Opera: Anarchy at the Opera

Tonight, I was at Anarchy at the Opera, at Hoxton Hall. Courtesy of TAC. Where we were going to hear some lesser known works..

Well at last, another I could walk to! and the weather isn't as viciously cold today. Although it did spit a bit of unexpected drizzle on me, en route. Turn up Old Broad Street, and literally keep walking in a straight line. Well, apart from where a sign blocks the pavement and tells pedestrians to cut through the station for access. No problems then, apart from the pedestrian crossing light not working to cross Old Street - now, that's a fun, big road to jaywalk across!

I needed to eat - thought I'd go simple, with Hoxton Chicken and Pizza, which is on the way. What can I say, I was in the mood! It is only fast food, so I wasn't expecting the earth. First problem was when he asked me sadly, as I waggled my card at him, whether I didn't have cash. Now, it isn't that they don't take cards - in fact, there's a sign on the wall that specifies a £3 minimum for doing that. No, it was that the delivery driver had taken the card machine with him, because of course the people getting deliveries don't have cash either.. Well, he said the driver would be back in a couple of minutes, so I plonked myself at a table and started to eat.

Another couple came in in the meantime and had the same issue - but he knew where there was a cash machine, and ran off and got some. Meantime, I was finding that, while the fries were fine, the chicken strips were absolutely tasteless. Never had them so bland anywhere. The 7Up was nice, I hadn't had any in ages. Anyway, I was fed - and in due course, the driver came back, the boss insisted that he deal with me right away, and I paid. No bins, so when I was done, I tidied up a bit and left it there.

I collected my ticket at the box office, but the rest of the venue wasn't open yet, so off I went again. Wandering back the way I'd come, I came across the Barrel Boulangerie - said well, if they have hot chocolate, I can hang out here! They did, and I did; a standard coffee shop, where people can come and work - good, free WiFi - they also have sandwiches and cake, and make pizzas, breakfasts and lunches. Not at this time of night, perhaps. But service comes with a smile, the hot chocolate is excellent (with lashings of cream - optional) and the atmosphere is good. Lots of others headed to the show found their way there.

When I saw others leaving, about 10 minutes before showtime, off I went as well. I was actually here before - but it's nearly five years ago now, and I didn't remember a thing about it! My ticket said I was on the first floor, so I followed the sign for the stairs, but when I got there, the usher explained that there was free seating on this level! First come, first served. So I sat somewhere else.

The bit directly facing the stage was pretty full, so I took myself to the side, fairly close. Mind you, if I'd realised that there were going to be surtitles on that bit you can see on stage above the door, I'd have sat on the other side of that pillar, which was in my way a bit!

This was a performance by the National Opera Studio. Before the performance, a couple of organisers - wearing blue and yellow, the national colours of Ukraine - made a statement. Firstly, they explained how the programme would be cut slightly short because one of the performers had to return home to Latvia, because of a family emergency. Then they read a prepared statement on behalf of the company, about how they included members from all over, and listed the countries - including Ukraine and Russia - and how this was only a benefit to them. They finished by denouncing Putin's actions - to a thunderous round of applause.

And so to the business of the evening. The programme took about an hour in all, pieces running into each other, few times when we could applaud. I followed it in the free programme I found on my seat - mostly, I knew a piece had changed when the language they were singing in changed! The orchestra consisted of a single piano, people taking turns to play it to accompany the different pieces. And the singers! O me, what a gem of a night I found. I'm not always this lucky, but the singing was of such good quality.. I wasn't familiar with any of the pieces, but they were delightful, and comically - and energetically - sung.

Particularly comical was the "Ride Around Moscow" from Shostakovich's Cheryomushki. All cleverly staged, with minimal props, as usual. We had a drag version of The Mikado, with one of the men playing Yum-Yum, preparing for her wedding.. a couple of pieces from Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream, and a wonderful rendition of Les Oiseaux dans la Charmille from Offenbach's Tales of Hoffman. Among others. All so beautifully sung, so entertaining - and how lucky were those of us, in particular, who got such entertainment so cheaply..

Getting home was easier, as I'd already walked it - and the crossing light at Old Street was working (at least from that side!). When I got to Liverpool Street though, I got quite turned around.. not as easy as heading out. Ah well, I made it home eventually.

The next two days, back with London Classical Music and Theatre Group (LCMTG). Tomorrow, it's a concert at the Southbank Centre, where Sheku Kanneh-Mason plays Shostakovich. Apart from numerous other accolades, he achieved worldwide renown after playing at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. (And nuts if CT didn't just advertise tickets for this..!)

On Thursday, we're back to the Barbican for a concert of Haydn music by the Academy of Ancient Music.

