I have an object deserving notice. Nineteenteen just crossed the 200 barrier—200 followers, that is. Thank you all! Marissa and I are delighted and honored you want to come along with us! And now, to our post.
Ah, February! The month of love! The beginning often starts out chilly in London but by the end of the month, daffodils are in bloom. So, as the days brighten and the air warms, what’s a young lady or gentleman to do for entertainment?
I have it on good authority that the concert of ancient music, Opera House on Haymarket, starts early this month. Also known as the King’s Concert, this group of talented musicians play no composition less than 25 years old (didn’t know you were ancient at 26, did you?). They play every Wednesday until the end of May. (They were actually part of the Academy of Ancient Music but had a bit of a spat about refusing to play newer music, so now they’re on their own!)
The Academy of Ancient Music, meanwhile, continues to perform once a fortnight at the gorgeous assembly room in the Crown and Anchor Tavern. The subscription for the 6 to 8 performances is a stiff four guineas (more than four pounds). While they favor classical music from the 1600s and 1700s, they occasionally play current songs. Gasp! Really!If your tastes run to visual expression instead, you might try the British Gallery on Pall Mall, which opens around the 19th. The gallery features 300 to 400 paintings by Dutch and Flemish masters as well as British artists. While it is open to the public, subscription members of the Gallery are generally the aristocracy, so you might find yourself rubbing elbows with an eligible earl.
Not to be outdone, the Royal Academy of Art begins lectures around the 22nd. The lectures are free, but you’ll need to get a ticket from one of the Academicians. And don’t forget, once Lent starts, every Wednesday and Friday evenings you can hear oratorios at Covent Garden and Drury Lane Theatres.
Me? I intend to bundle up and take a walk in Hyde Park. There’s more than one way to catch that elusive earl.
6 comments:
I love the idea that in the Regency, they called music that was more than 25 years old "ancient"!
Cara
Me too, Cara! When I first saw the notice about the concert of ancient music, I had a vision of Regency gentlemen standing around in togas plucking lyres. :-)
Me too, Cara! When I first saw the notice about the concert of ancient music, I had a vision of Regency gentlemen standing around in togas plucking lyres. :-)
Congratulations on your followers! I had always thought I was one...anyway, I am now.
I love this post! So--the Royal Academy's members were Academicians (artists, architects) and the Royal Society's members were Fellows (doctors, natural philosophers)? Because I'm starting to confuse myself. :)
Thanks for following, Gillian! Yes, you have it right. The Royal Academy was for art; the Royal Society was for science. And both were a bit on the snooty side. :-)
I think I shall enjoy viewing paintings in the British Gallery and listening to some oratorios. London has many cultural opportunities to offer and I am not ashamed to admit to being a bluestocking.
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