We were mixing with the well heeled last night when we went to see Figaro at the Royal Opera House. The new quaffing champers and eating bit is amazing – that’s to look at and the prices. The auditorium seems unchanged, still too hot but the production was pretty good, some very nice singing although I thought the Cherubino was a bit on the quiet side. Sir Charles Mackerras was conducting, a pretty ancient old boy now. I remember him conducting a little something for us at Granada Television many moons ago. I was in the gallery having nervous breakdowns as he repeatedly stopped the orchestra as he wasn’t happy with the violins. Those were the days when if you went into overtime there was hell to pay and you stood a fighting chance of the electricians departing before you had finished.
We stayed in Kew, outside the congestion zone, very quiet hotel, and took the train from Kew Bridge into town back, very convenient and quite fun.
This morning we went to Kew Gardens to look at the walkway through the tree canopies. I found this postivitely terrifying as when you get up there you can see through the floor of the walkway to the ground below. I had to come down and take refuge in the temperate zone glass house, very calming.
Alex A –
I keep meaning to try the canopy walk. Looks amazing.
Matt –
Cool! Tom and I are going to see Figaro tonight!