Liverpool Echo - Culture Chat

concert at liverpool university to mark rodewald anniversary

2012-01-26T13:17:50Z

A CONCERT takes place this weekend to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of musician Alfred E Rodewald who was founder of the Liverpool Orchestral Society - and after whom, of course, the Phil's Rodewald Suite is named.

]]> The University of Liverpool's School of Music and the Rodewald Concert Society (RCS) are hosting the afternoon of chamber music on Sunday.
The RCS was founded in 1911, eight years after Rodewald's death, with the aim of giving performances of string quartets and other chamber music and offering lectures on musical subjects.
The programme for the celebration concert has been specifically selected because of its links with Alfred E Rodewald and will feature works by Elgar, who was a close friend, as well as new compositions.
It takes place at 2.30pm on Sunday in the Herculaneum Room at Carnatic House, the university's halls of residence in Mossley Hill.
Tickets for the concert are £14 (£15 on the door), with students £8, and are available on 0151-709 3789 or 0151-795 3129.

british orchestras conference descends on liverpool

2012-01-18T15:48:33Z

"If someone threw a bomb in this room that would wipe out the whole of British musical culture," (semi) joked someone who will remain nameless sitting near me at the Association of British Orchestras conference today.
I popped in to the welcome session at the Marriott City Centre where representatives from all the UK's major orchestras have gathered for three days of discussion and debate about the state of the (classical) nation.

]]> The opening speakers included RLPO chief Michael Eakin, Classic FM boss (and honorary Scouser) Darren Henley, Councillor Wendy Simon and Culture Minister Ed Vaizey.
There were warm words for Liverpool, which is hosting the ABO for the first time since 2003 - the year, incidently, we were awarded Capital of Culture - and particularly for the RLPO and Faith Primary School's In Harmony project.
And as for the state of the classical nation? Well Darren Henley, who has just completed independent reviews of both music education and cultural education for the government, declared: "I think we are in a golden age in classical music in this country."
The delegates will get a taste of that when they attend tomorrow night's performance of Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony at the Philharmonic Hall. It's the piece Leningrad-born Vasily Petrenko conducted to acclaim in New Zealand and at Sydney Opera House last summer.
Oh, and by the way, there was a vote of confidence from Tory culture minister Ed for Labour-led Liverpool city council's "understanding of the intrinsic impact of culture" on the whole community.

james bond's hogwarts chums

2012-01-05T09:00:00Z

Good news that the new James Bond film is back on track and in production.
But I hope Daniel Craig realises MI6 has been infiltrated by a gang of ne'er-do-wells from that other multi-gazillion cinematic franchise, Harry Potter.
A glance at the cast list for Skyfall makes it look like a mini-Hogwarts reunion, with Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort), Maggie Smith (Prof McGonagall) and Helen McCrory (Narcissa Malfoy) all rumoured to be signed up.
Hope Daniel has brought his Firebolt racing broom with him or it could really be Skyfall, or at least Bondus interruptus.

2012 Cultural picks in Liverpool

2012-01-04T14:19:31Z

BACK to the proverbial grindstone? Fed up with the wild and windy weather? Wondering how to brighten up your 2012? You're not the only one.
Luckily, with panto coming to an end the theatres and venues in Liverpool and beyond are gearing up for their spring seasons.
For anyone who missed my tips for 2012 in the Echo over the festive season, here they are again, this time broken down into categories.....

]]> Theatre
Mogadishu, A Streetcar Named Desire and Henry V at the Playhouse; South Pacific, Dirty Dancing, I Dreamed a Dream, Sister Act and Avenue Q at the Empire; Departure Lounge, The Games, Gold Mountain and Much Ado About Wenlock at the Unity, and Murder on the Nile at the Floral Pavilion

Dance
Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker! at the Empire and Phoenix Dance at the Playhouse, plus Strictly Live at the ECHO arena

Comedy
Dara O'Briain, Sarah Millican and Ross Noble at the Empire, John Bishop and Michael McIntyre at the ECHO arena, Robin Ince and John Peel's Shed at the Unity and Joan Rivers at the Philharmonic Hall

Art
Turner, Monet, Twombly at the Tate, John Kirby and the John Moores Painting Prize at the Walker, Niet Normaal at the Bluecoat, and the International Liverpool Biennial pretty much everywhere

That's just a smattering of the 'cultural offer' (urgh, I hate that phrase) in the city and beyond during 2012

the ladykillers at the liverpool playhouse

2011-11-09T09:25:19Z

Graham Linehan, Peter Capaldi, James Fleet, Ben Miller, Clive Rowe, Stephen Wight, Marcia Warren, Harry Peacock, little old 'ladies', Sean Foley, Michael Taylor, Scott Penrose and crew......take a bow.
The Ladykillers at the Liverpool Playhouse is an absolute triumph and every person involved should be very proud of themselves today.

