I did culture last night. Last minute email from Megan who had two tickets for a BBC Singers Invitation Concert, did I want to go? Why not. It was free and it was a pleasant twenty minutes walk from the office through the Embassied roads of Belgravia to St Paul's Knightsbridge. We adjourned to the Wilton Arms, which was not unpleasant - I had Shepherd Neame's Masterbrew.
As we queued to enter the church I could not help notice the age profile of fellow concert-goers. Almost all of them were in the 50-80 age group. We only spotted two pairs younger than us, and maybe a dozen in the 35-50 group.
We settled down for the concert, which was introduced by a woman in real Radio Three voice. The theme was the two Elizabeths, which was somewhat excrutiating, but the music was not unpleasant - madrigals and galliards composed to honour Queen Elizabeth I and pieces by Tippett, Britten and Bliss to mark QEII's Coronation. The highlight was Britten's six Choral Dances from Gloriana. The recording took just about an hour and will be broadcast on July 29th at one o'clock.
The compere explained that Betty didn't like Gloriana, ostensibly because it was based on QE I's dalliance with the Earl of Essex, but my guess is that it was all rather lost on a middle-brow, semi-educated person. When she said that, there was a ripple of deferential amusement. A woman in front turned round, as if to exchange a look of loyal admiration, just at the point where I was pulling a face to signify my disdain, or, perhaps, my disgust.
As I said, the music was not unpleasant. The man in front, said, in resounding bass to his companions, as the final appaluse rolled, "Such fabulous music". I wondered what was more depressing, the paucity of his vocabulary or the absence of musical taste.
In my humble opinion, the Britten was excellent and Thomas Bateson's "Hark, hear you not: Orianna's farewell" was second rate, but the rest of the music was third rate, although admirably performed. One madrigal sounds very much like another. Gallairds and madrigals were the pop music of their time. Not exactly mind expanding.
I found the Church curious. I am almost certain that it is Anglican, but I was somewhat confused by the noticeboard outside advertising High Mass and Low Mass, and, inside the smell of incense. I can never really fathom out these Anglo-Catholic churches. Although, I suspect, I should become Anglican. It's the sort of religion where you don't actually have to be religious. I don't think you even have to believe in God. It's just a useful social arrangement, top be called upon for hatches, matches and dispatches.
As I had walked up 'Embassy Row' I had seen no end of cars, mainly attached to Embasies, with number plates in single and low double digits. I probably saw every number from 1 to 40, except thirteen. When we were walking from our second visit to the Wilton Arms, to Victoria Station, I spotted a '13' on a blue open top sports car. Probably A German make.
We had stopped to give directions to some Floridians looking for The Grenadier Pub. I told them it was far too touristy. Amused, they pointed out that they were Tourists.
