Artsy Bits - Part 2
As promised, if somewhat belated. . .
Fiddler on the Roof
as playing at the Savoy and I really couldn't resist going. . . and it turned out to be a lovely evening. They didn't do anything dramatically original, just good solid acting, a very versitle set, well played music, well thought-out choreography and a great story. It's everything a nice night out at the theatre should be - I even cried (Hodel's good-bye to Tevye in Far From the Home I Love, heck actually make that most of Act II). The cast is really wonderful and very well suited to their parts. I very much recommend going, especially since half-price tickets seem to be pretty easy to come by.
London Mozart Players do Beethovan
courtesy of lushfemke who got us all fab tickets. It was the first time that I'd heard the 7th played live, and was very much impressed with the conductor (one Stephen Kovacevich) who directed and played the piano for the piano concerto. Wonderful, wonderful stuff. There were moments that positively sent chills up my spine - and is one of the few orchestras I've heard outside of Russia that play with such passion. Go, go, go see them.
And of course they're doing a concert while Mom is here - FIDELIO OVERTURE, AH! PERFIDO, & SYMPHONY NO. 9 (Choral). Now, given that the only even remotely classical concerts she's ever been to are the band concerts from when I was in high school - should I take her or not? She has asked for as many new art/culture experiences as we can fit in. . .
Eddie Izzard live at the Arts Theatre
which I just happened to grab two tickets after stumbling across it randomly. I think you really do find the best stuff that way. It was a Sunday night, 11pm, and it was far better than I could have ever thought. I knew he was funny, but I was litterally rolling in my seat the entire time - and this was stuff he was supposedly trying out. There was even a Dune joke that raayat was the only one to catch, which he still glows about. I would try to tell you all the funny bits (giraffs miming that a lion is coming!), except there were lots of them (God, drunk) and I tell jokes very badly (how one describes an elephant in Latin). Still, I was really chuffed that he turned out to be just as funny in person as on video. Oh and he wore normal clothes - black blazer, jeans, funky cowboyish looking books and a t-shirt.
in the cards for the next few months: London Word Festival (Words in Progress (snippets of new plays), Orphans and Vandals (Vaudeville), Jazz Poetry), Legal Fictions (yes I am a geek, though to be fair raayat found this one first), Yamato Drummers, Richard III and Henry V.
No one can claim that we're not well rounded. . .
Edit: and I think I have just found the best introduction to modern art ever at the Barbican, so I've booked us tickets with Mom to go see it. I better stop now. This art/culture thing is addictive.
Fiddler on the Roof
as playing at the Savoy and I really couldn't resist going. . . and it turned out to be a lovely evening. They didn't do anything dramatically original, just good solid acting, a very versitle set, well played music, well thought-out choreography and a great story. It's everything a nice night out at the theatre should be - I even cried (Hodel's good-bye to Tevye in Far From the Home I Love, heck actually make that most of Act II). The cast is really wonderful and very well suited to their parts. I very much recommend going, especially since half-price tickets seem to be pretty easy to come by.
London Mozart Players do Beethovan
courtesy of lushfemke who got us all fab tickets. It was the first time that I'd heard the 7th played live, and was very much impressed with the conductor (one Stephen Kovacevich) who directed and played the piano for the piano concerto. Wonderful, wonderful stuff. There were moments that positively sent chills up my spine - and is one of the few orchestras I've heard outside of Russia that play with such passion. Go, go, go see them.
And of course they're doing a concert while Mom is here - FIDELIO OVERTURE, AH! PERFIDO, & SYMPHONY NO. 9 (Choral). Now, given that the only even remotely classical concerts she's ever been to are the band concerts from when I was in high school - should I take her or not? She has asked for as many new art/culture experiences as we can fit in. . .
Eddie Izzard live at the Arts Theatre
which I just happened to grab two tickets after stumbling across it randomly. I think you really do find the best stuff that way. It was a Sunday night, 11pm, and it was far better than I could have ever thought. I knew he was funny, but I was litterally rolling in my seat the entire time - and this was stuff he was supposedly trying out. There was even a Dune joke that raayat was the only one to catch, which he still glows about. I would try to tell you all the funny bits (giraffs miming that a lion is coming!), except there were lots of them (God, drunk) and I tell jokes very badly (how one describes an elephant in Latin). Still, I was really chuffed that he turned out to be just as funny in person as on video. Oh and he wore normal clothes - black blazer, jeans, funky cowboyish looking books and a t-shirt.
in the cards for the next few months: London Word Festival (Words in Progress (snippets of new plays), Orphans and Vandals (Vaudeville), Jazz Poetry), Legal Fictions (yes I am a geek, though to be fair raayat found this one first), Yamato Drummers, Richard III and Henry V.
No one can claim that we're not well rounded. . .
Edit: and I think I have just found the best introduction to modern art ever at the Barbican, so I've booked us tickets with Mom to go see it. I better stop now. This art/culture thing is addictive.