The London Philharmonic Orchestra with Principal Conductor Edward Gardner ⓒ Mark Allan

Another packed Royal Festival Hall. Classical music is certainly popular – and so it should be when the quality is this high. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2024-25 season continues at a pace. This particular evening, under the title Symphonic Dances, presented three composers and challenged the whole orchestra.

Guest conductor Juraj Valčuha led the orchestra with an easy grace from the start, beginning with Alexander Glazunov’s Concert Waltz No.1, Op.47 – this was joyous in its swaying effortlessness, a whimsical jaunt at times like dandelion seeds on a gentle summer breeze, proving music can be ‘fun’ as well as challenging.

Juraj Valčuha ⓒ LPO

Glazunov’s piece was written in 1893, the year of Tchaikovsky’s mysterious premature death. And it was to this composer that perhaps the highlight of the evening belonged. Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1 in B flat minor, Op.23 (written in 1874) – perhaps made famous to most people by Victor Borge’s hilarious sketch – has been used in many films and television commercials, yet seldom appreciated in its entirety. Played here by the incredible Boris Giltburg, the piece had power and energy in abundance. The orchestra excelled in the Concerto and Giltburg was absolutely astounding on the piano. For me, the brass was a little harsh, but overall, it was Giltburg’s sensitive and awe-inspiring interpretation that dazzled. After much adoration and cheering, he acknowledged the audience and played a short piano solo – Rachmaninov’s stunning Prelude in C sharp minor, Op.3 No.2. The ultimate party piece!

Boris Giltburg ⓒ Chris Gloag

After the interval, the second half belonged to Rachmaninov – from 1940, his Symphonic Dances, Op.45. The three movements are quite different in feel: the first has a pompous, marching content; the second, a melancholy yearning; the third has the feel of a film soundtrack composition – Rachmaninov did score some music for films. Focus should also be given to Lead Violinist Pieter Schoeman, who had a moment in the first movement as though straight out of a film, akin to John Williams’ Schindler’s List where the violin flies above the orchestra achingly seeking some kind of loving resolution.

The whole evening was led by Valčuha and it was a delight from start to finish. The audience left the Hall buzzing and smiling from yet another glorious LPO presentation.

The London Philharmonic Orchestra has a vast range of events at various venues around the country. Check out their website for details – https://lpo.org.uk/whats-on/ .

Principal Conductor Edward Gardner

Artistic Director Elena Dubinets

Dates until Saturday 31st May 2025

Check with the LPO website for details

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A mere five-minute walk from London’s Waterloo Station, overlooking the river Thames, stands the Royal Festival Hall. This is where the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra deliver some of their magnificent concerts. Their latest in a packed programme of concerts enchanted us with Glazunov – Concert Waltz No. 1,Tchaikovsky’s – Piano Concerto No. 1 and Rachmaninoff – Symphonic Dances. Glazunov’s Concert Waltz, is not often performed, so was something of a treat.

The stage was packed with strings, so much so, that I doubt there was space left, for so much as a single triangle, but goodness wasn’t it worth it? The music, so beautiful, even I believed that I could waltz. Sweeping sensual music enveloped the audience and soon we were transported in a dreamlike state, the bows of the string section, swaying in unison like blades of corn, caught by the breeze. Blissful.

All too soon the music, reached a crescendo, and then there was a few minutes for the delighted audience to take stock of what we had just heard, whilst a large section of the strings left the stage, to be replaced by a grand piano, as we prepared to listen to what might be described as a stellar performance by a true virtuoso of Tchaikovsky’s – Piano Concerto No. 1

Boris Giltburg c Chris Gloag

Boris Giltburg is a genius by any measure, and we were privileged to watch him perform his magic at such close range. Swooping over the keys, nose at times hovering just above the keys, this was a rare opportunity to see him tease and coax the notes from his piano. The piece, instantly recognisable, but the playing transcending any familiarity. It was like hearing it for the first time. At times, Giltberg’s fingers were a blur as they flew over the keys, at other time slow deliberate movements, but always mesmerising.

The applause said it all, and we were rewarded with an all too short encore, all this and we were only just at the interval. I should confess that I was unaware of Symphonic Dances, but I was pleased to have my musical education broadened. The piece was composed towards the end of Rachmaninov’s life, his last major piece was written in 1940.

The first movement is a forceful stylised march with brief powerful explosive elements. The middle section is much slower than the first movement with a languorous melody moving from elegance to melodic warmth. Hauntingly gentle, what I would call soul nourishing music. How could I not have come across this piece earlier? The final movement has a slow sombre introduction building a degree of urgency as the music rises and falls, building anticipation with frenetic percussion, and I was not alone to be disappointed, when all too quickly it drew to a close.

