Pompeo Batoni Exhibition

Currently at the National Gallery. The artist who became the 'artist of choice' for the Grand Tour of Europe in the Eighteenth Century. I knew nothing about this painter prior to seeing this wonderful collection of pictures. There is a terrific variety of subjects - the spectacular religious pieces, narratives and allegories on a huge scale, dramatic and visionary depictions, and of course excellent portraits - and so sensitive representations, bringing out the characters of those portrayed. Although these pictures fill entire walls in some cases the devotion to detail in each means they can, should, must be viewed not only at a distance to take in the grandeur of the subject, but close to in order to reveal the tiny references. Sumptuous is the word to describe this exhibition.

Susannah - an opera by Carlisle Floyd

Now I think there is a problem with modern 'operas'. Since the invention of the musical (bit of singing, bit of acting) 'operas' seem to have gone in one of three ways - they either go so 'serious' that the music is almost impenetrable (Stockhausen?) or they ape the classics (Gershwin) or they are musicals aspiring to be something more, by using operatic singers. Susannah falls into the last category. Unfortunately the other problem with operas in the English language (unless you're watching the ENO) is that they theatre doesn't provide surtitles. Enunciation becomes essential. I'm sure that Donna Bateman (starring as the eponymous heroine) is an excellent singer but what with her operatic style and a very loud orchestra I had terrible problems working out what exactly she was going on about half the time. I've just thought of another disadvantage of modern operas versus musicals - they don't seem to go in for great memorable singalong melodies. I think you might guess by now I didn't enjoy this offering, although I think it was mainly the fact that I couldn't hear the words that spoiled it for me, the music was pleasant enough and the singers were of a good standard, but if I must go and see a tale of repressed emotions in the Southern States of America give me Oklahoma! every time. So in brief this opera is your standard American tale - community of buttoned up people with one person (Susannah) feeling liberated and cheerful - thereby attracting the approbation of the God fearing churchgoers. A hellfire preacher turns up on an evangelising mission, Susannah is observed (and condemned) for outraging public decency (swimming?) and is cast out by the Church. A boy is forced to denounce her, she is required to publicly repent, (which she refuses to do) and the Preacher (seeking her immortal soul) rapes her. Susannah's drunken brother then shoots preacher. An average happy day in Tennessee then. Rating? 5/10

Anna Bolena @ The Hackney Empire

This little performed Donizetti opera sung by the English Touring Opera in a very dramatic production. Although the scenery was minimal the costumes were sumptuous and the orchestra appropriately competent and understated. I hate it when the orchestra is intrusive to prevent clarity of the singers' voices. The singers on this occasion were all excellent, especially the title role and Percy. I'm having a week of the life of Anne Boleyn - (see the entry for The Other Boleyn Girl on my film blog). Donizetti certainly takes a very different take on the life of the ill-fated Tudor Queen. In his opera Henry is already stuck inot a steamy affair with Jane Seymour and is plotting to entrap his 'innocent' wife Anne in infidelity, with former beau Percy. Meanwhile lovelorn page Smeaton (confusingly sung by a woman) provides the 'evidence' which convicts Anna Bolena, her brother, Percy and Smeaton. The English T0uring Opera are a very good ensemble and guarantee excellent productions. Alas this particular opera doesn't provide any themes or set pieces to set you humming as you leave the theatre. Donizetti goes for constant frenetic energy and you can end up feeling bludgeoned by the constant emotion. Rating: 8/10

A Visit to St Pancras

I hadn't visited St Pancras Station since the arrival of Eurostar, and what a transformation! It is well worth a visit, if only to stare at the vast engine shed roof. I was fortunate enough to visit in the early evening so the darkness of the sky somehow made the whole enormous area somehow more intimate. On the other hand it must be magnificent when the sun is shining through the great glass expanse, and glistening upon the sleek lines of the Eurostar trains slumbering beneath. And oh! The Statues - how marvellous they both are. Sir John, lifesize and appropriately staring at the ceiling of the building he did so much to save. The couple in an embrace of greeting or departure under the vast station clock. I love it - go and see it for yourself, this wonderful gateway to the capital.

From Russia

A wonderful exhibition currently at the Royal Academy. There was a very difficult lead up to the opening to this exhibition, and for a while the Russian authorities seemed likely to withdraw permission for the wealth of artworks to be brought to London. This is a truly remarkable collection in broadly four sections.

The first section portraysRussian art and French influences in Russia between 1870 and 1900. In the first part of the C19th Russian art was dominated by biblical and mythological representaions - and this seemed inappropriate to the reality of Russian life. So towards the end of the century we see a depiction of Tolstoy as a barefoot peasant. The picture entitled 17th October 1905 seems to predict the kinds of heroic art of the Stalinist era however.

The second section concentrates on the two major Russian collectors of the late C19th/early C20th, Shchukin and Morozov. Here you have a swathe of great French art, including Gauguin, Monet, Manet and Picasso combined with great Russian contemporary artists, many heavily influenced by these artists.

The third section looks at the World of Art demonstrating the influence of the Russian greats in other areas of culture - especially the dance. Here you have Diaghilev, most famous as founder of the Ballet Russes, but also organiser of eleven exhibitions between 1897 and 1906, introducing French art to Russia. He used these influences in his theatrical designs.

The fourth section looks at the innovations of the first two decades of the C20th. Neo-Primitivism through Cubo-Futurism, transforming into Abstraction, and Constructivism, but always with a distinctively Russian feel. Some remarkable art came out of the darkest period of the First World War and the Russian Revolution.

A truly remarkable exhibition - Rating: 9/10

Andy Abraham Wins

So the winner of the competition to represent the UK in this year's Eurovision Song Contest

turns out to be a runner up in one of the numerous X-Factor competitions that have been aired over the past few years. How many winners can we name, let alone runners up? Anyway, no disrespect to Mr Abraham, but however good the performance, or the song, the chances of the UK troubling the scorers in the final are minimal. Western European countries notoriously do very badly in the voting, because there is a cartel (implicit or explicit) between the countries of the Balkans, the Baltic States and the former Soviet countries. Hey ho - it makes bizarre television viewing.

Eurovision

I have the misfortune of watching the 'elimination' round for the British entry to this year's

Eurovision Song Contest. Now we already know that things can only end badly - in fact if the UK didn't contribute so much to Eurovision, thus giving us an automatic entry into the contest we'd never reach the finals - or even a preliminary round. We have a hint of how things work from the last two years' winners - we are in Serbia this year as they won in 2007, the Finns won the previous year and Estonia the year before. How apt then that the singer of one of the UK's entries comes from Romania, can't sing in tune, looks weird and is thus likely to do very well. Except we all know the Balkan countries always vote for each other, as do the Baltic countries, Cyprus votes for Greece & vice versa, nobody votes for western European countries. Ah well, thank heavens for Terry Wogan.