Spring Remembrance Concert

With nothing much of interest on in Meetup today, I took to Time Out, and came across this classical concert, in homage to the centenary of the Armenian genocide. Honestly, I'd never heard of that - but the linked article explains that it was part of the Ottoman Empire's strategy of ethnic cleansing, and was the event that inspired the man who coined the term genocide. Anyway, with a program including Khachaturian and Rachmaninov, I was interested, and booked a ticket - only £12, in the cheap seats at the back. But this was in the Purcell Room at the Southbank Centre, which I knew isn't very large as venues go - so that was fine with me!

Found myself sitting at Earl's Court for five minutes again, "because we were early". I wasn't worried though, because so was I. I didn't even rush, climbing onto the bridge. Arrived at the Queen Elizabeth Hall building, where the Purcell Room is located, early for once. I'm glad I knew where I was going, though. As I approached the box office, the five minute warning went - which is how I now know it's pronounced PurCELL here, with the accent on the second syllable, rather than PURcell, with the accent on the first syllable, as in Ireland. Interestingly, they didn't have a ticket for me, and had to print me a duplicate - but I didn't receive a Print at Home ticket this time, honest..

My seat, near the back, was pretty much dead centre of the row. Handily, this meant I didn't have to let anyone past. My view was terrific, and I always forget how comfortable the seats here are - nice, padded leather. I was rather vexed that most people around me had a programme, and I hadn't even seen any! but you did have to buy them, and I sneaked a peek at someone else's at the interval anyway. When she'd gone off to mingle, or whatever. Handily enough, the couple beside me didn't return after the interval, which left me a free seat to put my paper on.

So, the performers were the Khachaturian Trio. The pianist, for the first half, made me terribly jealous - she wore this full-length dress, of a gorgeous black sparkly fabric with the consistency of lamé. The others in the trio play violin and cello, respectively, with the violinist frequently having to pause (between pieces) to wipe his sweaty brow and fiddle.

To be fair, they worked hard tonight. The first half, comprising pieces by Armenian composers I hadn't heard of, was very lively - although I thought, of the three pieces, two finished quite abruptly. The second half was mostly Khachaturian, predictably (turns out he was Armenian), with a piece by Rachmaninov, and another composer I hadn't heard of. Program as follows:

Komitas: Vagharshapat dance
Edward Mirzoyan: Shushanik
Ernö Dohnányi: Sextet in C, Op.37
Interval
Aram Ilyich Khachaturian: Toccata in E flat minor for piano
Sergey Rachmaninov: Trio élégiaque No.1 in G minor
Arno Babadjanian: Piano Trio in F sharp minor
Aram Ilyich Khachaturian: Waltz from Masquerade Suite

After a standing ovation, they also played three encore pieces - I hadn't a clue what, mind, given that the announcements were in Armenian - and seemed to be understood by most of the near-capacity crowd. I recognised two of them once they began though - the first as the theme to an old tv series, The Onedin Line! Turns out that's a Khachaturian composition as well, fancy! I also recognised the last one, but have no idea of the name or composer, sorry..

A good night was had, and I'm glad I went. Back to Ireland tomorrow, La Traviata in the University Concert Hall, Limerick the day after, and another classical concert in the Limetree the day after that. More conventional this time - Brahms, Haydn, Mozart. Staying in Ireland for the weekend.

Next week is kind of all about Meetups, so far! They're getting active, with the advent of Spring, I guess.. anyway, for Monday, with none of my groups doing anything interesting, I had a look at the others. The two most interesting things to me were both plays, both meetings organised by groups of which I wasn't a member - and both charging membership fees, for no obvious discounts. So I picked the more interesting-sounding play - After Electra - checked Time Out to see where it was actually playing (The Tricycle), and booked a ticket for myself, without recourse to the group.

Tuesday got even more interesting. The most interesting thing happening that day is a talk on Palestinian cinema, run by a group called Film Nite, which had previously somehow escaped my attention. Now, they charge for this, but upon closer inspection it seemed to me that they organised it, too - so I was happy enough to book. So I simultaneously joined the group and booked. I then asked, on the page, out of curiosity, whether you pay on the door or in advance. Got a message from the organiser saying simply "Hi," and then nothing. Later he asked me whether I'd paid yet, and I explained I didn't know how, and that his last message seemed to have been truncated! So then he said he'd just set up a new Paypal account, which I'd be the first to use - and behold and lo, there was a Paypal link. I paid. Then he got all confused and said he'd see me tomorrow night, which is no good for me.. they have a number of events on, you see. It finally got cleared up. I think.

