‘Finlandwich’. Review of Philharmonia concert. By James Mullighan.

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‘Finlandwich’. Review of Philharmonia concert, Thursday 30 September 2010, Royal Festival Hall, London. By James Mullighan.

Even the die-hardest classical music fan – and if you were in the Royal Albert hall over the summer, you’ll know they can die quite hard – feels a little over-intoxicated come early September. Once the triumphant BBC PROMS [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11262698] crashes to its jingoistic culmination, it’s time for a detox, and the great British orchestras to slump down for a rest. The last week of September see the lights snap back on in the Royal Festival Hall, Barbican Centre, Cadogan Hall and beyond. It’s back to school.

A favourite of the top of the season is the opening concert from the Philharmonia, under the baton – and sometimes elegantly baton free hands – of its superstar Finnish Principal Conductor and Artistic Director, Esa-Pekka Salonen, still whiffing more than vaguely of glamour, post his tenure at the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Salonen is one of Finnish culture’s proudest exports, and one of the finest exponents of that country’s music. And so a Autumn curtain up on a Sibelius double bill, wrapped around an hall-filling programming of Beethoven’s 5th Piano Concerto, played by peripatetic top-line glamour-puss pianist Helene Grimaud, all like some kind of pickled fish flavoured Oreo.

Grimaud wasn’t content with being mere insurance against tricker fare. Her Emporer was superb: engaging, strident, powerful, moving, a reminder that this most beloved of concerti was, in its day, truly, angrily revolutionary, far less a natural extension of Classical sensibility, more a precursor of the arch Romanticism of Rachmaninov, perhaps even also an ancestor of latter 20th Century minimalism. Fascinatingly nuanced, semi-quaver accurate, excitingly virtuosic, Grimaud’s performance was very muscular: in the ending moments she’d palpably spent most of the energy she’d packed, and in the hush before the rollicking 3rd movement coda, I could hear some middle register strings slightly out of tune – even the piano was tired.

Sibelius’s Finlandia is perennially popular – a nice bouncy showcase, especially for the rather excitable lower brass, who with one quick bark often drowned out all forty or so violins. That’s one of the very few problems with the RFH’s re-engineered acoustic – mid range strings are easily swamped. The Hall is never best than with massed forces playing quietly; but as soon as a couple of trombones, say, step on the gas it all gets somewhat rock in the canoe.

The main order of business was Sibelius’s Lemminkainen, a near hour-long set of tone poems, depicting the decidedly odd travails of the eponymous hero warrior – lands of the dead, dismemberings, wailing sirens, an evil swan: plenty of meat here for musical depiction. The centre two poems are well known, the haunting, hushed, wickedly beautiful Swan of Tuonela especially. Salonen transformed what is too commonly a bath salts listen into something genuinely unsettling.

Unlike some of his more transparent late nineteenth century contemporaries – Dvorak, say – Sibelius takes a little work, often pulling the music he’s unfolding in a different direction from what you’re expecting. That’s a factor, I’m sure, as to why I find him so psychologically interesting – with rhythms and melodies, especially, he’s constantly wrong footing you. Perhaps not being Finnish, or even Nordic, I find myself defining Sibelius by listing comparatives that he resolutely ISN’T – he’s not Mahler, nor Wagner, nor Tchaikovsky, let alone Shostakovich, although it is fans of those who are his core base. No, he is his own icy yet fiery self: repressedly clenched yet frequently astoundingly lush. And having those dichotomies explored by the great Philharmonia in tip top form, led by Salonen who has Sagas coursing in his veins was exhilarating stuff.

New play raises funds for Pakistani Flood victims.

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An award winning play about Eva Shloss, Auschwitz survivor and step-sister of Anne Frank, is raising funds for the Pakistani flood victims. The play is supported by leaders from Britain’s Jewish, Muslim and Asian communities as well as other prominent figures, including Zac Goldsmith MP.

At a press conference Eva was joined by the play’s producer/director, Nic Careem, a Muslim. Nic has used the play to combat extremism across the U.K and in many other countries.

