Cultural Outings 2005

[tamaranth]

More for my own reference than anything. I keep all my tickets, and traditionally take them off the pinboard on New Year's Day and reminisce. That wasn't possible this year: I've only just got around to it, and I suspect I've lost a ticket or two.

Summary: must get to more opera, more theatre and fewer bad films. Though there is a lot to be said for mindless enjoyment.


Last year's version is here.

Some of the links may point to locked posts: sorry. And I didn't review everything, by a long chalk.

FILM: (20 different ones)
07/01 The Merchant of Venice
14/01 Alexander
17/01 The Aviator
24/01 Closer
27/01 2046
10/02 Vanity Fair
18/02 The Magic Roundabout
31/03 Constantine
28/04 The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy
28/05 Kingdom of Heaven
18/06 Sin City
24/07 Batman Begins
12/10 Serenity
16/10 Howl's Moving Castle
19/10 Night Watch
02/11 Corpse Bride
16/11 The Brothers Grimm
18/11 The Libertine(+ 2 more)
24/11 Legend of Zorro (+ 1)
28/12 The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

CONCERTS: (12, including 2 Messiahs)
20/01 Khachaturian / Dvorak
06/02 Sibelius / Rachmaninov
01/03 Beethoven / Elgar
18/03 Monteverdi Vespers
22/03 Brahms / Mozart
17/04 Smetana / Dvorak / Brahms
01/06 Vivaldi etc
21/06 Balakirev / Rachmaninov / Mussorgsky
27/09 Berlioz & Beethoven
20/10 Mozart Requiem
16/11 Messiah
16/12 Messiah

OPERA: (6)
22/01 Gilbert & Sullivan -- Pirates of Penzance (ENO)
04/03 Mozart -- La Clemenza di Tito (ENO)
02/05 Puccini -- Madama Butterfly (ROH)
14/05 Verdi -- Falstaff (MTL)
20/06 Tchaikovsky -- Eugene Onegin (ENO)
11/07 Donizetti -- Anna Bolena (Tower of London)

THEATRE: (3, v. poor)
11/01 Aladdin (Old Vic)
04/05 Hecuba (RSC)
19/07 Theatre of Blood

GIGS: (3, v. poor)
23/04 Ceilidh Aid
09/05 Arcade Fire
25/06 Patti Smith

Also: Shropshire, Cyprus, Paris, Wissant, Glasgow for five whole days, and Morocco.

And Par.

And a number of exhibitions, museums and Tourist Things. And just over 100 books.

Comments

[ladymoonray.livejournal.com]

I'd forgotten about a lot of that. I may have to start recording films, concerts and cultural outings as well as books. I usually do write about them, I'm just not very organised about it.

*squints at film list*

We did see some awful rubbish, didn't we?

Re theatre: http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/getintolondontheatre

Anything you fancy? I'd have to put it on The One Credit Card, but I could pay you back eventually :)

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

We did see some awful rubbish, didn't we?

I know I did, but sometimes it was at the same time as you were seeing a good movie -- and vice versa!

I too should get slightly more organised about writing up events -- there are some of those concerts that I simply don't remember at all.

Will email you about theatre, though (a) there is surprisingly little there that really grabs me, and (b) same limitations as for anything else: weekends only, assuming we ever have a free one ...
On the other hand, local offerings include "Sing-a-long-a-Sound-a-Music".

[ladymoonray.livejournal.com]

On the other hand, local offerings include "Sing-a-long-a-Sound-a-Music".

*shriek*

[palatinate.livejournal.com]

I think I'm impressed and jealous in equal proportion :-)

Especially on the concerts and theatre/opera. (I usually manage 20+ films so not doing too badly there at least...). Unfortunately young children can be a real dampener when it comes to arranging significant trips out, especially when (as in our case) one doesn't have a regular babysitting arrangement. Although it does focus you on making the most of the things you do go to; my most recent theatre trips included the Anthony Sher Othello and the Doran/Dench All's Well, which were both excellent.

I like the thing with the pinboard; I used to do something similar many years ago and it made me quite nostalgic seeing the picture of yours. IIRC I stopped because when I moved away from London I started doing a lot less live events for practical and logistical reasons and a bunch of cinema tickets just doesn't have the same romance as those for real performances.

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

Yes, it'll be interesting to look back at this next January and see how my cultural activities decrease, now that I'm (a) outside London and (b) working full time. You're right, though, it does make one more determined to have quality outings.