Juraj Valcuha conducted with brio and animation, demonstrating taut control, like the ultimate puppet master, bringing out the very best of a fantastically talented orchestra.

If you are near London, I would heartily recommend that you check out the concerts below, and if you are not perhaps this is a good time to plan that trip.

An Alpine Symphony

Fri 21 Feb 2025, 7.30pm – Royal Festival Hall No composer tells a story quite like Richard Strauss – or paints a picture in more fabulous sounds. So when he set out to depict the majesty of the Bavarian Alps, the results are spectacular.

Repertoire

Tania León – Pasajes

Grieg – Piano Concerto

R Strauss – An Alpine Symphony

Pre-concert event: In this free performance, LPO Junior Artists perform alongside Orchestra members, Foyle Future Firsts and Junior Artist alumni in a celebration of vibrant young talent.

Rothko Chapel

Sat 22 Feb 2025, 6.30pm – St John’s Church, Waterloo. Time becomes space, sounds become colours and shapes, and the classical elegance of St John’s Waterloo floods with emotion that’s real enough to touch. It doesn’t take much: just the voices of the New London Chamber Choir and a handful of musicians who believe in every note.

Repertoire

Andrew Norman – The Companion Guide to Rome

Feldman – Rothko Chapel

Symphonie Fantastique

Wed 26 Feb 2025, 7.30pm – Royal Festival Hall. Love, witchcraft, severed heads – it’s all here, painted in psychedelic colours by a supersized orchestra. Superb violinist Augustin Hadelich sets the scene with Britten’s powerful Violin Concerto, also including the world premiere of Sphinx by David Sawer.

Repertoire

David Sawer – Sphinx (world premiere)

Britten- Violin Concerto

Berlioz – Symphonie fantastique

. https://lpo.org.uk/tickets-and-discounts/

Margaret and Dick trotted up to Washington and Brady Square on February 14th to share cake and coffee with their pals, and lose badly at the Valentine’s Quiz. Heavens, did you know that Cupid’s mother was Venus? You did? Heavens again. Try this: Shakespeare mentions Valentine’s Day in which of his plays? Hamlet. Ah ha, gotcha. We didn’t either. Try the anagrams. Eros is Rose. I got that, yes I did. And FTIG = Gift. Then I ground to a halt. Dick did better.

All was arranged by the fabulous couple who have dragged, chivvied and encouraged the CCA into its present amazing bustling self much helped by its updated home. Yes, Marion and Red Shoes Bob had done it again – a brilliant time was had by all though on this occasion it was Marion who was wearing the Red Shoes – she so likes to keep me on my toes.

It was a while since we had been up so there was plenty to catch up on. Joan nipped over and we talked a lot about Brady Square memories. My mum, little Annie Newsome as she was known as a child, would have laughed and laughed. Then we women chatted again, of course, and Red Shoes Bob and Dick discussed whatever it was men discuss, earnestly.

Then it was time to whizz to The Washington Arms near to The Old Hall, which was George Washington’s ancestral home, for our usual fish n chips. No-one does them quite like The Washington Arms then found ourselves trundling home to see two very miffed dogs who know they would LOVE to spend time at the CCA, and would behave – sort of, and just a chip or two at the pub. Is it too much to ask?

Marion shared with us that there is great news coming very soon about a digital hub which is to be set up at the CCA. More later, but we are all so very excited. How wonderful that would be. Frost Magazine will report. Marion and Bob are magic, they make things happen. Lucky lucky CCA.

https://www.facebook.com/columbiacommunityassociation

Entry was free, with donations welcome for Holy Rood House which is a retreat house with a difference, open and inclusive, with a warm welcome for all, Margaret joined the stream of parents with small children, and – well, just adults with no children – all chatting, looking and remembering happy days of simple fun. Above is a lego replica of Holy Rood House, but this was only the beginning.

Street scenes, galore, with a Dad next to us explaining the intricacies to his son and daughter. Yes, daughter, for lego has moved on. Indeed, I bought Wicked from Brickworld@btinternet.com for my grand-daughter:

She will love trecreating the scene on the box.

Then how about the band – striking in black and white –

Oh, and then onto this vibrant scene –

Heavens, that got the kids and dads and mums talking, remembering, while the children expanded their horizons well away from phones, tablets and onto little bricks which can create magic, including landscapes which could ‘Be put on walls, Dad?’

Do you know, we all just loved it, what a buzz, a hubub, a place of dreams, of creation. I do hope Delilah likes Wicked.