Dr. Eva Schloss, announced the special showing that will be on at the Garrick theatre in London. She made this comment:

‘ Many people were saved from the tragedy of the Holocaust through the action of others. A major tragedy is now unfolding in Pakistan with over 14 million people affected by the floods, who are at risk from diseases spread from contaminated drinking water and flooding after further rainfall. There is much we can do to help them.’

For tickets please go to: http://www.remotegoat.co.uk/event_view.php?uid=115080

All proceeds go to charity.

{Disclaimer: Frost’s editor – and writer of this article- is in the play}

The Fighter's Ballad Preview {Film}

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Films set in London can’t help but resonate with it’s residents and ‘The Fighter’s Ballad’ opens with various shots of London and it’s landmarks so from the start I expected it to portray some of the characteristics and problems of present day London. And I wasn’t disappointed. Set and filmed in St Leonard’s Shoreditch Church, round the corner from the hedonistic playground of the youthful and trendy that is Hoxton, a world weary Reverend (Clive Russell) carries out his mundane day to day duties to a dwindling congregation.
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St Leonard’s is also the setting for the television show ‘Rev’ and has been described as “one of the country’s most bleakly beautiful buildings.” It’s name might be familiar from the nursary rhyme ‘Oranges and Lemons’ and Shakespeare is said to have worshipped there but these days the flock is the homeless and drug addicts.
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The plot continues when a violent, desperate man breaks into the Church bringing with him the anxiety and anger of contemporary society. This is The Fighter (Peter Cadwell) and as his name suggests he’s violent. He’s also a soul in turmoil, seeking meaning in life, faith and redemption.
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The Fighter’s Ballad is an adaptation of an original stage play written by Peter Cadwell who plays The Fighter. Although film is very dialogue heavy, the performances were strong enough to carry it off. Russell’s portrayal of Reverend John was natural, utterly convincing and at times very moving. Russell’s grand stature (6’6″) didn’t prevent him from coming across as a vulnerable character. Cadwell, more used to the stage, brought an energy to the nameless fighter that’s not often seen on a screen. The Fighter’s dialogue being lyrical and almost rap-like, the extra energy came in handy bringing the angry, troubled character to life.
The film is superbly shot, if a little dark in places, on digital SLR cameras. They make full use of the dereliction of the building and the features inside.  A grand piano covered in water stained dustsheet says everything about this supposed sanctuary surrounded by gritty inner London.
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The Fighter’s Ballad was screened at Bafta on 30th September and will continue to go on to bigger and better things.

Young people in politics, Part 1: Young Conservatives & Zac Goldsmith strike gold at Kingston University.

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I recently joined the Richmond Park Conservatives and Zac Goldsmith at the Kingston University Fresher’s Fayre. Their aim? To start a Kingston Conservative Society. No mean feat since most people, when they are young, are incredibly left leaning. They need at least 10 members, or no go.

None of this is helped by the fact that, directly opposite, is the Socialist worker’s party, The Marxists and, less worrying, the Liberal Democrats. The Socialist Worker party chant, rather inaccurately “No Tory cuts!” When I point out to them it’s “coalition cuts.” I get a blank look.

Left to right: Editor Catherine Balavage, Zac Goldsmith, Ben Howlett.

The Project manager of the event is Gus Magalhaes. I interviewed Gus, 22, who”s Richmond Park CF is Canbury Ward Chairman and is policy formulator. He had some interesting things to say.

1) Why did you go into politics and why conservative?

I went into politics because I was passionate about making a difference in people’s lives and I felt politics was a good way to do this. I am a firm believer in giving individuals the opportunity to shape their own futures and this ties in well with the Conservative way of thinking with ideas such as meritocracy and entrepreneurship.

2) How do you think we get more people involved in politics?

I feel that in order to get more people involved in politics we need to engage them in issues that are relevant to their lives – a bottom up approach as opposed to a top down outlook. The best way this can be achieved is by inspiring localism as opposed to ‘big government’.

3) Tell me about setting up the Kingston Conservative society.

Setting up Kingston University Conservative Society was challenging, and at some points daunting, as in recent years it has failed to get off the ground but it has been worthwhile considering the numbers we have recruited. I am very proud of the society and of everyone who worked with me to achieve it success.

