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24th April 2023 - Lunchtime Recital at the ROH Crush Room
The superbly expressive and powerful voice of the Spanish-born British soprano Alexandra Lowe accompanied by Emma Abate at the piano, delighted us with a variety of songs and arias including works from Mozart, Schubert, Strauss, Britten, Poulenc, Granados, Pauline Viardot and Roger Quilter focusing mainly on the romantic song repertoire.
The variety of the short musical pieces introduced alternatively by both artists was a real delight and Alexandra’s stage presence was impressive.
She has just released her new album “Le Voyage” which focuses on music of the French “Romantic” song repertoire broadly encompassing the period 1860-1920.
The Crush Room perfectly captures the historical splendour of the ROH and is adorned with 17th century Flemish artwork as well as two crystal chandeliers crafted from the original one that once hung in the centre of the main auditorium.
After the performance we enjoyed a light and tasty lunch at the Piazza restaurant on the 5th floor of the ROH which offers a sustainably sourced menu and superb views over Covent Garden.
20th April 2023 - The nederlands dance theatre
The Nederlands Dance Theatre performance on Thursday evening was both powerful and mesmerising. I cannot remember having been so drawn into a dance performance both emotionally and visually!
The evening was divided into three contrasting stories, starting with La Ruta by choreographer Gabriela Carrizo. Set on a road by a bus stop and a junction box, the performance was like a bad dream, macabre and unsettling, yet mesmerising at the same time due to the excellent dancing and choreography.
By contrast, Gods and Dogs by Jiří Kylián was harmonious and dream-like. Set to Beethoven, the fluidity and incredible flexibility of the dancers, along with a shimmering backdrop, was almost hypnotic at times.
The highlight of the show however was Figures in Extinction [1.0] by acclaimed Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite and director Simon McBurney.
Set as a call to arms at the increasing pace of extinction caused by human action, the performance focused on the beauty of what is being lost, forever. From a Pyrenean Ibex to a herd of caribou, a school of graceful handfish, to orchids and glaciers, we were reminded of the pace and magnitude of our actions. An almost comical climate denier reinforced the message but also provided a sense of hope, as he too seemed to be fading into extinction.
In additional to memorable and mind-bending performances we certainly had a lot to talk about over a glass of wine during the intervals!
Photo: Figures in Extinction [1.0] ©RAHI REZVANI 2022
13th April 2023 - Chelsea and Westminster hospital art collection tour
A visit to the hospital is rarely associated with good memories but on Thursday it was a different story which made for a very enjoyable evening.
Sabine Casparie, our guide and Art Consultant for the Chelsea and Westminster hospital, CW+ (the official charity of Chelsea &Westminster NHS Foundation Trust ) led us to the unusual discovery of some of the 2508 art works which form the hospital's collection. Arranged over five floors of this state-of-the-art public building built in 1993, the artworks on display are either donated by generous local patients, artists, or donators, or commissioned by CW+. The size, quality and creativity of the collection are impressive, and it all started thanks to a very enthusiastic contemporary art lover and orthopaedic surgeon, Dr James Scott, founder of the CWH Arts Project. One of the first artworks commissioned by the charity is The Healing Arts by Sir Eduardo Paolozzi, which welcomes patients and visitors in the entrance hall of the hospital.
The CWH is not the only hospital in London that can pride itself on having an art collection, but it is the first one to recognize the importance of art in the healing process. Sabine Casparie’s role is to advise the charity on the artworks to keep, to sell at auction or to commission as well as where or which one to display. Some of the works commissioned are now features of the hospital and will remain permanently. A very good example is the entrance wall of the Reuben Maternity Centre by Adam Nathaniel Furman’s Radiance. Adam’s bright colourful tiles perfectly match the environment and the other pieces of art on display, like Sian Tucker’s Falling Leaves. The Acrobat by the British Pop artist Allen Jones is another example of a piece of art which has become part of the building: it was installed while the hospital was being built and could only be removed by opening the roof. Others will be auctioned, giving the charity a budget to purchase other pieces.
The visit gave us an opportunity to see some of the first pieces of the collection: Patrick Heron’s striking Three Banners and Melvin Chantrey’s Waterfall, a set of 12 panels displayed over several floors, as well as the 16th century Resurrection by Paolo Veronese for which a chapel was built in the center of the hospital.
We then moved to the latest additions to the collection giving it a new dimension: Chloe Dewe Mathews’s photographic works Modern Herbal, Isaac Julien’s digital work Stones Against Diamond, Julian Opie’s three dimensions paintings and the last but not the least Zheyuan Zhang’s Rippling Senses, founder of Studio Inneract. Zheyuan Zhang works on Immersive Healing Art System, which involves digital and IA technologies to contribute to the wellbeing of patients and staff.
