September 1st, 2010
Last week we took a group of Classical Partners to The Proms.
Before the concert we had a meal in the newly refurbished Elgar Room and I have to say they have done a great job. It is now a contempory and stylish place yet it is still comfortable. Quite a feet, as I find most “modern” dining spaces just too hard. Clean lines and sparse furnishings often make for an attractive but inhospitable environment. The menu was not too big but offered a good selection of meat and fish. I would recommend you check it out next time you are in the Albert Hall.
The concert was not bad either. The Prommers showed their delight with extended stomping and whistling. I agree wholeheartedly with them for Osmo Vanska and the Minnesota Orchestra’s rendition of Beethoven’s Ninth, but not the Berg Violin Concerto. It is not a piece I particularly like so that’s no real surprise.
Posted in Live Music, Proms, Social events, Uncategorized, classical music | 3 Comments »
April 30th, 2010
Last weekend we had what is now our fifth Classical Partners walking and music weekend. This time it was the beautiful Derbyshire peak district.
There should have been 30 of us but due to the volcanic ash some people had been stranded abroad and we ended up with 28, who arrived on Friday evening from various parts of the country. Dinner was fantastic, especially the fish! After the meal we settled down for my ‘name that tune’ quiz and to enjoy conversation and a glass or two.
Saturday morning was bright and warm and most of us did not even bother to take our waterproofs with us. The walk, it has to be said, was a little more severe than intended. From the hotel along the Tissington trail to picturesque Tissington then across the road past Thorpe Cloud, all of us glad we did not have to climb it and down into Dovedale. From there to Ilam for a quick look at the House and grounds before starting the climb back up. A climb of over 600 feet in just over a mile according to Keith’s GPS. Tough going! Then it was back down again to Milldale before the last climb back to the hotel. A total of 11 miles but in the glorious spring sunshine somehow it didn’t seem like it. However we were all glad of the tea and cakes that awaited us at the hotel.
We don't have to climb that!
After a glass of bubbly and dinner in the evening we were splendidly entertained by The Muskoka Wind Quintet who performed a varied programme that transported us from Elizabethan dance music through to Malcolm Arnold and Gershwin. Just right to enliven some weary limbs.
Despite the forecast for more summery weather Sunday was grey and damp which didn’t seem to matter as we set of for our homes after another slap up breakfast and hugely enjoyable weekend, with new friendships being made and we think one or two budding romances…. watch this space!
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March 30th, 2010
I should have known that there was something good going to happen last Sunday. From the moment the clocks changed I was already a little out of kilter. My drive to the Wigmore Hall that I have done dozens of times was going smoothly until I realised that I had taken a wrong turning somewhere and was about two miles off course. No problem, I still arrived with a few minutes to spare.
Diving downstairs for a coffee and to meet up with the group of Classical Partners I was a little surprised not to see anyone from the group but they soon started to arrive. A couple of calls on the mobile let me know that one person could not make it and that one was going to be late. I was now getting worried as I could not find the two new members whom I had not met before. Just as the concert was due to start one of them introduced themselves. I had to leave the other’s ticket on the door as I went in, not perfect but the best I could do.
The Gryphon Trio from Canada, made their Wigmore debut, performing Schumann’s Piano Trio No 2 in F followed by Beethoven’s Piano Trio in B flat “Archduke”. They were absolutely sublime, even the clouds scudding over the Wigmore’s skylight seemed to alter the hall’s lighting in perfect concert with the music. Even though I freely admit that my personal taste tends to be for more dramatic symphonic music, I loved every minute of their performance.
After the concert, I managed to find our missing member and our group enjoyed a lovely relaxed Sunday lunch in the Wigmore’s fine restaurant downstairs. What a great way to spend a Sunday. Truly Gold Standard.
Posted in Live Music, Social events, Uncategorized, classical music | 9 Comments »
January 27th, 2010
It seems to me that society has decided that everything should be free. As usual the internet is leading the way. I did a little bit of admittedly not very scientific research. If you type the word “free” into my favourite search engine it produces 2,850 million results. I tried various other words like cheap, music, best, insurance and dating. All things that the internet does very well. None of them came even close in terms of the number of results.
Where is this obsession with free things going to lead us? I worry that it will mean that everything will tend towards the lowest state. I want a pen to write with. If I had bought it for what I considered to be a fair price, I would be miffed if it did not work, I might even take it back and ask for another one. If it was free what can I do? Is it the same with other free things?
You hear a lot about how illegal downloading is killing music. This is something I do not do. Too many of my friends and relations make their living from music. I used to think that illegally downloaded music would lead to people saying, I like that, and then going out and buying more. A bit like hearing something on the radio and then going out and buying it. Now I am not so sure. So much music is now downloaded illegally that only the megastars make any money out of their music and the industry as a whole can not afford to publish and promote new artists. In a few years time will the only music that is available be the megastars and people recording things in their back rooms? Next time you are at a concert and the person next to you is recording it on their mobile phone have a think about that.
The next big thing apparently is ebooks. How good is that? You want to read a book, you download it you read it, everyone is happy…but how long will bookshops last? Will illegal downloading become a problem? Will new authors be able to get published? Or will we only be able to get hold of old classics and the latest Dan Brown?
The free explosion must have its limitations and we should be very careful of the knock on effects. What is wrong with paying a fair price and letting someone earn a living from their expertise?
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April 6th, 2009
I am a fan of Milton Keynes! This is not a strange way to start a piece on Classical Partners’ latest visit to the opera. Milton Keynes theatre allows easy access to a host of cultural events. It is easy to get to by car, you can park and not least it is much cheaper than central London. The theatre itself is comfy and the acoustic is quite good. Of course it does not offer the atmosphere of The Royal Opera House but I don’t think it is trying to.
WNO’s performance of Opera North’s production of Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love on Saturday delivered everything you could want. Being set in the sunny Italian Riviera of the 1950’s brings this joyful tale to life and it is hard not to notice that Danizetti and Romani were the Gilbert and Sullivan of their day. This is not a criticism, far from it; I like a good tune and see nothing wrong with repeating it. The plot moves along at a good pace and with a great sense of joy. All the way through this production the simple humour of the story is brought to the fore. From the arrival of Belcore and his cohorts on their Vespas to Nemorino’s Elvis impression you cannot help but smile. This is a production to be enjoyed for what it is, loveable characters singing great tunes that perfectly tell the story.
My only criticism is that from time to time the orchestra got a little carried away and drowned out the singers. I can’t really blame them for getting swept along by the joy of the production but it did detract from the singing at times.
I have a DVD of the Metropolitan Opera production with Pavarotti in the role of Nemorino which I love, but I did not miss the great man one little bit on this occasion. There is something to be said for enjoying the ”show” as a whole rather than waiting for the star to perform their next piece don’t you think?
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