Sibelius

Friday night...seemingly no longer Cava Night but increasingly Culture Night! Oh yes, this time around my very own Newsnight Review landed in the Barbican for a performance of Sibelius' 1st and 3rd symphonies - but not in that order. Also on the menu something else by someone else from Finland which was frankly rubbish - serving to demonstrate only how marvelous Mr S really is/was. Like hanging out with an ugly buddy.

Anyhow twas all good. The Barbican was on legendary form. Full to the brim with retired headteachers types - the kind who were running schools in the 70s. the Finnish conductor was flounce-tastic, quite absurd really but he sort of got away with it. Inspite of his very silly bow and instance on having at least 4 walk on...walk offs in the run up to home time as we clapped our little hands off. Get over it.

Orchestra geeks will be interested to note that the LA Philharmonic were spread unconventionally across the stage for the performance of the 3rd symphony. Namely the Cellos were sitting where the Second Violins should be and vice versa. And, there were loads more Double Bases than normal - I think. Gave the opening movement some real GUTs. Mentioned it to my brother the next day (he knows loads about orchestras) - his response "its sooo cool when they do that". There you go.

So, the Sibelius gig was part of a programme put on by the Barbican to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Sibelius' death. FAB, and frankly I'd have no interest in Finland were it not for Mr S - so more the better. Such a shame, therefore, that Finland was coincidentally in the headlines last week...not because of the celebration of Sibelius - but because of Europe's worst school shooting in many years. How sad and depressing. In stark contrast to the wrenching optimism that bounces out of almost everything Sibelius ever wrote....

Very Scary Nurses

So - just had a fab weekend and it started in a very fab - though scary way. Friday night off I went with SW to see Macbeth at the Gielgud. Wasn't quite sure what I was expecting.....but it ain't what I got - though in a good/very scary way...

So...this production had the dude from star trek (a Labour party supporter no less - originally from Yorkshire...) in the title role and a chick with some fab frocks (and great bum...according to SW, though I hadn't noticed) as Lady Mac...either which way, both were stunning. Moreover the whole design/idea really worked for me. Set in an interwar dystopia (early 30's?)....in a sort of basement/morgue/kitchen....pre-conceptions were immediately knocked for six as the ubiquitous witches were cast as nurses in a field hospital....they closed the first scene by murdering an injured solider (nice). Throughout the whole production they spooked about the place...with a real menace. OOOHH soooo scary! Wot eva you do...don't get ill in Macbeth's Scotland...cos the nurses will getcha.

In other highlights...there were loads of real guns...and a sink that worked (i.e. it was plumbed in and everything...how cool??!). The first half closed with Banquo's ghost turning up for tea in a dramatic bloodfest kind of way....thank God we'd pre-ordered large gin and tonics for the break - is all I can say.

Ever since, I've been having bad dreams about WW1 nurses in Gas Masks... where are the cognitive behavioural therapists when you need one..??!

later