When toxic waste chemicals from a secret government research centre creating DNA-changing drugs for the military start to leak into the environment, the effects on the eco-system have sudden and profound effects for humankind’s supremacy of the planet.

As the government dithers and delays, the crisis becomes greater and more widespread, eventually causing an eco-catastophe that unleashes intrigue, intergovernmental friction and diplomatic incidents across the Earth. Will the planet survive in its current state or will the revolution of the species succeed?

It’s all down to one man in particular: but can he create an antidote in time, as he avoids and fights the government and vested interests? And who is working for whom? The planet might never be the same again…

Simon Holder grabs his idea and creates a well paced thought provoking frightening environmental novel. The plotting is superb, the tension ratchets in a sure rising-tension arc, the obstacles, twists and turns, are impeccable and best of all, it is not a lecture but a scenario in which the reader empathises, buys into, cares about – surely it couldn’t happen or could it? The writing is excellent, the sense of place, characterisation and the resolution masterly.

Bravo, Simon Holder. Another belter of a novel to add to: For The Love of a Life, It’s all in the Script!, and A Cultured Pearl and other stories of Love, Longing, Mystique and Hope…

The Revolution of the Species by Simon Holden is a must read. But I warn you, once you start you won’t be able to put it down.

It says ‘Black Joy’ on the poster and there is certainly an overwhelming wave of Black Joy on the stage in this stunning musical.

From the very start, I found myself grinning like the proverbial child faced with a wall of sweets, only this confectionery really is. The story is loosely based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night with mistaken identity, gender swap and the search for love intact. All done to Duke Ellington music with the live band – such a wonderful quintet – easing the characters into each song.

(The Duke and Vyman/Viola)

The setting is Harlem, deep in the 1940s New York jazz scene. In falls the hopeful Tsemaye Bob-Egbe as Viola, desperate to sell her music to The Duke, smoothly played and sung by Earl Gregory. She falls in love with him, but, ‘women can’t write songs’ so she has to don a male disguise and become Vyman.

The woman that the Duke adores is Lady Viv, played by Koko Alexandra. She’s a famous nightclub singer and, in turns, she falls for Vyman.

(Jester, Rev, Miss Mary and Sweets)

Undercutting this storyline is the comedy. Lady Viv’s assistant is Rev (in the Malvolio role). Cameron Bernard Jones’ uptight and ridiculous character shines brightly. He loves Lady Viv, too. The staff (Shakespeare’s Feste, Sir Toby Belch and Maria) are Jester, Sweets and Miss Mary. This trio creates the farce and mayhem at Rev’s expense, instructing him how to win Lady Viv’s heart. Llewellyn Jamal, Lifford Shillingford and Tanya Edwards play these three – all with smiles on their faces and songs in their hearts.

(Rev and Lady Viv)

Director Michael Buffong has a palpable hit here. People leave the theatre humming the tunes and laughing – full of joy! The live music with the ensemble’s wonderful dancing (choreographed by Kenrick Sandy), pitched within the joyous performances of the cast all add up to a marvellous show.

(The ensemble)

Talawa Theatre has toured Play On! around the UK already. It’s a co-production with numerous theatres and has already visited Coventry, Liverpool, Salisbury, Birmingham and Bristol before stopping in Hammersmith. I think this feel-good show deserves a bigger audience – more touring and a West End run. It would please everyone and there’s nothing wrong with that!

Photography Ellie Kurttz Creator Sheldon Epps Book Cheryl L West Director Michael Buffong Musical Supervisor Liam Godwin Musical Director Ashton Moore Choreographer Kenrick Sandy

Venue Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Lyric Square, King Street, London W6 0QL Until Saturday 22nd February

Tickets and showtimes lyric.co.uk/shows/play-on Running Time 150 minutes – this includes a 20-minute interval

Websites www.talawa.com Instagram @talawatc Facebook @TalawaTheatreCompany X/Twitter @TalawaTheatreCo

As the years have slipped quietly by, I must accept that the woman with the wrinkles staring back at me from the mirror is actually me. And when did my hands start looking like a relief map of the Andes? Whatever happened to that beautiful peach-like skin? Surely it was only yesterday? Is there any hope?

Well the good news is – yes, Ladies, there is hope, because I’ve discovered Wildsmith. Wildsmith take good skin very seriously and combine good science with nature in their relentless quest to make our skin the best it can be.

Wildsmith practise an integrated approach to wellbeing at their The Bothy health retreat at Heckfield Place, a wonderful Georgian family home and working estate in the Hampshire countryside, and at The Treehouse, a luxurious treatment facility on the fourth floor of Liberty’s in London. They’ve developed an amazing range of products which they use in their treatments but, and this is the great news, they’re also available for use at home.

