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 »
Posts Tagged ‘edinburgh’…
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 »
Easter Egg-rolling
Laura and I rolled eggs last Sunday for Easter. Any available slope in Holyrood Park was littered with egg remains. I didn’t know it was still so popular. Anyway, I rose to the challenge set by Laura – who does this every year – and painted my egg with great application, but not with food colouring and crayons as suggested, but with acrylic paints. I’m very proud of one of my efforts (we had two eggs each), which can be seen above. It’s such an ephemeral thing, because soon afterwards you destroy your artwork and eat the contents. But I couldn’t help capturing it forever with my camera.
And in case anyone wants to pull me up on my lack of … read on »
©2010 Alistair Robinson