First of this season of films at my local Film Society last night was The Page Turner. It’s a French film telling the story of Melanie Prouvost, a girl who moves in to a family home to look after a young boy whilst his father is away on business.
It quickly turns out that Melanie shares an interest in piano playing with Ariane, the mother of the household who happens to be a gifted classical pianist. Ariane invites Melanie to become her page turner at an important concert but, unbeknown to her, she has met Melanie previously and has dangerously placed her vulnerable self in the hands of someone who could wreck both her marriage and her career.
In places The Page Turner is gripping, with director Denis Dercourt rarely opting for the obvious. The build to the inevitable climax is, however, at times a little plodding but the peak itself is a masterpiece in understated drama. A decent start to the new film season.
I am by no means a Classical music expert, but I do enjoy listening to (some of) it when I get a chance. Last night I went to see Classical Spectacular at the Royal Albert Hall.
This concert has become something of a tradition in our family and we’ve been going for a few years now. Its worth pointing out this is not your regular classical music “sneeze at the wrong moment and you’ll be escorted out” concert. If you’ve never been then, well, let’s just say its a unique experience.
Imagine some of the best music played by one of the country’s leading orchestras (in this case the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra), accompanied by the Band of the Welsh Guards with singers from the Royal Choral Society and you’ll get an idea of what it sounds like. Add to this a huge lighting rig, lasers, smoke, pyrotechnics and the Muskets and Cannons of the Moscow Militia and you have Classical Spectacular. As I said, a unique experience.
Last night’s programme:
- Also Sprach Zarathustra (Strauss)
- Ride of the Valkyries (Wagner)
- Zadok the Priest (Handel)
- Finale from Swan Lake (Tchaikovsky)
- Di Quello Pira from Il Trovatore (Verdi) - never heard this before
- Hungarian Dance No 5 (Brahms)
- Soldier’s Chorus from Faust (Gounod)
- Duet from The Pearl Fishers (Bizet)
- The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (Dukas)
- Pomp and Circumstance March No 1 (Elgar)
- Finale from Symphony No 3 (Organ) (Saint-Sa�ns)
- Largo al Factotum from The Barber of Seville (Rossini)
- The Blue Danube Waltz (Strauss)
- Grand March from Aida (Verdi)
- Jupiter from The Planets (Holst)
- Jerusalem (Parry)
- Hornpipe and See the Conqu’ring Hero from Fantasia on British Sea Songs (arr. Wood)
- Rule, Britannia! (Arne)
- Nessun Dorma from Turandot (Puccini)
- 1812 Overture (Tchaikovsky)
- Orpheus inn the Underworld (The Can-Can) (Offenbach)
As you can see, most of the music at Classical Spectacular is pretty accessible. That reflects very much the style of the concert: think Last Night of the Proms, with the audience attempting to beat the orchestra in the Sea Songs and singing and waving flags to Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia.
Some photos I took with my Camera Phone throughout the evening:
A lighting rig that would not look out of place at a Wembley gig
The Royal Albert Hall turns red in Also Sprach Zarathustra
At last, restoration of the Hall’s famous Organ has been completed
Last Night of the Proms, Classical Spectacular style
Even the mushrooms in the roof are part of the concert
The Moscow Militia begin the second half
Fireworks
Cannon and Musket fire in the 1812 Overture
Unique