4) How big a help has Zac Goldsmith been to CF?

Zac Goldsmith has played a pivotal role in CF in Richmond as he has taken a keen interest in supporting its objectives and has provided vital support on numerous occasions. Zac himself has made CF a more formidable and respectable force within the Conservative Party.

5) You got 186 members. How does that feel?

Cracking! I am overwhelmed by the amount of students that signed up to the society over the two days of Fresher’s Fayre. This is a true testament to what I said before about engaging people in the right way in politics – you can get people interested in politics if it is presented in the right way. No one would have expected Kingston University to have delivered the biggest Conservative Society in London.

Gus Magalhaes

6) The Socialist worker’s party has been unpleasant. What is your reaction to people who automatically think all Tories are evil?

One of the great things about our country is that everyone is entitled to their own opinions, whichever side of the political spectrum that you may stand. Our challenge as Conservatives should be to continue to try and engage as many people in politics as possible.

7) What’s next?

The first and most important priority is to ensure that Kingston University Conservative Society continues to build on its recent success and build on its membership. After that, I would love to help in making Kingston – upon – Thames a Conservative seat once again.

Gus is joined by Ben Mallet, Nicholas Clarke, Ben Howlett – Who, a few days later, gets voted in to be Conservative Future Chairman-, Carrie Apples Symonds and Charlotte Borg. All young and passionate people who believe in making a difference.

I bring along Frost photographer, Anthony Epes to take pictures and the day ends up becoming an unqualified success. They get 186 new members. None of this is hurt by the presence of Zac Goldsmith. He pacifies the Socialist Worker’s party by listening to their questions and answering them with grace and dignity. He walks around the fayre and gives people his email address, invites them to have coffee with him. His manners stretch to the CF members. They are called ‘tory scum’ for two solid days and give it the contempt it deserves. One wonders why someone’s political believes means that can’t be friends with someone who has different ones. What a dull world that would be.

This is what Zac Goldsmith had to say about the fair: “there was real enthusiasm among students, but even so, I was amazed by the number of new members. I look forward to holding lots of events at the University.”

If you are a young person in politics and have a story to tell, contact info@frostmagazine.com

The Ed Miliband Wagon by Richard Wright {Politics}

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So Labour has a new leader. Ed Miliband. Never mind that he’s 40 years old and he looks like he’s just a work experience party leader getting to try it out for a bit. He’s true Labour. “Red Ed” is how they opposition are choosing to tarnish him. Oh no, socialism in the labour party who would have though such a thing would happen again. Why it’ll be the end of middle Britain as we know it. But Mr Miliband has a tough balancing act to perform and a mighty job to perform. But he’s has the job 5 minutes I don’t need to make my mind up about him just yet do I? Cause I don’t really know that much about him. And there is a reason for that.

This wasn’t how it was meant to go. David Miliband was the Miliband that was meant to be leader, not Ed. But Ed played the game of politics well. With endorsements from Labour Party luminaries such as Neil Kinnock and Roy Hattersley, the younger Miliband was making sure of a traditional support base within the party, a support base that had been ignored by the two previous Labour Leaders and Prime Ministers of our country, trade union members. And what endorsements they are because if it’s one thing Neil Kinnock knows its winning elections. Well, sort of.

As for experience Bob a Job Ed, another age joke there. If not as good an age joke, can boast a record as cabinet minister. He was Secretary of State for Climate and Energy Change, Or Energy and Climate Change. Whichever one has to come before the horse on that particular front. He also spent time as Minster to the cabinet office and Chancellor of Duchy of Lancaster. And if you think that job makes him sound like something out of Dickens then you’re not alone. He has spent time around such winners as Gordon Brown and former US Presidential Hopeful John Kerry. So clearly that’s where he picked up his charisma. Or at least realised the importance of it.

