At the Summer Exhibition yesterday I found these four objects lying around - awe inspiring, terrifying and deeply disturbing
The Man Booker Prize 2016 long list has just been published.
Click here for an article about them.
Which one shall I start with?
Click here for an extraordinary tribute to David Bowie at the BBC Prom 2016 given by the Stargaze Ensemble. It's available for about 27 days.
It was a fascinating performance to watch with some interesting re-imagining of Bowie's songs. It sometimes - I think at its best - felt experimental and bold. Sometimes it was conservative and restrained. Sometimes it felt like a karaoke and sometimes like a sing a long. The high points for me were Warszawa, The Man Who Sold the World - sung by Conor O'Brien and arranged by Michael van de Aa. This was a constrained and conservative re-interpretation but beautifully performed. Lady Grinning Soul - sung by Anna Calvi and arranged by Jherek Bischoff was genuinely bold and playful. Always Crashing in the Same Car- sung by Philippe Jaroussky arranged by David Lang. I loved Jaroussky's performance. His formal counter tenor voice contrasted with Bowie's lyrics and the spare accompaniment with a delta harp was beautiful. Black Star - sung by Anna Calvi and Amanda Palmer was chilling and dynamic. John Cale's arrangements and performances of Valentine's Day, Sorrow with Anna Calvi's searing guitar and vocal and then in Space Oddity Cale adds a gospel choir - not an anthem but it really did hit the spot.
Click here for a link to the Stargaze Ensemble
And click here for a link to a review of the performance from the Daily Telegraph.
BBC David Bowie Prom
