Citizen

A friend of mine recently told me of his predicament: his birthday was coming up and he did not know whether to invite friends for a drink during the Corona period. The current regulations are fairly strict: only members of two households were permitted to meet. Partying is more than frowned upon – it is forbidden. Some of the other states in Germany had already permitted up to 10 people to meet outdoors, his didn’t. Despite that, my friend decided to take the plunge and invited a few friends for drinks in the park near his home. Without noticing it, he had 26 friends who accepted his invitation. What now? He had more on his list. Could he ask even more people? He wanted my view.

I warned him that what he was doing was illegal. I looked up the regulations. They were strict. High fines could be levied on offenders.

As I saw it, there were two “what-if” issues: what if one of the guests turns out to have been infected. And, what if a nosy neighbour, or just another person in the park, would call the police.

I was not worried about the health hazard: after all, the party was in the open air, those who chose to attend, could decide what distance they wished to keep, what level of protection they chose and whether to accept or reject the offered food and drinks. After all there is no limitation on the number of people walking in the park.

The overzealous informer was a different matter. Neighbourhood attendants acting as informers are – say some defamers - a very “German” trait. 

My advice was to stop inviting and hope that those who weren’t asked would forgive him. And... establish four “centres”, none of which included more than eight guests...

Great party. Wonderful atmosphere.

House Concerts

In these times, in which many musicians have their performances cancelled and see their income collapse – some of my friends found a way of coming to their aid, by organising house concerts.

I have now been to three such concerts: a couple of musicians playing for a limited number of guests. The musicians have the double joy of being able to perform, as well as being paid. The guests enjoy a concert in concert-less times and the hosts are doing good.  

From Ischgl to Salzburg

Austria has announced that from August, it will relax corona restrictions and permit events of up to 1000 participants.

Somehow, I cannot believe, that this decision is not the result of hard lobbying on behalf of Salzburg whose annual festival (this year the 100^th anniversary!) runs from the the second half of July to the end of August.

Austria, the country that gave us Ischgl, source of corona contamination this winter, is now preparing a similar hotspot for the summer. An important difference is that whereas the hundreds of skiers, who returned to Germany from their skiing holiday in Ischgl, infected with the virus, were mainly young, most Salzburg Festival visitors are old.

But why should we expect Austria to be more ethical than China?

Look at me - Look at you

Most people try to keep a certain distance from others in this fourth week of government-regulated-behaviour in public areas. Much of this change in behaviour is fear-driven, as we want to avoid being infected by the potential virus-carrier approaching us. To do that, we need to actually look at who is sharing the pavement that we are walking. Total absorption with earphones, whilst watching a video or writing a message, are difficult.

As a result, we seem to be more aware of each other than we were before this pandemic befell us. A by-product is that more people are also smiling at strangers, making way for others to pass, thanking each other for acts of consideration and thoughtfulness. It even pays off, as such simple civility normally makes us feel good about ourselves.

This new empathy is unlikely to last but one can enjoy it whilst it does.

Ballo in Maschera

The situation for oldies like myself is tough: not many really consider us to be golden-oldies, to be treasured and cherished.  We are not far from the point, I believe, that the patience of the younger generation will run out. “If you are afraid of dying, stay at home – but don’t tell me not to cough or sneeze in the supermarket” is not here yet, but will come sooner rather than later.

An important means for preventing the spreading of the virus seems to be compulsory across-the-board wearing of masks. For oldies who do not want to be locked-up until vaccines are available, such a step, could be helpful.

For some reason there is still a shortage of masks. Is it so difficult to manufacture these rather simple products here and now? Do they have to be sourced in China, only in order to have them stolen by by black market operators? We are not talking vaccines, sophisticated scientific equipment, ventilators, or pharmaceutical products. These are just simple bloody masks.

Here's an original mask made by my good friend Genevieve: 

Flying... Fleeing

Ten days ago, I managed to leave London for Frankfurt. It was a very, very empty Heathrow and the departures board resembled one at a small provincial airport. Many of the few people were wearing masks. Quite a few Asians were wearing full protective clothing. 

The first flight that I was booked on, had already been cancelled, but they put me on a later one on the same day. I arrived early at Heathrow, just in case there would be more bureaucracy. There wasn’t and all the coffee shops and food places were closed. I had nothing to do but hope that they don’t cancel the flight.

At some point, the young chap, who sat next to me waiting for his flight to Athens, put on a face mask. He wore it for about 15 minutes and then took it off again. I asked him why he had put it on and then why he had taken it off. He explained, that he did not really believe the masks were necessary but that he had promised his parents to wear one. He laughed when I asked whether 15 minutes made him feel that he has kept his promise. Then he added, “this Corona only hits old people, anyway”. “You are just talking to one”, I said, “Oh”, he said, “I didn’t mean it. I am sorry”. 

