Our annual experience with the classic event at a classic venue.

We sat in better seats this time, closer to the action on the central area.

The choir was powerful and the philharmonic was classy. The performers all seemed to warm up in the second half.

Another positive experience. Here’s to more in the future.

The last night before the last night of the Proms. A Beethoven evening including the very recognisable #5.

I had the pleasure of going with Joe as Shaz was too busy. We managed to have a pint in South Kensington beforehand and watch the last 20 minutes of the Ashes with the beginning of England’s second innings.

And the music? Good, though as before, when the singers were on we were in some cheap seats to which the voice projection was not so good.

But good fun all the same, very recognisable intro to #5 of course and other sections. The crowd loved it all so much that the orchestra played an encore. Not typical of my experience. Joe seemed to enjoy the evening too- so a win-win.

Until the next time.

EQ is visiting and so she came with me to the Royal Albert Hall for our first visit to the Proms in 2019.

Prom 39: Elgar, Errollyn Wallen, Mendelssohn & Mussorgsky19:00 Thu 15 Aug 2019 Royal Albert HallThe sea rolls through both Mendelssohn’s overture The Hebrides and Elgar’s sumptuous orchestral song-cycle Sea Pictures. Mussorgsky’s colourful Pictures at an Exhibition and a world premiere by Errollyn Wallen complete the programme.

We were up in the gods and as a result quite warm. We managed to arrive with minutes to spare. The seats were not he best as we were adjacent to the stage and as a result the signing in particular was not well heard as I think the sound was projected forward and upwards both naturally and with the speakers rather than to the side.

As a result the Elgar pieces did not do it for me. The new piece was was a little wacky, different but not great. I found the Mussorgsky really good, worth another listen. Similar responses from EQ.

The hall was packed. Clearly the Proms remains popular.

A trip to see the classic play in the flesh.

This was a you persons twist on the play with more young actors plus the use of woman to play male characters.

I found the words hard to follow at times which I take as typical- it is after all a different version of English. However a review does promote the energy of youth but complain of the lack of clarity in the spoken word. I am not sure what the change in gender of roles was set to achieve other than balancing of opportunity.

I good night out which Shaz enjoyed a lot a little to her surprise.

Not a cheap way to spend an evening but we will keep in mind again for the future.

Another performance of the Messiah and this time back to the original venue. Is it fifteen or more times now?: from the small churches to the international venues.

The chorus comprised 130 people this time and it showed. The volume overall was impressive and as Shazz noted, the balance was better between male and female voices. More man with a better balance and power.

The soloists dod well with projecting in such as venue which maybe was helped for us being in seas quite low down though not the stalls.

I really enjoyed the experience and would probably rate it as number 1 in the hit parade of Messiah performances. Maybe we will have the opportunity of listening to the Huddersfield Chorus again sometime.

Thursday night after work and we were at Westminster Cathedral; the Catholic version.

Shazz wanted to go to a big carols event and the evening here was available. It was a paid event but full all the same. I suppose used to help with the upkeep of the building and support the musical infrastructure: choir, musical directors and I assume and organ that is not cheap to keep in ideal condition.

The evening was a combination of music and readings. The latter delivered by a variety of well known individuals.

There were German language carols and traditional English language ones. Maria wiegenlied was beautiful whereas the arrangement for Wachet auf did not seem to work so well for me. Sometimes the choir was difficult to appreciate. O come all ye faithful and Hark! the herald angels sing were winners as to be expected.

I loved the John Betjeman poem ‘The Advent wind begins to stir’ which was read by one of EQ’s favourite actors.

Keep the music flowing!

A trip for Shaz and I again to the RAH seeking musical entertainment.

This is a classical ‘pops’ show of many well known pieces from the classical and opera worlds.

We had better tickets this time than for the Proms which for the most part made a difference. However at times the sound seemed a little off; the choir did not seem quite clear or powerful enough at times and the orchestral sound seemed a little muted at times.

The audience were supplied with Union Jack flags to wave during ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ and ‘Rule Britannia’ but also managed to do so during the ‘1812’ maybe not knowing it does not celebrate a British victory! I found the patriotism come jingoism too much really during these songs. Why do the British need this stuff? However, I can appreciate the beauty and sentiment of ‘Jerusalem‘, which also received a warm welcome from the audience.

The content of the night was:

GRIEGMorning and In the hall of the mountain king
ROSSINILargo al factotum from The Barber of Seville
JENKINSBenedictus from The Armed Man
BIZETDuet from The Pearl Fishers
HOLSTJupiter from The Planets
SUPPÉLight Cavalry Overture
TCHAIKOVSKYWaltz of the Flowers
SOUSALiberty Bell March
VERDILa donna è mobile
HANDELZadok the Priest
PARRYJerusalem
SIBELIUSFinlandia
PACHELBELCanon
LANDOF HOPEANDGLORY
RULE, BRITANNIA!
NESSUNDORMA
HORNPIPE

1812 OVERTURE
With
THUNDERINGCANNONSANDINDOORFIREWORKS

So much good stuff with the addition of dancing and the general spectacular  add ons of balloons and light show. The music was good but maybe there was a little too much ‘cheese’.