Audley End and a Musical visit to Saffron Hall

We were off to Saffron Hall this afternoon... the sun was shining so we visited Audley End first.

the lake was crystal clear

and one of the residents... looks as the he'd been having a roll in the school!!

Lots of buds on the fruit trees...

First ladybird of the year!

Messrs Quacks & Ponders enjoying the sun..

Catkin-laden tree

Then on to Saffron Hall..

The Orchestra - Oslo Philarmonic
Conductor - Vasily Petrenko.
The Pianist - Simon Trpčeski

The first piece was Edvard Grieg's 'Ganga' from Lyric Suite, Op. 54 - beautifully played.

This was followed by Rachmaninov's Piano Concert No. 2 in C minor, Op 18
Amazing piece of music and magical playing by Simon Trpčeski with equally wonderful performance by the orchestra - just loved it!!

Simon then invited the young cellist Louisa Tuck to join him in his encore which was Rachmaninov's Vocalise... just spellbinding. Simon dedicated the piece to Louisa's father who was in the audience.. what a wonderful gesture..

And the second half , Gustav Mahler's Symphony No.5 in C sharp minor.

The drama in this piece is wonderful, and the contrasts in tempo and temperature - the calm to the energetic - captivating...

I was spellbound throughout the entire programme.

Thank you to every musician involved for a wonderful concert