These next two days, back with London Classical Music and Theatre Group (LCMTG). Tonight, it was a concert at the Southbank Centre, where Sheku Kanneh-Mason played 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 advertise tickets for this after I'd booked it..!)
I thought about eating nearby. I know there's a Cote very close, but they are always booked up - indeed, for an evening slot, you seem to have to book days in advance! Looking up other local restaurants, hit on Caprini. Now, Google Maps didn't offer online booking for it - so I thought I'd just risk it. I was heading in early, anyway. And my bus arrived at the stop just as I did!
It's just at the top of Waterloo Road, as you approach from the bridge. When I went in, it looked practically deserted - one woman at a table at the side, and it turned out, some people at the upper level at the back as well. When I asked for a table for one, he indicated the small table right in front of him. Sure! I took the side that afforded me a view of the busy road outside:
I've had a thing for calamari for a while now, so started with that - it comes with a slice of lemon and a gloop of tartare sauce. And when he served it, he asked whether I wanted black pepper - thankfully, I said yes, because it works so well! It was absolutely delicious. Chose spaghetti carbonara for my main - and a daunting amount was served to me. I have no complaints - apart from the enormous portion, and the slightly too-salty bacon - and did it justice, finishing about 90% and considering it an accomplishment. They don't have a huge selection of wines by the glass - you can have the house, or the other one. I had the other one. Which was a little sharp, but perfectly drinkable!
The place really started to fill up from after 5.30, with a couple of group bookings for birthdays - so I was glad I came early. The table next to me had a lengthy discussion about the invasion of the Ukraine.. really, you can't escape it! Anyway, service is friendly, food is good, I didn't get the impression I'd be forgotten about (unlike my last Italian meal) - I'd be delighted to come back here again!
It's a short walk from there to the concert hall. En route, I passed Azzuro, which used to be my go-to Italian in the area. I see on the website that, like Cote, they are unavailable to book in the evenings for days in advance. Anyway, I now made my way straight to the hall - seemed to be the first of the group there, and took a seat by the window. When the organiser messaged that she'd arrived, I went to join her, and soon we had a small crowd. Not everyone managed to find us, sadly - but this is a complicated building!
I've never seen this hall so packed - even most of the boxes were occupied. Both halves began with a modern piece - I can't say that either did much for me. They rarely do. You couldn't miss the main performer though - he came on to whooping and hollering! Mind you, he only played one piece - Shostakovich's Cello Concerto #2 - which was, as always with him, beautifully expressed. Shostakovich seems to be his specialty, and he brings great feeling to what can otherwise be quite sombre music. The programme ended on a lighter note, with Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra. And behold, someone in the group who was in the same row as I was remembered where I was sitting, and managed to grab me at the end! so we found another person. Not always easy. And we all had a lovely chat before parting. Some very sociable people in this group, always a pleasure!
Tomorrow, we're back to the Barbican for a concert of Haydn music by the Academy of Ancient Music. There's a talk beforehand about his time in London, so I'll have to get moving early!
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.
On 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..
Next Wednesday, 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. Next day, I'm back to Ireland for Easter - but left it so late to book, I could only get an afternoon flight, and will have to start my new job by asking for that day off work!
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