His speech to the Labour Party Conference, his first as Leader of the Labour Party, was impressive but if you can’t tell from the tone of this article I’m quite definitively hedging my bets. Because he says we are optimists in this country, and I honestly don’t think we are. I think we like to complain and I think we are ultimately quite pessimistic, and it was fears and pessimism that lead to the Government we have now rather then hope of change. I applaud optimism, I applaud a call for a grown up debate in this country and his comments on the War in Iraq are measured and, I feel, correct. Can Ed Miliband bring about a political atmosphere at Westminster that will lead to grown up debate? I very much doubt it, but we will see over the next 6 to 12 months if Ed Miliband can indeed create a Miliband Wagon and if he can I will be more then happy to jump on it.

Richard Wright

Boyarde on Saatchi, Belize, Charlotte Dellal: How an artist finds their voice. {Art}

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I met artist Boyarde through her mother, Nike. I was immediately taken by how original and beautiful her work is. I think Boyarde is a visionary. So, even though she is ridiculously busy, I got her to sit down and tell me about how she makes her fabulous photography, her inspiration and her idea to create a new piece with the help of her friend Charlotte Dellal. Read on…

Boyarde.
I was always destined to be a painter, at school at Bedales, everyone ‘knew’ I was going to be a great painter one day, destined for big things; after going on to do my foundation at Wimbledon School of Art, I suddenly dropped the paint brush, flipped the coin, and decided to do a degree in photography much to everyone’s surprise. And for years i listened to ‘she was so talented, she should have stuck to painting, her photographs are nice, but her paintings were stunning’…. I set out to prove them all wrong!

I was doing commercial photography in London after graduating with BA hons in photography from Bournemouth Arts Institute. At first i wanted to go into fashion, to follow in my mothers foot steps, but it became clear i was more of an environmental portraitist, interested in creative portraits from album covers to even doing music videos. In late 2006 my great friend set up her art company and asked me to create a body of work for her first show in Fulham, she said I had 2 months!

So having studied Kitsch and Post feminism at uni I decided to follow my love: to photograph and empower the female body, and to bring out the inner goddess.. I had dipped in and out of this idea for a while but now it was time to create. So out of nowhere i whipped up my goddess photographs and sold and got incredible feedback; i suddenly realized that perhaps i was a photographic artist after all, as i had never felt worthy enough to actually put my pictures on the wall.

The show was at the end of 2006 and i had my tickets booked already to go for three and a half weeks to Belize, in Central America, to photograph a friends wedding, and go and hang out at their brand new restaurant. I had never heard of Belize, I didn’t even bother to look what part of the globe i was going to! But it became pretty apparent that within a week or so, i had taken more creative pictures there than i had in 2 years in London. I felt so free, i felt alive, and the combination of the sun, the simplicity of the Caribbean lifestyle, the free spirit of the people and my subconscious need to get away from the constraints of the London rat race, enabled me to feel truly inspired for the first time in years.

The rest is history and when i came back i had this empty feeling inside that i had left my heart in Belize. So i started exhibiting my work and got the money to go back for a few weeks by myself which at the time seemed totally normal but actually i see was a bit bonkers! But i had made friends, i had found my place in a little village, and i was welcomed back with open arms. It was there that i had already made friends with this gorgeous belizean girl whose self esteem was completely battered. In Belize, it is not normal to photograph women the way i do, to photograph them nude. But this girl saw my work and she loved it and she asked me to photograph her. She became my belizean goddess, my muse and we started doing lots of photographs together. I brought a set of body paints over, i missed painting so much and was desperate to find a way to incorporate the brush, and through the help of the paint covering her body in one sense, it helped her to release her body in the other: i brought out her inner goddess. I started showing the work over here, and the reaction was incredible.

Nudity in photography is a strange thing in the western world still, but in a third world country it can automatically be seen as dirty or wrong. Men and more importantly, women, loved the pictures and i started getting other girls asking me to photograph them, it was such an amazing feeling knowing i was helping to transform the way the women looked at their bodies in a alpha male dominated country. My original muse gave me the biggest compliment of my life: she told me i had transformed her life forever and made her see how beautiful she was, i had given her her confidence back and her self esteem and she was proud of her body.
I still had many hurdles to over come with the stigma attached to nude photography, but i carefully and quietly started to build my new portfolio of photographs up.