]]> I was trying not to look forward to it too much ahead of press night because there lies (as I've often discovered sadly) the path to disappointment.
But who couldn't fail to be enchanted by what Fiery Angel, the Playhouse, Mr Linehan - who was in the bar before the show last night and told me he welcomed constructive criticism.....but not in my review!! - and co have done with a British comedy classic?
It was so very nearly a 10/10 performance. In fact, if I'd left at the interval it would have got 10, so perfect a gem was the first half. It was only that it lost a little impetus after the break, and I became so aware of the set up for Professor Marcus's scarf gag, that it didn't achieve the hallowed top marks.
As I said in my review, the link to which is at the bottom of this post, the cast were uniformly terrific but where almost upstaged by Michael Taylor's stunning set, mind-blowing in its construction and in its execution.
I don't want to give too much away, but the sight of a toy train weaving down from the chimney pots, and the ultimate reveal of a giant railway tunnel straight out of the Mole King of Edge Hill's imagination, were nothing short of magical.
Graham has also injected some proper, laugh-out-loud verbal and visual jokes into what was a clever but ultimately not exactly laugh-out-loud original 1955 conceit.
And he channels his inner Oscar Wilde with lines such as: "Being fooled by art is one of the primary pleasures afforded the middle class."
Very good! But absolutely NOT true of this production.

Read my review here....
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/in-the-mix/2011/11/09/review-the-ladykillers-at-the-liverpool-playhouse-9-10-100252-29744161/

sir paul mccartney's ballet premieres in new york

2011-09-23T07:21:57Z

First there was the Liverpool Oratorio with the RLPO and Carl Davis. Then Ecce Cor Meum. And now Sir Paul 'Macca' McCartney has turned his hand to ballet.
Ocean's Kingdom, which sounds I have to say a bit like the name of a cruise ship, premiered by the New York City Ballet at NYC's Lincoln Center last night.
I'd like to say I was there, but actually I was at home watching some of the new Martin Scorsese documentary about George Harrison (see Monday's Echo).

]]> Anyway, even at 68 and counting, Paul continues to want to challenge himself which I applaud him for.
There was an interesting insight into how he works, and the grinning incredulity of a BBC reporter, on Breakfast Time this morning when Macca explained very patiently that no, it was true, he didn't read or write music despite several attempts to learn over the years.
These started as a schoolboy in Liverpool where a 'woman down the road' followed by a 'man across the road' tried to teach him, and culminated with some musical luminary from the Guildhall of Music no less giving it a go when Paul was 21.
"But by then I'd written Eleanor Rigby, so...." he left the sentence to hang in the air.
Quite.
He said he only knew ballets like Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, and one reviewer has already described the plot of Ocean's Kingdom as being of the 'childishly simplistic' boy-meets-girl variety.
So the equivalent of She Loves You then. But if he's minded to do more he has time to to create future works that are on the Revolver/Sgt Pepper sophistication level.
And apparently there's some pretty music in it.
Anyway, dear Paul, if you're thinking of bringing Ocean's Kingdom across the water to Blighty, spare a thought for a Liverpool Empire premiere won't you?

The RLPO and Bryan Ferry in Bucharest

2011-09-18T06:25:26Z

It appears music fans have two choices tonight - the RLPO's second concert in the Palace Hall in Bucharest....or Bryan Ferry.
Last year on tour with the RLPO in San Sebastian it seemed like we saw Mick Hucknall everywhere. In the street, at the concert, in the airport, on the plane.
Now it's Bryan's turn although when we walked past him at about 10.30 last night outside the Athenee Palace Hilton (the swankiest hotel in town) I didn't actually notice him!

