Madama Butterfly

I saw this terrific production at the Hackney Empire, performed by the Ukrainian National Opera of Odessa and starring a Korean singer, Elena Dee. Although it isn't my favourite Puccini (that honour must go to Tosca) this was such an outstanding evening my allegiance might be threatened. Elena Dee was ideal for the role of Butterfly - such a haunting voice, so full of emotion and tenderness, that I can't believe there was a dry eye in the house as she renderd One Fine Day. Unusually though, every singer was first class, even the bit part players, and this was complemented by a terrific orchestra and a traditional set. This was opera without being messed about - and none the worse for that in my opinion. Rating: 9/10

Humphrey Lyttleton

I was sorry to hear that Humphrey Lyttleton had died. I didn't really know him for his jazz playing (Louis Armstrong said that he was the greatest British trumpeter). I knew him from the great Radio 4 programme I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue - one of the great radio inventions, following directly from a very silly 1960s series I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again. I once saw the team live at a tribute performance to the late Willie Rushton. Lyttleton as Chairman provided the ideal foli to the comedians who appeared as panellists in this antidote to panel games. His introductions, full of smutty double entrendres that only he could get away with, said with deadpan seriousness that was superby funny. I think he is truly irreplacable, and I doubt that any further programmes will be made.

A Choral Pilgrimage - The Sixteen

A concert of Tudor music performed at the glorious Old Naval Chapel at Greenwich, designed by Wren, next to the banks of the River Thames. An appropriate setting for this performance by a choir known as the 16. The programme consisted of pieces of religious music from the time of the Reformation in England, so some in Latin, others in English according to the time of composition, and which monarch was on the throne. The choir is excellent, technically, but rather like the Chapel the music was too formal, too plain, and to my ears too unemotional. It doesn't move me. Each group of voices piles layers of song one upon the other giving me the feeling of being wrapped in successive levels of woolly blankets, comfortable but not really exciting or pleasurable. The singing is superb and admirable I'm sure, but not really for me. Rating 6/10

Amazing Rare Things

A collection of items from the Royal Collection selected by David Attenborough and currently on exhibition at the Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace. A truly superb exhibition - including some unforgettable Leonardo da Vinci sketches of animal anatomy, and wonderful botanical illustrations. I especially liked the illustrations of flora and fauna from Surinam, drawn and painted in such incredible detail by a woman botanist from the Netherlands who travelled to South America for a few years, studied the local plants and wildlife and then sailed home to publish her findings. As always exhibitions at the Queen's Gallery are well laid out, the numbers of visitors well regulated to give plenty of space to examine the materials, and each special exhibition is always accompanied by a selection of items from the Queen's collection. On this occasion we found portraits of Victoria's children, the Ko-I-Noor diamond, some superb decorative armour and remarkable porcelain. Rating: 8/10

A Visit to Tate Modern

I'm not a great fan of modern art - in fact can someone tell me the difference between conceptual art and installation art? On the other hand, Tate Modern has the advantage

of having a wonderful location at the end of the Millennium Bridge, and facing the most spectacular view of St Paul's Cathedral. Usually the Turbine Hall (a vast space suitable for something massive) has a very unusual exhibit. On this occasion it was between things - the previous item - a crack in the floor - was being removed. However, there were several other works of 'art' that could be heavily criticised and ridiculed. Can a whole collection of used pieces of soap on a floor to ceiling kebab truly say anything worthwhile? On the other hand a room containing something called Thirty Pieces of Silver was interesting, and intriguing and admirable. This work consisted of a collection of dinner services, flattened by a steam roller and suspended from a high ceiling by strands of fine silver thread or wire. Not sure what it said about the betrayal of Christ, but there you go. There were some memorable Picasso's, Magritte's and a Stanley Spencer to be seen too.