I had to come back to England where i realised i needed to have Belize in my life, and slowly started the transition of my dual life, half in Belize, half in London. In the mean time i continued to exhibit in London, and i quickly saw that another element of my nudes, the bottoms photographs, were incredibly popular. what started from a snap shot of my girlfriend’s bottom sunbathing in the south of France in a pair of ‘naughty’ knicker on a totally accidentally matching colour towel, that sat on my computer hard drive for two years, quickly escalated into my best selling piece!

The Cynthia Corbett gallery in London, took my work on, starting with just the bottoms, and they were a huge success, selling my colourful bottoms in London, New York and Paris. We realised i was onto something, the demand for bottoms was high. I think it is because my bottoms are nudes technically, but they are fun, frivolous, mischievous and very colourful. they are sensual at best and definitely not sexual.

So i took this idea over to Belize, with my brand new set of paints and started slowly on creating a new body of hand painted bottoms to compliment my hand painted nudes. I was covering the idea of bringing out the inner goddess, from all angles, literally!!! My painted bottoms in the style of zebra and leopard patterns caught on, and despite the beginning of the recession, people still wanted bottoms!

So i go every year to my beloved Belize, where life is so simple, to create my body of work to get my inspiration. Life there is funny, it has helped me grow enormously as a person, and when i come back i appreciate London so much more, but i learn to disconnect from the parts i don’t like. London is a rat race, its mutli cultural and glorious but it can be so crammed with layers of whose who and whats what, and whose got the best job and the best restaurant reservation, that sometimes people don’t actually get to ‘live’ their lives. They stop feeling extreme emotion, smothered by the layers of London, so that some people never truly unravel their full potential.

In Belize, sitting on the beach in a small village, when life is hard, its really hard, and when life is great, it is fantastic and orgasmic, there are no layers to cover up those simple reactions and emotions. I have been through a lot of good times there and also bad times, but i cherish them all for helping to actually feel my true emotions and not cover them up conveniently under layers of cotton wool. It has also helped me appreciate the simpler things in life, i am quite a odd bod now, i am just as happy sitting on the beach, eating a plate of rice n beans, and playing cards in a pair of flip flops and jeans, as i am dressing up in a pair of sky scraper shoes, going for delicious dinner in a gorgeous restaurant in London, drinking sumptuous burgundy white wine! I love London, through Belize, Belize has helped me to love London… but i do love my simple life!

Anyway, so my dual life started, i started making the bottoms and it is this year that i threw myself into it and created a massive new collection of hand painted bottoms, i had so much fun painting, the women had so much fun, it was so liberating! And this collection is going to be exhibited, split between the Saatchi gallery and Art London Chelsea both at the same time!

and bouncing backwards a bit…

Tracey, the founder of Art of Giving came to one of my shows last year, i was exhibiting with Jason Bradbury, and she loved my work and immediately asked me to be involved in the Saatchi show and of course i was delighted and said yes yes yes!

It was only this year in July that i came up with the idea of doing an actual body painting installation for the event; this occurred because i was starting to get so bored of having to repeatedly tell people i hand painted the bodies, not the photographs, and nor did i project paintings onto the photographs. Even standing in front of my art pieces, the photographs of painted bodies, people still get so confused! And i technically am a trained painter, and i love painting i miss it when i don’t get to paint, so what a great idea to get the message across in the most gorgeously fabulous way! I was then asked to team it up with some kind of fashion designer for example and immediately jumped to mind, was my great friend Charlotte Dellal and her amazing shoes. She is so talented and her shoes are like pieces of art work in their own right. I have 5 pairs!!!! whenever i wear them to my private views i always get people asking about them and asking to take pictures its brilliant, although sometimes i say ‘you can photograph my feet in front of my art work’ ha ha!

I asked Charlotte and said i wanted to paint some godesses in the style of her shoes and she thought it was a brilliant idea. and that is that! I am currently making the designs for the body paints, but its going to be spectacular, no expense spared. Charles Fox, professional makeup, where i get all my body paint from is sponsoring me and we are going to make these girls look incredible, there is no way you are not going to notice these women! I am also trying to promote healthier toned curvy women, and am not using below a size 10, i want girls who look after themselves but eat healthily and embrace their bodies, and together we are going to liberate the inner goddess tee hee!

