Hans Werner Henze's Dog, James: THE GREATEST LIVING COMPOSER'S DOG

While you're waiting for an exciting recap of the fabulous *~*OC*~* weekend in Firenze, we'll leave you first with a glimpse of Hans Werner Henze (aka THE GREATEST LIVING COMPOSER) to get you all in the fly mode of the HWH flow.

From Art Haus Musik distributors comes an outstanding Hans Werner Henze documentary called "Memoirs of an Outsider". The video contains interviews with the legend himself, packed with intimate details, priceless and endearing. There are also interviews from the late Fausto Moroni Henze, his closest and loveliest friend; Sir Simon Rattle and Ian Bostridge.

The documentary is mainly shot at Henze's gorgeous Marino, Italy estate, La Leprara, which boasts sprawling gardens, marble statues, and countless olive trees -- and most awesomely, Henze's loyal greyhound, affectionately named, "James" (although, we must state for the record that the docu was shot pre-y2K, so James may be frolicking in doggie heaven as we speak).

In one scene of pure, spontaneous genius (that makes us want to start a facebook page for the documentary's editor), Henze offers us a private and tender moment between master and hound: He is speaking in his native German to the interviewer about his music. Along comes James demanding affection from his master, and Henze's demeanor instantly softens. He switches seamlessly to English and lovingly scolds his dog like an unruly child. Here's the moment captured from plasma.

Here's the audio:

And now?
James!! What is it, honey?
You want to sit in my lap -- this is impossible.
We are working.
Hm?
Go for a walk!

Here are more screenshots:

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JAMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

***update***

Up at Minnesota Public Radio, our friends in Classical Notes bow to the powah of James's scrawny charm.

Comments

[Laurie]

I'm in love with this dog......

[Miguel]

I want a James of my own! It's so sweet that he is speaking in German and then only in English to his dog. I guess he adopted the dog from a British agency?