A Visit to Sutton Hoo

Handel Coronation Anthems

Swan Lake - another version

CandoCo Dance Performance @ The Queen Elizabeth Hall

The Magnificence of the Tsars

An exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in South Kensington - not a place I visit very

often - but this was well worth it. OK this display of the Coronation Robes of the Russian Emperors from the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century might not say much about the political and economic context of this long and significant period of Russia's history, but the only word that could have been used in the title was 'magnificence'. Exquisite, delicate, gaudy, intricate and totally over the top these tremendous pieces of clothing actually said a lot about the social history of these times. Starting with the Coronation of Peter II in 1727 the complicated nature of clothing was revealed - so many layers, so many buttons, such display - underwear, stockings, breeches, waistcoats, top coats, and the decorations of the chivalric orders all covered in gold and silver thread, interwoven with semi-precious and precious stones all demonstrate the autocracy, wealth and power of the regime. Even in the twentieth century the last Tsar and Tsarina re-created the costumes of previous eras for a celebration ball. Perhaps what is so remarkable is the fact that these items have survived in such excellent condition over such a long period of time, the colours still bright and the decorations intake through times of invasion and revolution. Excellent labelling helped to explain the exhibits too. Rating: 8/10

A Concert at St John's Waterloo

Byzantium - at the Royal Academy

Enjoy - A Play by Alan Bennett

A play with remarkable performances by Alison Steadman and David Troughton. Their performances probably eclipse some of the flaws with the play - Mr Bennett is clearly trying to get several things off his chest.

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch - 2009

Now this year my results were: 4 Blackbirds; 1 Carrion Crow; 2 Chaffinches; 2 Coal Tits; 2 Great Tits; 5 Greenfinches; 2 Magpies; 1 Robin and 3 Woodpigeons.
Comparison: In 2008 - 1 Blackbird; 2 Blue Tits; 1 Coal Tit; 3 Great Tits; 2 Robins and 2 Woodpigeons
In 2007 - 1 Blackbird; 2 Blue Tits; 2 Coal Tits; 3 Great Tits; 2 Long-Tailed Tits; 1 Robin and 3 Woodpigeons.
I wonder where all these greenfinches have come from?

Barack Obama Sworn In

Too many hopes are resting on this man - what can he do to improve things - is it all hopeless. Will he be in the thrall of the pro-Israeli lobby in the US? The man needs to get the new Secretary of State over to the Middle East (maybe with her husband and the new Vice President who have some experience in foreign policy) to save the Palestinian crisis from generating permanent hatred for the West....
Also pleased to see that the new President wasn't able to repeat the Oath of Office properly.

Swan Lake

A performance at the lovely Richmond Theatre - this time by the Russian Classical Ballet Theatre, so very traditional. The stage here is remarkably tiny, and this certainly restricted

the principal dancers to demonstrate the full extent of their skills, but the corps de ballet were outstanding. The person playing the jester was also truly remarkable - and very funny too (appropriately). This was a somewhat curtailed version of the ballet - and perhaps because the theatre was filled with school parties (this being a matinee) this was the reason. However, I wonder whether these children really comprehended what was the story - so much was left out it must have been extremely confusing. I enjoyed the whole experience though. Rating: 7/10

Babylon Exhibition at the British Museum

A small collection of artifacts from ancient Babylon, but impressive nevertheless. I was pleased that all the pieces were put into context and brought in the nuggets of stories I vaguely

remembered from my childhood - so the Hanging Gardens, Daniel in the lions' den, Belshazzar's Feast, and the Tower of Babel. I was very taken by the ceramics taken from the processional route to Nebuchadnezzar's great city, so bright and fresh, even after close on 3000 years. I was fascinated by the written materials too, the tiny, almost microscopic writing on minute pieces of pottery or cylinders. There were useful maps extensive labelling, and Babylon-related pictures from medieval to modern times. It also made you realise how much we owe to that remarkable period of history - a period of civilisation in the middle east (the site of Babylon is just south of modern day Baghdad) when there was little evidence of a civilised life in the British Isles. The current system of hours divided into 60 minutes stems from Babylon, for this was a place of scientific developments. All in all a terrific exhibition and worth a rating of 8/10

The Messiah at St Alfege Greenwich

An essential part of Christmas for me is to go to a performance of The Messiah. I went to a wonderful production - performed by the Thomas Tallis Society Choir and Orchestra in the

terrific surroundings of St Alfege Church in Greenwich. Andrew Radley as Countertenor was superb and the close confines of this eighteenth century setting with its galleries and pews allowed the chorus to really project the full force of Handel's wonderful work. Sometimes a counter tenor isn't successful - it can seem forced but Andrew's voice was natural and ethereal. I have to mention the baritone (another voice not so regularly heard) Robert Davies. He managed to add the required degree of gravitas and emotion to the arias.

La Boheme - a film of the opera