]]> It was Lorraine Rogers who gave me a nudge and pointed out we'd just walked past the Roxy Music frontsman, standing outside on the pavement in a scarf and having a chat with a couple of other blokes.
Anyway, I can report the first night's concert, which in the end was actually broadcast live on Romanian TV, was a great success. The sell-out audience seemed to appreciate the Phil's take on their national composer George Enescu and the orchestra did a Dvorak encore which went down a storm.
The orchestra reports the sound in the auditorium is quite 'dead'. Perhaps that's why Ceausescu had speakers installed in the back of each chair so everyone could hear when he spoke?!
Contrary to what I wrote yesterday, it appears the concert in front of Ceausescu's former palace was nothing to do with the Enescu Festival at all but just some random other musical extravaganza. There's certainly a lot going on here.
On Friday night some of the brass section headed for a famous beer hall (where some of us had lunch yesterday) and Brendan Ball got collared apparently as he headed for the little boy's room and persuaded to dance by some Romanian beauty.
There is film footage of his Strictly attempts which he tells me he's going to put up on his tour blog, so keep your eyes peeled on http://brendanball.com/brass-section-of-the-rlpo/
After last night's concert had finished the band melted away into the Bucharest evening to various nightspots.
Vasily Petrenko was having dinner with who I believe was the former head of the Spanish orchestra he performs with on a regular basis - we caught up with them at about 1.30am in the hotel lobby where Petrenko was heading for bed ahead of the traditional orchestra football game this morning.
At 2am there were a sizeable number of players still sitting out by the pool enjoying a drink or two. I know, it's a hard life!
No sign of Bryan though........
The band has rehearsals again this afternoon and then the second concert tonight, this time with St Petersburg-born pianist Alexei Volodin who was supposed to play at Hope Street last season but had problems obtaining the requisite visa for some (strange) reason. This time he's definitely here and I'm looking forward to hearing him play.
Right, I'd better go so I can write my news story for tomorrow's Echo and Daily Post.
The review from tonight will be in Tuesday's Echo. Apparently the British Ambassador is attending.....
As well as Brendan's blog, you can keep up to date with tour gossip by visiting the RLPO's tour blog on http://www.liverpoolphil.com/blog/

on tour in Bucharest with the RLPO

2011-09-17T11:21:47Z

I don't want to rub it in but it is a hot and sunny September day here in Bucharest where I have joined the RLPO on its autumn tour of Central and Eastern Europe.
The Phil is playing at the Palace Hall, a monster 3-4,000 seater venue, this evening alongside Midori. Tomorrow they return to the same venue for a second concert in the Romanian capital before flying to Prague on Monday.

]]> We've all had the morning free so everyone has scattered to do a spot of sightseeing. It was a long day travelling yesterday - I was at the Philharmonic Hall at 5.15am (!) to catch the band bus to Manchester.
A quick connection in Amsterdam - others flew via Heathrow - and we all met up at the baggage carousels at Bucharest. My bag arrived without its padlock, slightly worrying, but nothing seems to have disappeared although I haven't checked there whereabouts of a couple of Kit Kats!
Vasily Petrenko, the wag that he is, apparently turned to Sandra Parr the head of programming as they left the plane and said 'I don't know whether I should have had a visa for here'. He may joke but the RLPO could have been a conductor short. Luckily the Phil is an incredibly organised well-oiled machine and of course he didn't need a visa at all.
The orchestra were soon taking a dip in their hotel pool and enjoying a Romanian beer!!
Tonight's concert is a repeat of the Midori concert that took place at the Philharmonic Hall on Tuesday.
I'll be reporting in Monday's Echo and Daily Post and then there will be a review from Sunday night's concert in Tuesday's Echo.
There are concerts all over the place. This morning I watched a rehearsal of the Radio Symphony Orchestra of Romania in front of Caecescu's Palace.
Shortly after, alas, watching Romania losing to Argentina in the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
Still with this sunshine you can't be too downhearted...

happy days for henry winkler as he gets an honorary OBE

2011-09-15T08:11:21Z

Holy mackerel! Congratuations to Henry Winkler on his honorary OBE which he received from the British Ambassador in the US yesterday.
Anyone who came into contact with 'the Fonz' while he was in Liverpool to appear in Peter Pan at the Empire two years ago will know what a genuinely lovely and warm man he is.