For Wednesday, I found yet another event being run by a group I wasn't a member of - CLOG (Central London Outdoor Group). A walk around central London, with a theme of horses (of all things!). Well, they go through narrow alleyways and lesser-known byways, and I love that, so I joined & RSVPed. And that's next week up to Wednesday!

The Baulkham Hills African Ladies Troupe

So, last night I finally got to the Women of the World Festival at the Southbank Centre. I was meant to go on Tuesday, of course, but was waylaid by colleagues and ended up spending a convivial evening with them instead. Last night, I had a ticket to see the Baulkham Hills African Ladies Troupe, in the Purcell Room. Now, I hadn't been in that section of the Southbank Centre before, but the website gives its location as the Queen Elizabeth Hall building, and I'd been there a few times, so headed off with confidence.

The Tube came without too much delay, and this time the indicator board that described it as heading into town was correct - which was a relief, because that was where I wanted to go. There was a short delay at Earl's Court, as usual, and the customary pause to "even out the gaps in the service" at Westminster, the very stop before mine! I was getting worried that I'd be late, but we got to Embankment just under 10 minutes before the performance was due to start. Which was just enough time - and I didn't even expire climbing the steps to the bridge (I was a bit worried, it's been quite a while). My though, the Thames is a wide river to cross when you're in a hurry..

I dashed into the building, and over to the prominent ticket desk. I had minutes to spare, and was glad of the helpful signage that pointed to right or left depending where you wanted. I blurted out to the guy at the desk that I had booked a ticket for "the thing in the Purcell Room". Well, the title is quite a mouthful. So he gave me my ticket and off I dashed, passing a confused chap who didn't know whether we could go in since the door was closed. We could - it hadn't started yet. Luckily, my seat was very near the entrance - Row E, but they'd covered the front three rows with the stage, so I was actually two rows from the front. In fact, I had that whole section of Row E to myself, which was lovely - I spread my belongings over the seats to either side, and relaxed into the comfy leather seat.

The room was quite full, and the performance started a minute or two later. I really had no idea what to expect - maybe some nice African rhythms: and I wasn't disappointed. But this show is so much more. Basically, it's seven women who came from different parts of Africa to start new lives in Australia. Most came as refugees, all suffered in Africa. Most were raped, most suffered as a result of civil war. We know this because, over the course of the evening, we heard all of their stories, each written down and acted out by others in the troupe.

By no means was it a depressing evening, though. They lived through these things, but as the statuesque Eritrean woman pointed out, their stories do not define them. They are strong women, they sing and dance, and displayed the most wonderful array of native costumes. We also heard about the lives they've made for themselves now - and they took care to show us different African dances. They even had a mock quiz about Africa - where I learned that the three most widely spoken languages are English, Arabic and Swahili..

It was a terrific, compelling, powerful evening, and I'm very glad I went. I'd had enough after (just under) two hours though, and didn't stay for the post-show discussion. They're performing again at 7.45pm tonight and tomorrow night - highly recommended if you're around. Booking also recommended.

Tonight, I'm planning on heading to the pictures (unusual for me these days!). I had a look at the film ratings yesterday, but there have been seismic shifts in ratings since then, and top of the list for today is Selma, the film about the late Dr. Martin Luther King's march from Selma to secure voting rights. I'm delighted to get to see it - it's been out for ages and I didn't think I'd get the chance. Obviously, its Oscar coverage helped keep it in circulation, even though it wasn't successful. I've read a review that the film as a whole isn't terrific, but the lead actor, David Oyelowo, is perfect, and I'm sufficiently interested to give it a shot. Tom Wilkinson plays the President, and Tim Roth the Governor, and Oprah Winfrey shows up as Annie Lee Cooper, an activist best known for punching the sherriff. Having been out so long, its listings are limited, and I have to go to Shepherd's Bush to see it at a time I can manage. Which is ok.

Now, a friend of mine at work put me on to a social website called Meetup, which comprises many groups with different interests. None of their events have worked for me yet, but I have booked for a walk of the location of the Great Fire of London, tomorrow afternoon, with an organisation called Ken's Events, which advertises there. I'm always up for a walk through the City - although it's three hours, and I'm not feeling the best just now. Still, we'll see how I feel tomorrow - payment only required if I go, anyway!