Here’s someone spotted waiting for his flight:

The flight wasn’t cancelled. I have never flown in such a clean airplane. Nevertheless, I disinfected the seat-handles and seat-belt. The woman next to me wore a mask. People were very quiet. No one coughed. No one even got up to go to the toilet.

I expected strict measures to regulate entry. I expected to be quizzed about my movements or perhaps even be instructed to self-isolate for 14 days. Having read about arriving passengers in New-Zealand and in the Maldives, who had been quarantined in beach-front luxury hotels, I was fantasising about something similar. Nothing of the sort. Much to my surprise, there were no special measures at the Frankfurt airport. Just the usual: passport control, luggage and out. 

Relaxing in Frankfurt

Germany seems more relaxed than Britain, at this stage. On my daily walks, often by the river, many people can be spotted sort-of keeping to the rules. Haven’t seen any group picnics yet, but I expect that as the weather will get warmer, younger people will not adhere to the admonishments constantly being broadcast. 

I especially liked these two men, standing smoking their cigars and drinking red wine from real wine glasses: clearly business class, not economy.

Solidarity I

It began with rumours in various countries that the health system would very soon have to prioritise life-saving treatment. Priority was said to be given to the under 70s, or some said under 60s. 

Some American voices could be heard saying that the older generation would gladly die to save the economy for the younger one. Does anyone, anyone at all, believe that these disgusting Republicans do not have personal arrangements to ensure that when push comes to shove, they would be given access to the treatment? That they personally would not have to pay the price, which they suggest the rest of the old population should?

A few days ago, the 80-year-old Israeli philosopher, Asa Kasher, whose claim to fame was writing the ethical code for the Israeli army (sounds like a contradiction-in-terms), wrote an article, all up-in-arms about this suggestion that a 50-year-old should have priority over a 90-year-old. 

It is wonderful what the eye of the beholder can do. With that understanding, Kasher, if he is up to it, may wish to spend his remaining days to ponder, how a Palestinian would write the ethical code for the Israeli army.

Solidarity II

If it turns out that indeed the virus is fatal almost only to the old and frail, governments will find it very difficult to discipline social distancing and even the stringent hygiene regulations for the whole of the population. 

It will not take long for the younger generation to openly tell old people that if they do not want to get infected, they can stay at home. When they leave their homes, old people should not demand that others keep their distance or even avoid spreading the virus, which to the young seems like just a flu. 

For most people, solidarity, a bit like an erection, is difficult to maintain after the first excitement is over. We saw it with the welcome many Germans showered on the refugees in the 2015 refugee wave. It did not take long for ugly racism to rear its head. Watch this space. 

I’ve never felt so old.

I am an almost 74-year-old male and every hour, some or other news programme informs me that I belong to the endangered group, one of those most at risk. Reluctantly, I now stopped going to wild raves and orgies and instead spend my time zoom-lecturing youngsters to stop behaving irresponsibly. Why should they have fun, if I can’t. 

If they don’t have pasta, let them eat ...

Empty Frankfurt Airport

The first thing I did, coming back from Germany a few days ago, was to go the supermarket and get some food. There, I was able to see it for myself: the pasta, toilet paper and paracetamol-emptied shelves. 

Yet, fresh produce, meat, fish, cold meats, cheese etc were to be found in abundance. You will, I hope, understand that I had no alternative: I had to compromise and have lobster instead of spaghetti for dinner.

One out of Four

Of the four countries, the politics of which I regularly follow, Israel, Great Britain, Germany and the USA, only Germany has a head of the executive branch, who is believable and trustworthy. Trump is not only a notorious liar, he is also incapable of handling difficult issues. So there is no hope there. Unlike Trump, party-boy Boris Johnson is intellectually capable of understanding complicated problems, but he lacks the stamina for anything beyond PR. Netanyahu has both intelligence and stamina, but his interests lie elsewhere: his only aim is to stay out of jail. 

I raise my glass to Angela Merkel!

The sad story of Israel

Netanyahu’s Israel is the first country to exploit COVID in order to dismantle democracy. A day before the first hearing of Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial, his appointee as minister of justice conveniently issued a decree closing the courts. 

Then, by stealth, behind the parliament’s back, the government instructed the internal security service to use its technological  surveillance appartus to follow anyone suspected of having been in touch with infected persons. 

And now, Netanyahu and the coterie of scoundrels, who he has painstakingly appointed over the last few years, are trying to close parliament.  

I can understand that Netanyahu wants to avoid going to jail. But why do all those Israeli politicians help him? This is after all the country, that likes to constantly tell the world that it is “the only democracy in the middle east”. What despicable imps they all are. Despicable collaborators.

Collaborators are not forgotten. We will not forget, just as we have not forgotten those who collaborated with other so well-known dictators.

The Panic

The general view seems to be that the virus on a personal level is not that dangerous, but that rapid contagion would collapse the health systems around the world.

Personally, quarantine at home, would be ok, even useful. The only thing is timing – could it be timed so as not to interfere with my travel plans? Having said that, with the collapse of the stock exchanges, can I still afford the travel?