Classical Partners is the introduction agency for people who love classical music and the arts and it is nice to start the year with news of another success. We were delighted to receive an email this morning from one of our members letting us know that he had got engaged to the girl we introduced him to at our last walking weekend. We wish them all the best for their future together.
As much as I would like to I cannot reveal further details here as we always respect member’s confidentiality. All I can say is if you would like to meet someone who shares your passion for music then visit www.classicalpartners.co.uk or give us a ring on 01582 834334 for a chat.
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
The Sum of Its Parts
Classical Partners, like most businesses, was closed over the Christmas period. However, this did not stop us going to wonderful live performances. We took the family to Monkey: Journey to the West at the specially made tent next to the O2. Our children unfortunately don’t do opera. They prefer the instant hit of pop music and like many youngsters these days the thought of sitting still for a couple of hours is beyond them. I had to sell the connection with Gorillaz and the fact that it was composed by Blur frontman Damon Albarn in order to get them to come along for a their Christmas treat.
I think that it is wonderful what they have done with the Dome, it is now a great venue. I wanted to arrive by riverboat but I am now glad I was talked out of this as it was a really cold day.
The show itself was nothing short of spectacular. The opera is sung wholly in Mandarin with a Chinese cast. The orchestra are heavily augmented with Chinese instruments so it took me a little while to get my ear tuned in, but there are one or two nice arias, I particularly liked the Spider Woman. But this is not really the point as Monkey is a total experience. There is so much happening on stage that I completely ignored the surtitles. The fight scenes are wonderfully produced with the main characters flying through the air. Acrobats and dancers fill the stage and the projected animations are stunning and interact superbly with the live action. The final scene with plate spinners making beautiful floral patterns leaves you wanting more.All in all this is a case of the whole being much more than the sum of its parts. I would not normally want to go to a Chinese circus but would happily go to see Monkey again.
I think that it is wonderful what they have done with the Dome, it is now a great venue. I wanted to arrive by riverboat but I am now glad I was talked out of this as it was a really cold day.
The show itself was nothing short of spectacular. The opera is sung wholly in Mandarin with a Chinese cast. The orchestra are heavily augmented with Chinese instruments so it took me a little while to get my ear tuned in, but there are one or two nice arias, I particularly liked the Spider Woman. But this is not really the point as Monkey is a total experience. There is so much happening on stage that I completely ignored the surtitles. The fight scenes are wonderfully produced with the main characters flying through the air. Acrobats and dancers fill the stage and the projected animations are stunning and interact superbly with the live action. The final scene with plate spinners making beautiful floral patterns leaves you wanting more.All in all this is a case of the whole being much more than the sum of its parts. I would not normally want to go to a Chinese circus but would happily go to see Monkey again.
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