Friday, Friday...

I had an amazing Friday in London with my parents.

We spent the day scurrying between the V&A and the Royal Albert Hall for various concerts and exhibitions.

Our first stop was to the Cafe in the RAH to listen to Violentango, a band of five young Argentinian men playing guitars, bandonians, bells and boxes to a furious tango beat, while a couple of amateur dancers pottered around the aisles in between the tables. It was such emotion-full music, with the perfect contrast of slow and sensual chords, and vigorous strumming. They are playing at Glastonbury this week, along with a load of other gigs in England before they go off of their world tour. I really recommend that you go to see them.

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After that, it was off to the V&A for three exhibitions, two fabulous, and one less to my taste, but still great.

1. The Cult of Beauty - The Aesthetic Movement 1860 - 1900

Beauty for the sake of beauty in art.

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2. Yohji Yamamoto

 

(Above photos courtesy of V&A website)

Fantastic Japanese designer; look him up if you haven't heard of him. Definitely go to this exhibition. Go!

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3. Figures and Fictions - Contemporary South African Photography

The work of some brilliant photographers.

Photographs I couldn't stop looking at.

Photographs I didn't like.

Photographs I didn't like but couldn't stop looking at.

A collection where everyone finds their different favourite.

My personal favourite of the exhibition, by Pieter Hugo, of men from the Xhosa tribe, wearing their customary dress of tweed, after ritual circumcision.

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After a really fantastic meal at Il Portico, an amazing Italian restaurant on Kensington High Street, (great service, great food, great wine, 5 stars from me!) we taxid through the pouring rain to the Royal Albert Hall for one of the best performances I have seen in a very long time.

Titled Strictly Gershwin, it showcased all the Gershwins' great works alongside the beautiful dancing of the English National Ballet, accompanied by their own orchestra, and special guests. Everything about it was sensational: the dancing, the music (adapted by Gareth Valentine), the costumes, the choreography (by Derek Deane).

As George Gershwin is one of my favourite composers of all time, I couldn't have wished for a better concert. So if you are at all interested in Gershwin or dancing, this is something that you just can't miss. Unfortunately it ends today in the Royal Albert Hall, but is touring around the country.

Go to all of this!

Have a nice Sunday

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