LIFE IS SHORT

Enjoy the moment, drink and dance! Life is short…

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VERMEER AND MUSIC EXHIBITION

The last days of summer in our little kingdom and we are trying to catch up the exhibitions we didn’t visit yet in London.

Today we headed to The National Gallery for Vermeer and Music exhibition to enjoy Johannes Vermeer’s and other XVII. century Dutch artists’ music themed paintings. In the exhibition we also had a chance to observe different music instruments of same period between the halls.

The exhibition is open until 8 September in The National Gallery.

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SINGING IN THE RAIN

It’s raining in London. And we are…

Singing and dancing in the raaain!

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THE GENERAL

Last Friday, our last night in Scotland, we went to Glasgow’s old City Hall, built in 1841, to watch two Buster Keaton silent films  accompanied by BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra on its UK Première.

First film was a Buster Keaton short comedy, One Week (1920) and the second one was a Keaton classic, The General (1926) inspired by American Civil War and the railways.

The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conducted by American Timothy Brock who is also the composer of the musics, was brilliant.  The harmony of the music with films was perfect. Watching two classics of silent cinema with such a great music was a big pleasure.

After the concert, finding a nice place with a working kitchen at 23.00 in Merchant City, Exchange Square and having a relax dinner with couple of glasses of wine was the last nice little touch of the evening.

Oh, sorry, the last little touch of the night was taking these photos in front of an old train photo in our hotel, Grand Central Hotel which is an old train station hotel dating back to 1883 and designed by Scottish architect Robert Rowand Anderson.

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EDINBURGH JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL

Since two weeks we were away and had a little road trip around our little kingdom. We visited nice places, enjoyed the incredible sun and joined some cultural events.

When we were in Edinburgh, in this beautiful Scottish city, we were lucky to find tickets to two concerts in Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival. First one was Mike Hart All Star Band playing classic hot jazz from the 20’s and 30’s. It was a beautiful night.

After this American jazz band, the next night, we choosed Scotland’s leading jazz repertory band, Ken Mathieson Classic Jazz Orchestra with a guest from New Orleans, clarinettist Evan Christopher who joined them for this concert.

The second concert was the icing on the cake for us in our last night in Edinburgh. We loved them, we didn’t want the concert finish and it was a perfect way to say to Edinburgh “See you next time!”.

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QUIMERAS BY PACO PEÑA

Last time we have been in a Paco Peña concert was years ago, in Istanbul. When we heard that Peña’s flamenco project Quimeras comes to a theatre near to us, we were very excited to hear his guitar again.

Yesterday evening we were in Sadler’s Wells Theatre for Quimeras performed by Paco Peña Flamenco Dance Company. Quimeras is an art project about Spain, flamenco, Africa, immigrants from Africa to Spain.

The performance was exquisite, the way they combined the flamenco music and dance with African music and dance was fascinating. It was a big pleasure to hear again the big flamenco master’s guitar. All musicians and dancers were superb but specially dancers Ángel Muñoz and Charo Espino were amazing.

If you are around London in these days, just go! Go and enjoy!

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ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

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TAKE FIVE BY DAVE BRUBECK

In memory of…

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SOUND ON SCREEN

Yesterday evening we enjoyed a beautiful performance at Ciné Lumière, the cinema of L’Institut Français in South Kensington. It was a Sound on Screen organisation, a combination of parts of film on big screen and live classical music concert.

First part was Beethoven’s ‘Sonata Op. 47 for piano and violin’ performed by Alexander Schmalcz (piano) and Diana Galvydyte (violin) with Bernard Rose’s film ‘Kreutzer Sonata’.

Second part was Mahler’s ‘Piano Quartet in A minor’ performed by Alexander Schmalcz (piano) and members of Quatuor Voce with Martin Scorsese’s film ‘Shutter Island’.

And the third part was Schubert’s ‘String Quartet No.14 in D minor’ performed by Quatuor Voce (violin, violin, viola, cello) with Roman Polanski’s film ‘Death and the Maiden’.

Before the concert we had a glass of wine at the little bistro of L’Institut Français. It was a successful performance. And also thanks to this organisation, we learned that Ciné Lumière is a comfortable cinema which shows nice films. What we can want more?

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RAIN RAIN BEAUTIFUL RAIN

Rainy but beautiful day in London.  Not always  but today the rain is beautiful.

Rain rain rain beautiful rain…

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