I don’t often walk the stretch of Lothian Road between the Usher Hall and St John’s, but for a reason I can’t remember, that’s what I was doing one morning in May, and if a higher power was responsible for this circumstance I’d just like to thank him or her or it.
For that was how I came to see out of the corner of my eye that unmistakeable symbol, “ZAPPA”, on a poster amongst other posters clustered around a door. I jerked to a halt and exclaimed out loud, “Jesus!” The door turned out to be that of the HMV Picture House – which I didn’t even know existed – and the poster was advertising the upcoming tour date – … read on »
Archive for the ‘edinburgh’ category…
Artists, Please Expand Your Horizons
Two Horizons is the name of an exhibition at the Scottish National Gallery Of Modern Art that I went to recently, but my topicality is lacking again because I notice it has just ended. No matter: I went so that you don’t have to, and I’m eager to share my thoughts – but that’s probably only because it gives me the chance to have a rant about conceptual art.
Taken from a private collection of fairly new art, it was a mixed bunch. I enjoyed a few of the pieces (but, let’s face it, good reviews are boring, so feel free to skip a few paragraphs.) Marc Camille Chaimowicz’s Man Looking out of a Window and Arch together were fascinating. The … read on »
Messiaen Around
Last night I went to the Edinburgh International Festival performance of Olivier Messiaen’s Eclairs sur l’au-delà – which is usually translated as Illuminations of the Beyond – at the Usher Hall, played by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra with a sprightly young fellow named Ilan Volkov conducting.
In my seat in the upper circle I waited for the first chord, which begins the piece in a strangely unassuming way, catching you unaware, as if the orchestra is picking up a performance midway through – which helps give it an eternal, cyclical quality. But when the performance started I was puzzled. I didn’t recognize it at all. I mean, yes, it’s an unassuming opening for sure, and I’d listened to it only … read on »
©2010 Alistair Robinson