]]> I remember bobbing in to see him in his dressingroom ahead of opening night and he was there carefully writing thank you messages on the labels of bottles of wine he had bought to give to the backstage crew.
And I recall he often used to turn up at rehearsals with Krispy Kreme donuts all round.
Donuts and wine (and he was addicted to the wasabi peas at The Noble House I seem to recall - he said 'holy mackerel they're good'!) aside, he's been given the honorary gong for his work going into schools to spread the message that just because you've got dyslexia doesn't mean you can't achieve your aims and ambitions.
Henry certainly did.
So good for Fonzie today. Enjoy the accolade.

walker art gallery shortlisted for contemporary art society award

2011-09-14T08:17:35Z

Congratulations to Liverpool's Walker Art Gallery which has been shortlisted for the Contemporary Art Society's 2011 Annual Award.
NML's William Brown Street gallery is one of five national finalists - it was chosen for a proposal of work from Egyptian artist Wael Shawky who exhibited there as part of this year's Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival.

]]> The award was set up three years ago, and is an initiative to support UK museums to commission new work that, once completed, will remain within the museum's permanent collection.
Museums across the country have teamed up with emerging artists to enter proposals for work they'd like to have commissioned for their galleries.
The winning museum is then awarded £60,000 to commission the work so local communities have the opportunity to see new and exciting contemporary art.
The awards take place on November 14. So good luck!

liverpool playhouse plans to mark its 100th birthday

2011-09-12T12:25:48Z

Party bags and cake-in-a-napkin at the ready - the Liverpool Playhouse has revealed details of its plans for its 100th birthday celebrations on November 11.
There's a new book about the theatre being launched, together with a promenade performance created especially for the day, and then a gala performance of stellar show The Ladykillers in the evening with champagne and a chance to mingle with the cast which just happens to include Peter Capaldi, James Fleet and Ben Miller.

]]> Tickets went on sale for the evening event today costing £60, £50 or £40, with each including a suggested £20 donation towards future Playhouse productions.
Meanwhile Liverpool Playhouse: A Theatre and Its City, compiled by Ros Merkin and published by Liverpool University Press, features stories and photos from the last 100 years.
The Playhouse has helped launch the careers of some of the country's finest acting talent including Robert Donat, Sir Michael Redgrave, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Patricia Routledge, Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart.
And High Hearted Theatre Company has been commissioned to create a unique piece to celebrate the birthday, working with writers including Helen Blakeman, Chloe Moss and Jeff Young.
Promenade performance Cheer Up, This Is Only The Beginning, will be set in different spaces around the building.
The November 11 festivities begin at 11.11am with storytelling for under-5s led by Olympic storyteller Cathy Roberts.
The Circle Bar will be open from 2pm serving tea and cakes and Ros Merkin will be available to sign copies of the Playhouse book at 4pm.
A special centenary exhibition of images will be at the theatre throughout November.

richard III at st george's hall

2011-09-09T15:49:21Z

The tagline is "come and have a go if you think you're Bard enough" - and 25 Liverpool and Manchester theatre companies are doing just that at St George's Hall this weekend.
Lodestar Theatre Company is the brains behind this Richard III with a difference. Each of the 25 scenes in Shakespeare's play will be performed by a different theatre company in their own style.

]]> It's likely to be gloriously chaotic and certainly a unique experience for anyone who shells out £10 for a ticket on Sunday evening. Plus you get to see the murderous royal shennanigans unfold in the splendour of the Small Concert Room.
The theatre companies taking part are:
Lodestar Theatre Company
Happy Storm Theatre Company
Grasp
Impropriety
Liverpool Network Theatre
Ensemble 52
Artificial Light
Ladyface
Schmucks Theatre Company
Unity Youth Theatre
Dingle Community Theatre
Gambolling Arena
What We Did Next
Clap For Alaska Productions
Breathe Out Theatre
Rebel Base Productions
Man with a Porpoise
DIRT [contained]
Relay Dance

Batman live, a Queen-fest and a spot of Stravinsky. Plus news of a new arts podcast

2011-09-05T12:37:30Z

Has anyone else over the age of 18 had a back-to-school feeling today? The smell of autumn is in the air and I am ready to break out the woolly tights and inhale the aroma of what the characters in You've Got Mail describe lyrically as a "bouquet of newly-sharpened pencils".
Anyway, it's certainly back to school with regards to the launch of the autumn season in Merseyside's theatres and concert halls.

