The English group Red Priest played at our Univ last night - their Hallowe'en theme program "Nightmare in Venice".  I thought it was a rousiingly successful presentatin of the music.  Vivaldi's "La Notte", Tartini's Devil's trill sonata, some English masques and dances from various operas and entertainments, Ortis & Cazzati, and more, a varied program performed rather than played, in semi-costumes instead of bib'n tucker, from memory throughout instead of nose to music, very free interpretations but with pretty awesome virtuosity; the recorder player & violinist wandered into the audience during some pieces; some of the masque music had some seasonal buffonery.  Finale was Corelli's Folia variations reworked to include recorders, and a few of their own very artfully done but not in period style.  The encore ewas a four-person rendition of a movement from the Four Seasons (Winter) which was absolutely rousing.  They would hit it off with Don Angle - anybody seen their shows?  I wonder if they offend the purist types.I didn't much like what I've heard on CD but I think you have to see the performance to understand what they're up to.
     And they ended up at our house after, and we talked abt today's election till after midnight when I thrrew everybody out, as I'd spent all day yest. going door-to-door for Kerry in a downpour and did the same today starting pretty early.
    Margaret