Amazing – 6 degrees of separation.
Who should turn up at The Hughenden but renowned conductor and counter-tenor David Vivian Russell.
Strange
David landed unexpectedly in Sydney, where he accidentally met Barry Humphries and they chatted as they know each other.
Stranger
David was looking for accommodation and noticed the heritage Hughenden in the arts area -he enjoys this area. Then he noticed that I’m a Director of The Hughenden.
Stranger & stranger
David knew I was an author. He had read my story backwards-frontwards & inside out -”To east Timor With Love from Australia’ which opens the IBBY-Nami Island international anthology ‘PEACE STORY’.
Why did he know my story? Because he was the overall editor and designer of Namibooks PEACE STORY!!!
Stranger & stranger & stranger
He books into The Hughenden and starts laughing. There’s the satirical portrait of Barry Humphries painted by protrait artist Jules Sevelson.
Stranger & stranger & stranger & stranger
David wanders up to his room and sees the powerful portrait of Paul Dyer by artist Stephen James. He stops gob-smacked. Paul Dyer is the artistic director of the baroque Brandenburg orchestra and one of Paul’s good friends and collaegues.
David Vivian Russell is one of Australia’s leading counter-tenors and an expert in Baroque music, an international conductor-artistic director.
Stranger & stranger & stranger & stranger
We have a wonderful breakfast at The Hughenden before he headed overseas. We talked about “Peace Story’ where 22 authors, 22 illustrators, 22 countries contributed their work on youth and peace as a Nami Island, IBBY, UNICEF initiative.
‘Peace Story’ is already being published in Pakistan and there is interest across the globe.
David and I plan to meet again at the Hughenden when he’s next in Sydney.
Loved meeting you David.