While leaving the building, we realised that we would need more than one visit to fully appreciate the quality of the collection.
25th March 2023 - Mayfair Art Exploration Tour
Jolanda Chandler’s inspiring and relaxed tour introduced us to the work of different contemporary artists starting with the German abstract painter, sculptor, graphic designer and photographer Günther Förg at the Hauser & Wirth gallery, which displayed his final series of paintings made between 2005-2010. The Spot Paintings were partially influenced by the colourful blotches of paint in Francis Bacon’s studio when he would wipe his brushes on the walls and door of the studio to remove excess paint.
We then went to the Waddington Custot gallery and focused on the beautiful work of French painter Fabienne Verdier. She paints vertically in ink, standing directly on her stretchers with giant brushes and tools of her invention suspended from her studio ceiling. She studied the art of calligraphy in China and recounts her ten year experience as an apprentice painter in a beautiful book recommended by Jolanda : “Passagère du Silence : Dix ans d’initiation en Chine”.
At the Flowers gallery we looked at the wonderful prints of Brazilian photographer Sebastiao Salgado from this new series Platinum-palladium. He is one of the most celebrated photojournalist working today. Whilst inescapably memorable for their beauty, Saldago’s photographs are laden with political purpose exposing the social and environmental problems facing our planet.
We finished our tour at the NFT Gallery showcasing the Ukrainian graphic designer and illustrator Varvara Alay’s incredibly colourful and intricately detailed work. The Coin Girl series explores the world of blockchain technology and NFTs. Turning art into nonfungible tokens is something that many artists are exploring as a potential way to sell their work. NFTs allow art to be sold in a digital form by establishing the secure ownership of an original digital asset and they can open up access to communities of interested buyers. NFTs offer a new way to prove the ownership of the original item through the creation of a digital register on a blockchain. NFTs, a new concept to most of us, raised a lot of interest and questions in our group.
We enjoyed afterwards the friendly and cosy atmosphere of the Courtyard at the Landsdowne Club just down the road.
14 march 2023 - jack Tyndale-biscoe piano recital at the lansdowne club
We enjoyed an outstanding recital by Jack Tyndale-Biscoe, a talented pianist already known to those of our members who attended our lunch and concert at the end of last October, in the beautiful setting of the Ballroom of the Lansdowne Club.
Once again, Jack played with perfection works by Bach (French Suite No.4 in Eb Major, BWV 815), Beethoven (Sonata No.31 in Op.110 in Ab Major) and the beautiful and emotional Franck’s Prelude, Chorale et Fugue.
Internationally acclaimed and recognised for his talent and dedication to music, Jack Tyndale-Biscoe had a rather unorthodox start in music. He started as an autodidact, learning to play the piano by himself until the age of 15 before pursuing his music education in music schools and conservatory in Australia, the US and now London.
We continued our evening at the Courtyard, enjoying a friendly dinner and conversation.
04 march 2023 - soho gastro tour
Food writer Jenny Linford, author of Food Lovers’ London and editor of the Kew Gardens Cookbook shared with us her knowledge of London’s food scene in a delightful and informative walking tour of Soho and Covent Garden.
We were treated some delicious tasting on the way, which ranged from freshly baked almond croissants and a fragrant cup of cappuccino or expresso, to some exquisite Parma ham and truffle mortadella and British farmhouse cheese.
Walking through China town, we not only tasted freshly baked Chinese buns but also discovered a three story food shop with an extensive range of Chinese and South East Asian foodstuffs, ranging from fresh Chinese broccoli and Thai basil, to a remarkable array of store-cupboard ingredients.
All the shops were a treat to visit and a welcome escape from your typical soulless trip around the supermarket. Some of us had even wisely anticipated bringing a large enough shoulder bag to carry all the food bought along the way!
23rd FEBRUARY 2023 - The vincent Brasserie
We enjoyed a delicious 3-course à la carte dinner which was designed, tested, cooked and served by the Westminster Kingsway College 2nd year student chefs in the Vincent Brasserie.
During the meal, Liane Bhalla-van Veen, a College lecturer and supervisor gave us a very interesting and informal talk on the organisation and history of the College. She also showed us a few of the 13 kitchens in the building, including the Escoffier kitchen serving the high-end Escoffier restaurant, also located in the Victoria Centre. We walked passed the framed photographs of some well-known alumni like Ben Murphy – Head Chef at Launceston Place and Selin Kiazim, one of the few women restaurateurs, who owns and runs Oklava in London.
The Vincent Brasserie training restaurant is one of the hidden treasures of Central London and offers incredible value for money. There is a lunch service Monday to Friday and an evening service Wednesdays and Thursdays, by reservation only during term time.