Now, my new job - after some chasing - did finally send me the paperwork to complete. But as I still don't have it back to them, I figure they surely won't have me up and running by Friday! so I've booked on another of Laurence Summers' walks with the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners - Pubs, Poets & Prostitutes: a Tour of Southwark. Honestly, I think this is my favourite part of London - can't resist. And again, we'll finish fairly close to home for me - because that evening I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again. I've booked a much-needed haircut, so I won't get to see a film this weekend, either.

On Monday, more classical music at the Barbican - this time it's with London Baroque Music Lovers, and this is Handel with Les Arts Florissants.

Next Tuesday, headed with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) to The Woods, at Southwark Playhouse. Aw man, it's over a year since I last saw a performance from there, and over two years since I was last there in person! And would you believe it, I bought a PAYG subscription from them years ago, and it still entitles me to free tickets. So I used it for this! With the group having snapped up most of the front row, I'm in the row behind..

On the 16th, I'm back with LCMTG - for a play this time! We're seeing Straight Line Crazy, with Ralph Fiennes, at the Bridge. Just as well we booked early - availability is low for that night.

The 17th is, of course, St. Patrick's Day. In Ireland, it's a bank holiday - here, Kíla is playing the London Irish Centre again. A standing gig, this time. Should be mad.

On the 18th, I'm back with London European Club, for 24 Italian Songs & Arias, at Battersea Arts Centre. They're operating a "Pay What You Can" scheme, where you pay what you want, between £5 and £35 - recommended price, £16. They even sent me a survey afterwards to see what I thought!

On the 19th, back with Laurence and the 45+s - this time, it's Highgate: A Very English Village. More hills..

On the 20th.. someone I swore I'd never do a walk with again. Well, we'll see whether she's back on form - Walks, Talks & Treasure Hunts (WTTH) is off on a walk called Secrets of Belgravia. (Courtesy of her company, London Guided Walks.) The code MEETUP3 gets you a £3 discount on all her walks - which does cover the booking fee of £1, not advertised before you come to the point of purchasing the ticket. Well, it'll be a start if she shows up!

On the 21st, I'm at another Zoom talk - Quakers at War is the story of the Quakers and their pacifism. Courtesy of Surrey History Meetup.

On the 22nd.. I'm booked for Dear Evan Hansen, at the Noel Coward Theatre! Finally - I'd booked for this before lockdown, and of course it got cancelled. Cheapest tickets from the official site.

On the 23rd, back with Civilised London (CL) - back at Le Sacré Coeur, meeting beforehand at The Crown, as usual.

On the 24th, back with TAC for Avocado Presents - Improv, at Etcetera Theatre. Eh, I think it's a jazz concert? Anyway, then back to Ireland for the weekend again.

On the 28th, going to see Daddy at the Almeida. Having never seen a bad production here, I have high hopes.

On the 29th, finally going to see Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella! I hear good things.. it's playing at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, which is new to me - Seatplan was invaluable in choosing the best seating option. What's On Stage provided the cheapest price for that seat, though!

On the 30th, back with CL - for a play this time. This is The Fever Syndrome, at Hampstead Theatre.

On the 31st, back with TAC for One Night With Robbie Williams. This is at The Courtyard.

On the 1st, back with the Crick Crack Club (CCC) for - The Grand Annual Lying Contest! at Rich Mix.

On the 2nd, back with WTTH for a Regent's Canal Walk. Different guide.

On the 3rd, the CCC again! Emily Hennessey and Sheema Mukherjee are at the British Museum, with Holy Cow! Tales from the River of Life.

On the 4th, I'm back at the Park Theatre for the first time in nearly three years! This is for Clybourne Park, a comedy about a white family moving into a predominantly black neighbourhood.

On the 5th, I'm headed to But I'm a Cheerleader, a musical comedy at the Turbine Theatre.

On the 6th, back with UITCS at Southwark Playhouse, and another free ticket for me! This time, it's for Anyone Can Whistle, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

On the 7th, Tommy Tiernan is playing at the Eventim Apollo! Now, I failed to get a ticket for this the first time around. Then it was rescheduled because of Covid.. and I got a ticket for the rescheduled event! Then that was rescheduled.. third time lucky?! Love Tommy Tiernan. The show is called Tomfoolery. And then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.

On the 11th of next month, I've booked for The 47th, at The Old Vic. Written by Mike Bartlett, this imagines the American presidential elections of 2024. I am really looking forward to this play..

On the 12th of next month, I'm finally going to Six, the Musical! Based around the story of the six wives of Henry VIII (very loosely, I'd say), it's playing at the Vaudeville and I hear good things. Cheapest tickets from Leicester Square Box Office.

And on the 13th of next month, back with CL, who are off to the opera at the Southbank Centre. The show in question is The Paradis Files.