Last concert for 2025, Beethoven's 9th

Back to the Opera House with Michael and Gail.

We drove down this time and it took hours longer than normal due to lots of roadworks and the mess at Singleton while they are building the by-pass. 

 Great concert with the big choir.

 The palm trees at Circular Quay had been yarn bombed by Zonta clubs. They were beautiful and so much work, I hope it doesn't rain during the installation.

 To raise awareness of the 16 Days of Activism in a public and busy location, Zonta District 24 clubs have permission to yarn bomb 15 palm trees at Circular Quay. Clubs from across the District are creating unique tree wraps which will be a highly visual and bright display. Signage in multiple languages will explain the different types of domestic and family violence and encourage passersby to take action to “Change the Story”.

 

SSO Concert - 'Pictures at an Exhibition'

We have been down to Sydney again to the Opera House.

We left poor Teddy in special care at the kennels, but this was a big trip for us. We came down by train but we will be flying back.

 

Finally we see the conductor Simone Young with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.. 

 

Here is the lovely Gail striking a pose in the forecourt.

 

I've still got a walking stick , blah. But its very good for getting people to move out of my way!

 

 

It was great, but not as great as Lang Lang who will now be the benchmark.

Graham and I stayed at the Novotel Darling Harbour.

Which turned out to be a right kerfuffle as the light rail had maintenance and it was a literal pain to get to the Novotel by bus with a walking stick and still dodgy hip...

.... 

But look at this beautiful egg dessert at the Ternary Restaurant. 

Once the white chocolate shell was broken it was full of mango and passionfruit. YummEE 

 

Sydney Opera House Concert 28th June 2025

 

So back in Sydney and time for the second concert 

which featured a very young artist named Christian Li.

Not as packed as it was for Lang Lang.

 

We sat in a different place this time. With lots of steps!

 Then during interval a lot of people left. They only wanted to see the young fellow.

Which was a shame as the second half was really good, and a great  concert to be able to see the percussionists of the SSO.

Symphonic dances from West Side Story was fantastic.

MAMBO!

Two more concerts later in the year. 

 

 

 

Opera House Concert - Lang Lang - Sunday 22nd June

After finishing the epic travel post its time to catch up on what else we have been doing over the past couple of months. Poor doggies, we were only home a couple of weeks and then we were away again..

 

First event was at the Sydney Opera House where we went to see Lang Lang, with Michael and Gail.

 

And it was wonderful, the man is a mega star!

 

 

 

It was a sell out crowd, with lots of younger people.

Here he is high five-ing  those in the front row! What a nice bloke.

 

 

 He came out for about 5 encores! I know your not suppose to take photos during a performance but this was his last encore and every one  else was taking pics so I snuck some as well.

 

 

It was like a rock concert,  the poor Opera House ushers didn't know what to do when people started to very politely rush the stage, I guess that is a rare event at a classical music concert.

 

We first met Lang Lang in the U.K. version of 'The Piano', were amateur pianists play in railway stations. He was a judge, although no one actually wins, they just get invited to perform at a big concert. There has recently been an Australian version of  'The Piano'  which we missed as we were overseas. Might catch up with it later in the year.

 

Here is Lang Lang and his 'The Piano' co stars, Mika and Claudia.

 

 Anyway, great concert and we have another concert on the next weekend, so to fill in the week we flew to Melbourne, as you do! More about that in the following post..

 

 

 

 

 

London - Good Friday 18th April - Kensington Gardens and the Royal Albert Hall

 

Feeling a bit better but not 100% so we decided on a gentle day and not far from home base.

 So, in an attempt to remove the growling rodents we decided on a walk in Kensington Gardens.

Its spring, but the weather is still coolish. 

We visited the Diana memorial fountain. She would have loved the kids splashing in it.

We also stopped at the Peter Pan statue.

 Before leaving home we thought about booking tickets to the Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall but didn't get around to it.

But last night we decided to see if there were any tickets left.

 We got some of the last seats, right behind the choir.

It was a full house and the choir was amazing. 

We made it through the concert, but were very glad to get home...

 

All I've eaten for the last 2 days is a weetabix (similar to weetbix), Grahams eating a little more but we are still not well. Every now and then you hit the wall. its two steps forward and one step back all the time.

The noises my stomach has been making are seismic!

 

Last Concert for 2024

This is our last SSO concert for 2024.

 

My pick this time!

 

And its Elgar's variations.

He wrote these pieces about his friends.

My favourite is Nimrod.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enigma_Variations

We have tickets for 2025 already, so more trips to the opera house.

While we were at the Opera House we saw this ship waiting to leave on a cruise...

Its the CROWN PRINCESS!

We have a trip booked on this ship in the future, to the southern states of Australia.

Very excited about it!

Watch for my future posts.