]]> They limbered up last week with the launch of the Liverpool Shakespeare Festival and the opening salvo of interesting fayre on offer at the Unity theatre.
But things start in earnest this week.
First up is one of the big autumn shows at the Empire, the Queen-inspired rock extravaganza We Will Rock You, heralded by multiple appearances around town and beyond by a giant statue of Freddie Mercury (although to be honest it didn't look much like him!).
Incidentally, the real Freddie would have become eligible for his bus pass today. So happy birthday Mr Bulsara.
We Will Rock You runs from tomorrow until September 24.
Then on Wednesday, the caped crusader, boy wonder Robin, the Riddler, the Joker et all arrive in town for four nights of Batman Live! at the ECHO arena. Holy John, Paul, George and Ringo.......
Wednesday also see return of the RLPO's 'boy wonder' (although now he's turned 35 I'm not sure whether we can use that tag any more) Vasily Petrenko, who opens his SIXTH season with the Phil by taking part in a 90-minute Q&A with Classic FM's Darren Henley.
The Phil's autumn season proper kicks off on Saturday when Petrenko wields the baton in a programme that includes Stravinsky and Rachmaninov, with a touch of Liszt for good measure.
And if you want to experience something completely different, the Shakespeare Festival offers Richard III at St George's Hall on Sunday when 25 - yes, 25 - theatre companies perform a scene each. Chaos? Surely not!
That just scratches the surface of what's on in the next few days.
And if you want to learn more about what's on, this week we begin a new weekly arts podcast on the Echo and Daily Post websites where myself and Daily Post arts editor Laura Davis will take you through the highlights of each week.
Happy culturing. A bouquet of newly-sharpened pencils to all of you.

liverpool's neptune theatre reopened - but still no one to run it

2011-07-28T09:52:26Z

The Neptune Theatre in Hanover Street has been officially 'relaunched' today - but don't expect to see anything on stage there for a while.
Because the city council still hasn't found anyone to run the much-loved theatrical landmark.

]]> I was in there three months ago when Radio 5 did a broadcast from the stage as part of its Grand National coverage, and I have to commend the city on the fact it looked smart after a new coat of paint and other improvements as part of a £1m refurbishment.
But the fact remains that they have been slow off the mark in getting it up and running, and it could be months before it starts booking in any shows.
With tours organised months in advance, a lot of those who used to play (and love) the old Neptune - bands, comedians, etc - will have already lined up alternative venues so even if an operator is found in the next few weeks, chances are it will be at least Christmas if not the new year before it's up and running properly.
And with the closure of the Everyman, we are already a theatre down going into the new autumn season.
Meanwhile I see the city council has ploughed ahead in its decision (made without any consultation as far as I can see) to re-name the theatre in memory of Brian Epstein.
In today's Echo Joe Anderson said it gives the city "a fantastic opportunity to say thank you to one of our greatest sons" and means Liverpool has a "theatre with a world famous name which will hopefully make it a more attractive business commercially."
Hmmm. Really?
Readers of my column will already know that I was against the name change when it was first revealed, and that is no disrespect meant to Brian Epstein or his family. But we are already tripping over a vast quantity Beatle-related sights, venues etc in this city, whereas the Neptune name celebrated our links with the maritime past which made Liverpool the second city of Empire that it once was.
And I can't imagine the kind of acts and shows which will look to book themselves into the theatre will be attracted simply by it being called Epstein.....in fact, I can imagine the confusion as they all know it, and refer to it, as the Neptune.
Which is exactly what I'll be doing.

liverpool everyman seats being auctioned off

2011-07-28T09:45:00Z

Fancy a little slice of Liverpool theatre history? Well now you can own a seat from the Everyman.
The benches and seats in the current auditorium are being auctioned off before the Hope Street theatre is taken down and rebuilt in a £28m redevelopment.

]]> It's all being done by sealed bids and apparently there are more than 60 auction lots of chairs available.
These come as singles, doubles or quads and there are short benches and long benches.
For those with more space there are also 11 pillars - 4 tall (3.48m or 11ft 5in in old money) and 7 standard (2.8m - 9ft 2in), which will be removed as part of the demolition.
The closing date is Monday August 8 at 6pm and the lots will be sold to the highest (sealed) bid.
For more details about the lots and to make a bid, download the form online at www.everymanplayhouse.com or pick one up from the Playhouse Box Office in Williamson Square.
Successful bidders will be contacted early on August 9 via email or telephone.