Wildsmith research active formulations in their laboratories, which can imitate the skin’s natural systems for integrity and health, then combine these with plant-based actives and essential ingredients for skin health, including oils and butters derived from flowers, herbs, nuts, seeds, roots and barks. They extract many of these ingredients from plants harvested from their Heckfield Place estate, thus guaranteeing the quality. So dedicated are the Wildsmith team that they have even conducted clinical trials to look at the benefits on the skin.

As my skin has become quite dry over time, I am loving the Wildsmith Stillness Nourishing Body Cleanser. It’s made with hyaluronic acid (draws in moisture and supports the skin’s natural barrier), panthenol (retains moisture and acts as an emollient to nourish dry skin), camomile hydrolat (anti-inflammatory, grown and harvested biodynamically at Heckfield Farm), plus essential oils of rose geranium, lavender and roman chamomile, which smell heavenly.

I love how smooth and light the cleanser feels on my skin. Mixed with water it forms a rich lather, but I noticed that, on my dry skin it was absorbed rapidly and completely and left my skin feeling so soft. I’m already noticing a difference in those wrinkles.

The Wildsmith Stillness Nourishing Body Cleanseris £38 for a generous 300ml bottle – a great price for a very high quality product.

If you’re looking for a really special Mother’s Day gift, do check out the Wildsmith website, but don’t forget yourself too – treat yourself, you’re worth it.

By Dr K Thompson, award-winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q
http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

The award recognises authors whose crime writing careers have been marked by sustained excellence, and who have made a significant contribution to the genre. One of the UK’s most prominent societies, the CWA was founded in 1953 by John Creasey; the awards started in 1955 with its first award going to Winston Graham, best known for Poldark.

Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Herron studied English Literature at Oxford, where he continues to live. He began writing fiction while working as a sub editor in London.

His first novel, Down Cemetery Road, was published in 2003. This was the start of Herron’s Zoë Boehm series. In 2008, inspired by world events, he began writing the Slough House series, featuring MI5 agents who have been exiled from the mainstream for various offences. The first novel, Slow Horses, was published in 2010. Some years later, it was hailed by the Daily Telegraph as one of “the twenty greatest spy novels of all time.”

A #1 Sunday Times bestselling author, the Slough House thrillers were adapted into an Apple TV series, starring Oscar-winning actor Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb, and have been published in twenty-five languages. Herron has a long association with the CWA, becoming a member in 2004. Two of his books in the Slough House series have received a Dagger: Dead Lions won the CWA Gold Dagger in 2013, and Spook Street the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger in 2017.

Herron’s Zoë Boehm series is to be adapted into a major TV series starring Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson. Herron is also the author of the highly acclaimed standalone novels Nobody Walks and The Secret Hours.

Mick Herron said: “I’ve spent the best part of my life – not the majority of it; just the best part – in the crime writers’ community, and to receive this accolade from these friends and colleagues is both a career highlight and a personal joy. I’m touched and thrilled beyond measure, and will try to live up to the honour.”

Vaseem Khan, Chair of the CWA, said: “I am delighted that the Diamond Dagger judges have picked Mick as their recipient this year. Few could be more deserving. Mick is the quintessential writers’ writer and his Slough House novels have, by general consensus, reinvented the spy thriller, going on to delight millions on the page and onscreen. The Diamond Dagger is a fitting tribute to a writer whose work has become both cultural marker and record of our time.”

Nominations for the CWA Diamond Dagger are recommended by CWA members. Industry experts then narrow these down to a shortlist. The winner is then voted for by a panel of past Diamond Dagger winners. Recent recipients of the Diamond Dagger include Lynda La Plante, James Lee Burke, Peter James, Walter Mosley, Lee Child, Lawrence Block, Ian Rankin, Michael Connelly, Lindsey Davis, Andrew Taylor, Martina Cole, Ann Cleeves, Val McDermid, Robert Goddard, Martin Edwards, Catherine Aird and Simon Brett.

Past icons of the genre acknowledged with a Diamond Dagger include Ruth Rendell, PD James, Colin Dexter, Reginald Hill, and John le Carré.

The CWA Daggers are now regarded by the publishing world as the foremost British awards for crime-writing. As the oldest awards in the genre, they have been synonymous with quality crime writing for over half a century.The Diamond Dagger is presented at the annual CWA Dagger Awards, dubbed the ‘Oscars of the crime genre,’ which take place this year on Thursday, July 3. CWA website, Facebook, Twitter #CWADaggers and YouTube.