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• SCANT DUBLIN CONNECTION IN TRAVIATA
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ANYONE reading reviews for the new production of La Traviata at London’s Coliseum might be put off by references to its setting in a Victorian-age Dublin against a background of religious conflict. Well, forget that.
Attending the opening night, we were quite unaware of any Dublin connection in the actual performance and the religious conflict aspect seemed confined to one reference to Violetta being a Protestant.
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Tragic Violetta (soprano Emma Bell) in La Traviatta at the Coliseum. |
She was played suberbly by Emma Bell, with the voice of an angel rather than a traviata.
Directed by Conall Morrison, its transference to the 19th century period and its singing in English only served to point up the wonderful Victorian melodrama of a work that can seem comical – but which this Violetta certainly made tragic. The audience loved it.
Twelve more performances through October and November. Bookings www.eno.org
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For a nation of art lovers, the British are timid about acquiring works of art, according to new research carried about by organisers of the Affordable Art Fair. One in ten believe an original piece of art to be a must-have possession but lack the confidence to go out an buy it, and many feel intimidated by the art world and unsure about making that first purchase.
'Trees' by Robert Paterson, Spectrum London gallery.
This Fair hopes to change these attitudes. The event, which takes place from October 19 – 22 at Battersea Park in London, features paintings, sculpture, original prints and photograph, all priced at under £3,000. It includes the Recent Graduates Exhibition, which showcases work from emerging talents. And with free workshops and talks, it provides an informative as well as enjoyable hunting ground in which to explore the affordable art world.
There’s a Private View on Wednesday October 18. For further details go to www.affordableartfair.com
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•Arctic success to be feted
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THE achievements of British explorer, Sir Wally Herbert, are to be celebrated at a gala evening this October at the Royal Geographical Society in London.
Such celebrated explorers as Pen Hadow, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Sir Chris Bonnington and Robin Hanbury-Tenison plus many other public figures are supporting this evening to bring what they see as long overdue acclaim to Sir Herbert.
He lead the first crossing of the Arctic ocean, standing at the Pole on 6 April 1969, and finished the ocean crossing from Alaska to Spitsbergen 29 May 1969. His four-man team were able to claim the North Pole for Britain “unlike the South Pole where Robert Scott was beaten by Norwegian Roald Amundsen in 19ll…”
The details that we have been sent are titled ‘British Explorer Greater than Scott or Shackleton’, a quite unnecessary comparison it seems, and a claim the explorer himself would surely be unlikely to make. Pen Hadow, we are told, was frustrated that Herbert never received his due recognition “while attention and admiration has continued to be lavished on Scott and Shackleton, despite their mixed successes”.
But Sir Herbert seems to have been awarded many medals, had a mountain range named after him and received a knighthood. Not exactly ignored then.
It may be that the British always love a loser, hence the status accorded those earlier explorers, but Sir Herbert's image will not be increased by slighting their fantastic, heroic efforts.
Tickets for the gala performance or the full evening programme may be ordered from www.voyageconcepts.co.uk
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A MIND-BOGGLING display of technology is due to start at the London Science Museum in October.
Pioneering developments will show how artificial memory implants, advanced lie-detection tools that tap into your consciousness, ways of communicating with comatose patients and means of controlling virtual reality suggest that we could become more machine than human.
This and other ground-breaking presentations that take place here should be mandatory events for school children to visit if we wish to encourage a resurgance of interest in science.
Sponsored by Siemens, being staged in the Wellcome Wing, it starts on October 10.
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| A MIND-BOGGLING display of technology is due to start at the London Science Museum in October.
Pioneering developments will show how artificial memory implants, advanced lie-detection tools that tap into your consciousness, ways of communicating with comatose patients and means of controlling virtual reality suggest that we could become more machine than human.
This and other ground-breaking presentations that take place here should be mandatory events for school children to visit if we wish to encourage a resurgance of interest in science.
Sponsored by Siemens, being staged in the Wellcome Wing, it starts on October 10.
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::Handy book of dates
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An invaluable little book just out may enjoy similar success to that of 'Eats, shoots and leaves', even if it doesn't have quite such a catchy title.
This is 'When it Happened' , a concise volume on the history of Britain, listing the Kings and Queens, the battles and other major events, and their dates.
Evidently, research shows that few people remember more than two dates of historical importance, so this provides a handy reference for those who can't remember, were never taught or who need help at the pub quiz.
By historian George Chamier, from Constable & Robinson, on Amazon, £9.99.
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:: Memoir book of a lifetime:: |
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AGAINST the tide of 'memoir' books by young footballers and bimboes hardly out of their teens, this book from John Taylor, late Editor of SAVILE ROW Style Magazine provides a real life story, packed with anecdotes of his childhood radio stardom, exploits in the Fleet Air Arm during WWll and covers his considerable success as a journalist and commentator.
He was Editor of the Tailor & Cutter, of Man About Town, British Style and other style titles, as well as SAVILE ROW, and became the acknowledged authority on the Row and men's style matters.
The book will be celebrated at a party in Savile Row in December and may be ordered through -
www.savilerow-style.com price £18.99 the hardback, £9.99 the paperback.
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