Victoria Aitken on music, film and fashion.

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1) You have tried a few different careers in your life. What is your favorite?

Same ones as you…Aren’t you also a writer and actress ? [I am indeed – Editor] I love being a singer songwriter as its a combination of being a writer and actress. But love acting too as its so fun-I almost gave it up but this year was great-a fun film I just acted in Persuite just got into rain dance and this summer I acted in film – called the lotus eaters, the script was amazing- and they have lots of great bands music in the film.

2) Who are your musical influences?

Ace of Base, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Dave Aude – I love his remixes- I also was just listening to some Bimbo Jones remixes which are great.

3) Who is the most inspirational person you have ever met?

That varies from time to time, right now its very inspirational listening to Glam Scum radio -its not your usual kind of radio station , check out www.glamscum.com

4) Do you think being called Aitken is a help or a hindrance ?

In music- a hindrance for fashion parties it helps- helps with some things, hinders things with others.

5) Your music career is going well. How does that feel?

It feels amazing ! I can hardly believe I’ve had 4 songs in the charts one after the other.

6) Where do you get the inspiration for your songs?

Usually men ! As Lady Gaga’ would say usually from some “Bad Romance”

7) Where do you hang out in London?

Bungalow 8 , Whisky Mist – Piers Adam is amazing- I ran into him in the street recently and he has been very kind. Also Guy Pelly- who used to be the man behind Mahiki has a new venture (place) coming soon and knowing him, it will be somewhere amazing –

8) What are your favorite designers?

Latisha Reuss- I love her rings, Just Bluff for T-shirts, Gina for shoes,
Mecura sunglasses are amazing.

9) What is your proudest moment?

Getting to number 7 in the dance charts without a record label.

10) What’s next?

New songs

Thank you Victoria.

ENGLAND RUGBY STARS CLOSE LONDON FASHION WEEK IN STYLE BY STRIPPING OFF FOR CHARITY

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It takes a lot to get Genevieve and I excited. Rugby stars Ugo Monye, Danny Care, Nils Mordt and Seb Stegmann stripping off to help Ghanaian children’s charity AfriKids, managed to do it though.

Perfectly toned Rugby stars Ugo Monye, Danny Care, Nils Mordt and Seb Stegmann got their kit off in support of Deutsche Bank’s charity of the year, AfriKids, bringing London Fashion Week to a close with The Alternative London Fashion Event. I have never heard grown women scream so much in my life.

Monye made his first public appearance for the Ghanaian children’s charity AfriKids, bringing along his England Rugby pals to bare all (well, almost!) for the evening and support the event, at the exclusive One Mayfair. The beautiful converted church setting showcased some of the world’s most recognised designer’s autumn and winter collection pieces, alongside some African designers connected to AfriKids. Not only did the England stars parade in the designer underwear, but guests also bid for the skimpy items protecting their modesty in an auction at the end of the night.

Thanks to the likes of Jaeger, Ted Baker, The Couture Gallery, Wolford, Frank Usher and many other designers who donated pieces from their latest collections, nearly £20,000 was generated on the night which will go directly to help improve life for Ghana’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children, including the ‘spirit children’.

During the evening the audience were also given the chance to bid for a dinner date with Ugo and former England Captain Nick Easter

About AfriKids.

AfriKids is a Child Rights organisation set up nearly a decade ago to work on traditional children’s projects including foster homes, schools and street child centres and also more groundbreaking initiatives which tackle complex cultural issues, including child trafficking, child labour and the spirit child phenomenon. During her gap year in 1997, Georgie Fienberg, Founder of AfriKids, realised that there was a dire need to prevent the deaths of so-called ‘spirit children’. ‘Spirit Children’ are those whose mothers die during childbirth, which are then regarded by African society and culture as outcasts to live and survive on the fringes of society.

As well as financing and delivering sustainable child rights projects, AfriKids owns and runs businesses, including a medical centre, an eco-lodge and several ethical trade programmes. AfriKids aims for its Western office, based in London, to be redundant by 2018.

www.afrikids.org