A perfect idea for a weekday or evening treat!
18th FEBRUARY 2023 - Simone Veil
We started the afternoon with a cup of coffee/tea in the elegant surroundings of the Kensington hotel which gave us the opportunity to catch up with members and get to know new people joining the event.
The biopic “Simone, a woman of the century” completes the trilogy film director Olivier Dagan began with the Edith Piaf biopic “La Vie en Rose” and “Grace of Monaco”. In “Simone, a woman of the century” he paints the portrait of the French politician, women’s rights champion and Holocaust survivor Simone Veil who challenged and transformed her era. In bringing her extraordinary life to the screen, the film also shines a light on some key moments in 20th century France : the Algerian war, the May 1968 riots for example. Her humanist message is still keenly relevant today.
The film quickly climbed to the top of the French box office and has become one of the leading French films of the year. The Cine Lumière auditorium at the French Institute in London was full and testifies for the success of the film here in the UK.
Our group similarly found the Simone Veil’s biopic as inspiring , a woman triumphing in the face of terrible adversity, as it was harrowing with the dark horror of the Shoah in the last part of the film. A powerful film indeed.
9th FEBRUARY 2023 - SYLVIA
The Old Vic beautiful Victorian auditorium was packed with an enthusiastic audience who gave a standing ovation to the cast at the end of the show.
The story of Sylvia Pankhurst and her pivotal role in the campaign for women’s rights certainly did not feel like a history lesson. This dynamic and modern musical was incredibly entertaining, The unusual combination of history, hip pop , funk and soul music was inspiring: The simple set with large moveable blocks to create scenes was very effective and the onstage band gave a modern feel to the show. The black and white greyscale colouring of the entire production with the exception of the red scarf and socks depicting the Labour Party worked very well in describing the oppression of the women at the time. The score was a blend of styles from acapella to rap sections, duets and harmonies to powerful soul numbers.
The excellent cast performed each song with great talent and emotion. Sylvia is creative, diverse and unique and definitely well worth seeing. We left the show feeling uplifted and energised.
28th January 2023 - making modernism exhibition
Making Modernism was an intimate and thought-provoking view of life in the early 1900's in Germany through the lens of four pioneering women: Paula Modersohn-Becker, Käthe Kollwitz, Gabriele Münter and Mariane Werefkin.
Regardless of talent, and privilege in the case of Gabriele Münter who was also in a decade long relationship with Wassily Kandinsky, they were all denied access to the art academies and largely excluded from the canon of their male counterparts.
The central gallery space, devoted to the theme of intimacy revealed Käthe Kollwitz’s powerful drawings and prints. Her self portrait and the etching on paper “Woman with Dead Child” were particularly striking.
It is worth mentioning that Käthe Kollwitz, well known in Germany, has a museum devoted to her in Cologne, and was a member of the International Lyceum Club of Berlin.
We then enjoyed a friendly and warm (thanks to the blankets and heaters!) lunch in the cosy atmosphere of the Courtyard at the Lansdowne Club.
29th April 2023 - Isabella Plantation and Dorich House
We could not have dreamt of a better day to go to the Isabella Plantation in Richmond park. The weather was perfect to visit this beautiful woodland garden planted in the 1830’s, first opened to the public in 1953 and managed by the Royal Parks. The numerous Rhododendrons, Camelias, Azaleas as well as rare and unusual trees and shrubs were starting to come alive with colours.
Dorich House, located less than a 5mn drive away from the Isabella Plantation, is a little gem on Kingston Hill and a discovery for all of us including the locals in our group. The Museum, former home of the internationally acclaimed Latvian figurative and portraitist Sculptor Dora Gordine, holds the major collection of her bronzes, paintings and drawings, and a superb collection of Russian Imperial Art, gathered by her husband, the Hon. Richard Hare.
The two studios, gallery and top floor apartment were all designed by Gordine herself in 1935/6. She lived there until her death in 1991 at the age of 96. Her presence is everywhere in the house with ground and first floor studios connected by an industrial hoist for her heavier works. The upper floors are domestic with a lounge and dining room connected by a circular door. The house was acknowledged for its significance through Grade II listing, it was burgled, squatted and used as a film set before being acquired by Kingston University which took on the restoration and maintenance of this beautiful house. To cover the costs of renovation much of Gordine and her husband Richard Hare’s collection of Russian art was sold in a series of auctions.
Thanks to the recommendation from one of our members, we discovered the Warren Hotel tucked away in the leafy Kingston Coombe Estate. It is a Victorian manor house built in 1865 now grade II listed building with elegant interiors set within 5 acres of beautiful landscaped gardens, the perfect venue for a wedding or afternoon tea or dinner with reasonably priced food.