More cultural highlights (both sides of the Bristol Channel)

The summer season of culture continues... Whilst at our Welsh Proms concerts in July, M and I spied a poster advertising a concert by the National Youth Orchestra of Wales on 11th August. Flat rate of £10 per seat, so it was also an opportunity to get some good seats for a change! The programme:

Arwel Hughes Prelude for Orchestra
Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Ballet Suite
Mahler Symphony No. 1

The Arwel Hughes piece was quite interesting (new to our ears); according to the online information about the concert, this piece was commissioned for the Orchestra and is dedicated to the youth of Wales. The Swan Lake Suite was perhaps the most popular of the evening's programme, perhaps unsurprisingly, and it was played well. Our favourite (or at least, mine anyway) was Mahler's Symphony No 1, especially the third movement, as until it started I had completely forgotten that it was based on the song Frère Jacques. For a first time, I was suitably impressed by the Orchestra.

From that to sunny Bristol. This Saturday 15th, we ventured to see the Banksy v Bristol Museum exhibition at the City Museum/Art Gallery. From subsequent BBC reading it turns out we went on perhaps the busiest day! See here. We did indeed wait 4 hours (from first arrival to walking through the entrance door) but I do think it was worth it. Plenty of pictures abound -it was nice to see so many people taking photos too (although there was a strict no flash policy). In addition to the 2 main gallery areas, the rest of the museum was open as usual with random 'spoof' works throughout. There were (are?) many highlights I could choose, one is below - Damien Hirst and Banksy's 'Improved Spot Painting'.

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Music, Poetry and Cake (Gateshead and Lanchester)

Piano at the ready! (by M) After a good few months prep, the concert Piano Music and Poetry (organised through the Gateshead Piano Workshop folks) came around pretty quickly. As one of the participants, I was excited and also a little nervous about the prospect of a Paying Audience. The work paid off, as all the performers were excellent! Well appreciated by the compact audience. The format was in relation to National Poetry Day which was on 2nd October. Each performer chose a poem either in direct or indirect relation to their piece. A summary of the programme: Alan - Liszt Consolation No 4 and Mozart Adagio in B minor Graeme - Chopin Nocturne Op. 62 No. 2 with 'Uncertainty' by Adam Mickiewicz me - Clara Schumann, andante con sentimento with 'Clara Wieck und Beethoven' by Franz Grillparzer Jim - R Schumann Kinderszenen 1 and 7 with 'My child, we were just children' by Heinrich Heine Ernie - Debussy Clair de lune with excerpt from 'Fêtes g...

Love, chaos and hope: Gabriela Montero and Scottish Ensemble in Kendal

After a sublime Friday lunchtime concert, Saturday (16th February) got even better. The day started with the February edition of Clitheroe Piano Group, and even more than normal we had an excellent afternoon's music. Quick smart up the M6 to Kendal and a quick meal courtesy of Farmhouse Kitchen (very nice) before we headed to Kendal Leisure Centre. Lakeland Sinfonia seem to have a good set of concerts this season - I tried to book for Jess Gillham in January but sold out - and the February concert, Gabriela Montero and Scottish Ensemble, was definitely a treat. There seem to be a lot of season ticket holders as quite a lot of the audience seemed to know each other; and with a few single ticket holders like us, the hall was pretty full! Scottish Ensemble are a 12-piece string group, and a quick look at their website shows they are interested in anything strings! Gabriela Montero is renowned for her pianism, improvisations and compositions - certainly one of the draws f...

From Black Rose to Buena Vista

Two very different but equally impressive live experiences this last weekend. First up, our long overdue homage to the late, great Phil Lynott as Limehouse Lizzy returned to the Point on Friday 2nd March. Certainly on form (and not just lead singer Wayne Ellis, mmmm!) After a late doors, the band came on for a 2 hour set. They started off with Jailbreak (with added pyro), the rest of the main set comprising known songs like Dancing In The Moonlight, Warrior, Emerald, Johnny the Fox, Are You Ready, Killer On The Loose, Cold Sweat, Do Anything You Want To, Out In The Fields, Cowboy Song, Rosalie, The Boys Are Back In Town plus at least 1 early track. The encore included 1 verse/1 chorus from Sarah, Black Rose, Whisky In The Jar and another track. Excellent atmosphere, the place was sold out. The boys are back at the Point in December. Next on to crowd pleasers of a very different sort. M and I managed to get tickets for the sold-out Buena Vista Social Club show at Wales Millennium Centr...

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