The London Philharmonic often host concerts at reasonable prices and it’s worth keeping an eye out on their ‘what’s on’ or registering for email updates.

This evening we were treated to a concert at the Royal Festival Hall.  The ticket price was £12.  As we met on the balcony before the concert overlooking the Thames, glass of bubbles in hand and looking out at the twinkling lights of Londontown opposite, the week seemed already like a long way away.  What a wonderful way to spend a Friday evening.

Faultless performance that kept us all enthralled with every note.

17 May 2013 7:30pm

JTI Friday Series

Stravinsky Jeu de Cartes
Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2
Shostakovich Symphony No. 6

Vladimir Jurowski conductor
Patricia Kopatchinskaja violin

Prokofiev’s second Violin Concerto is said to represent the composer’s focus on a ‘new simplicity’, but it’s a warm, heartfelt piece nonetheless as the composer’s long-breathed melodies mingle with moments of haunting stillness and thought. Shostakovich, too, had to alter course with his Sixth Symphony. After the Soviet authorities accepted the masked rebellion of his Fifth, Shostakovich felt compelled to be more honest and open; under the surface of the Sixth – first brooding and then bustling – emerges a grotesque picture of persecution ending in a gallop that portrayed, for one commentator, ‘a brazen display of vulgarity.’

Stravinsky: Jeu de Cartes (Card Game) [Ballet in 3 Deals] – Premiere donne (First Deal): Alla breve – Moderato assai – Tranquillo
Stravinsky: Jeu de Cartes (Card Game) [Ballet in 3 Deals] – Deuxieme donne (Second Deal): Alla breve – Marcia – Variazioni 1-5 – Coda – Marcia
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63 – I. Allegro moderato
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63 – II. Andante assai – Allegretto – Andante assai
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 54 – I. Largo
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 54 – III. Presto

I just love love loved reading this book.  I remember quite a lot of media out and about when it was first published.  Lots of excitement and chatter.   Mostly to ask if Mark Haddon had actually written the book himself or if it was written by someone else without being diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome!  This spurred me on to read the book and find out more.  Just because someone has a disability doesn’t meant that they can’t function.

So when I read and loved the book I was completely in awe of Mark Haddon.  Firstly his ability to write a book when so many of us ‘have a book inside us’ but never actually concentrate long enough to write it down!  Secondly, his telling a story that was so personal and yet making us all understand, just a little bit more, about what it is to live with Asperger Syndrome.

Mum read it too and I remember lengthy conversations about the book for a long time after we both read it.

So a few days ago I was listening to the radio in the car.  The Olivier Awards were being broadcast and I heard that a play of this book was up for an award.  Obviously I’ve completely missed that this play even existed until I heard this.  Why had I not seen it yet?  What do they mean it’s nearing the end of the run?  Importantly, Mark Haddon was also involved in the stage production as well which spoke volumes about its authenticity to the book.

They won an award too… well actually they won all 7 awards that they’d been nominated for.  Wowza. (Guardian)

I had to see it before it closed.  First thing I did when I got back home was book two tickets.  The only two tickets remaining!  We’re up in the Gods in the back row but who cares.

Today I saw the play.  Incredible.  The set is truly quite something.  It’s fast paced and frenetic in parts.  The actors are mindblowingly brilliant.  How they remember all the lines.. particularly the lead played by Luke Treadaway.

It’s an absolute must to see.  It truly will make you think.  Rumours are the run is to be extended… let’s hope so.

Did you see it? What did you think?

Wikipedia