A Concert and rain.

Up in Essex this weekend with Pete as last night (Friday) we were off to a concert at Saffron Hall.

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment was conducted very ably by Marin Alsop. 

Their first piece Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4 The Italian- excellent and captivated me in each

The second half - had Nicola Benedetti taking the lead roll in Beethoven's Violin Concerto.  As always, Nicola playing beautifully with such feeling for the music.

All in all a most enjoyable evening and a full house at the concert hall.

Today off to meet some friends for a coffee

 and the intention was we'd head off to for a wander to Wimpole NT.  However by the time we were ready to set off, it was raining hard, so given my wine 'store' was in need of replenishing we went to Baythorne Hall to stock up.

Plan B - off to Finchingfield for lunch and a wander.. lunch was great - rain stopped play for a walk.. so that was it.

Hoping for better weather tomorrow..

Saffron Hall - a wonderful afternoon

It's been a very dreary day weather wise today but this afternoon it was as if the sun was shining.  Having intended to visit Audley End before the concert the weather dictated we went straight to the concert... and wow!!

We were at Saffron Hall for some musical delights provided by the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra with the conductor Edward Gardener.

The first piece, was
Greig's Peer Gynt Suite

 -  a piece that I grew up on but today was the first time I heard/saw a live performance - one of excellence

Second on the agenda was Elgar's Cello Concerto in E minor Op85 - the cellist being Leonard Elschenbroich - the orchestra and cellist kept me enrapt throughout.. one of my favourite choices.

The final programmed piece was Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra (1943) - not a piece I am familiar with and generally not a great fan of Bartok's.  However, today I had my mind changed.. and loved the fourth and fifth movements in particular.

And the encore???  Well anyone who had to rush away really missed a great treat - Elgar's Nimrod from the Enigma variations.. always manages to bring a tear (of pure joy and emotion) to my eyes

Thank you to all concerned for a wonderful afternoon....

London for a concert

Today we were off reasonably early (but not crack of dawn as usual). the weather was better than expected in that the wind had died down and the rain had stopped.. for the moment.  Haven't been to Wigmore Hall for a while so nice to be off there once more..

This is Billie.. on his first outing to London

We had a wander to find some breakfast..

which was our first of 3 visits to a Pret today!!

Listening to church bells ringing.

Covent Garden.. they're starting to put the Christmas decorations up ..

Then after a coffee - at Pret off to Wigmore Hall

and finally, on the tube on the way home Billie with Cuthbert and Bentley - 3 happy bears...

Good concert with two very talented young musicians...Maximilian Hornung on Cello and Hisako Kawamura, piano.

Music played:

Schumann, Funf Stucke Im Volkston Op. 102

Webern... Two  Pieces for cello and piano and
Drei kleine Stucke Op. 11

Brahms Cello Sonata No. 2 in F Op. 99

plus an Encore...

Wilhem Killmayer - Caprice de Figaro... lovely !!

Excellent day out despite the dull weather and some excellent music to set the mood and make the mind think...

A London stroll with a musical Finale!

We left early carrying brollies which weren't needed woo hoo.  The parks in London are preparing for the Olymics and some parts were denied us as preparation for the Music concerts was in place.  But nonetheless we managed a reasonable walk with some wonderful summer flowers.  It's been a while since we were up there in other than winter or winter-like conditions.

Selfridges window.. impossible to get a decent picture without an reflections on the glass!

and then on to Wigmore Hall for the Leipzig String Quartet

Today we were treated to:
Mendelsohn's String Quartet in E minor Op.44 No.2
Beethoven's Tring Quartet in A minor Op. 132

AND we were treated to an encore which was Mendelssohn String Quartet... don't know more than that but it was lovely!

So another good day out.... and it was warm and we didn't need coats... is this a first!!