Magical Evening
This Thursday I will be visiting the world's oldest and last surviving grand music hall called Wilton's. A wonderful and magical place hidden in the centre of London near Tower Hill. John Wilton built the theatre behind his pub 'The Prince of Denmark' in 1858, later know as the Mahogany Bar. A sun-burner chandelier with 300 gas jets and 27000 cut crystals dominated a mirrored hall. The auditorium remained incredibly intact: the original cast iron 'barley sugar' pillars support a papier-mâché balcony under paper roses set in a vaulted roof. In Wilton's day, 1500 people used to cram into the music hall to hear the top acts: artistes from the Covent Garden were lured over in full costume to perform late night arias.
Here, I will be attending The Soldier's Tale by Stravinsky which was recommended to me by Jim *thank you!*. A music-theatre performance: a mix of drama, music, film and physical theatre. Presented by the world famous Academy of St Martin in the Fields, which joins forces with director Lawrence Evans and internationally acclaimed and highly versatile violinist, Anthony Marwood in a unique production of The Soldier's Tale, a Faustian fable of a Soldier cruelly tricked into giving his soul to the devil. I'm really looking forward to this, I will bring my camera along *as usual* and will try to catch the perfect moment to share... I'll be accompanied by Chris that evening and will be wearing my chocolate satin dress that I'll have to finish tomorrow. I think it will blend in nicely with the magic of the evening...
Hope you get there early enough to walk around a bit to marvel at the care and detail that used to be put into such places. And after the performance, don't be shy if it seems no one minds, be sure to go up on stage and beyond. Backstage in halls like this can be truly fascinating once you look past the necessary modern accommodations.
Transport yourself back to September, 1918 and see and hear the performance as it was then. An everlasting creation that was born amidst the chaos that was going on around it.
As new as the music might sound to you today, imagine how it might have seemed to those accustomed to the impressionism of Debussy (d.1918) or of earlier romantic works with their huge, lush orchestras.
Above all, have a wonderfully magic evening!!
I know you will.
Great photos. I love these kinds of old theatres. I studied theatre design at college before working freelance for a short while so this kind of thing brings back a lot of found memories for me.
Jim: The place was absolutely amazing and so was the performance but unfortunately I wasn't allowed to take pictures... I was really disappointed but there was a sign near the entrance and one of the staff was basically sitting next to me so it was impossible to sneak one [or two, or three or my usual two hundred].
The dancers were brilliant and so were the musicians, it was an amazing evening it just didn't last very long: an hour [and I must say I was slightly disappointed about that]. But I'm invited to a xmas event organised by the Times where the Academy of St Martin in the Fields will be performing as well, so I will get another chance to see/listen to them.
Stuart: I wish I could've taken a few [read: a few hundred ;) ] myself :(
The place was so beautiful! I met someone tonight who used to work at a music hall in Hoxton. It still exists so I'm gonna look into it and see if I could go there as well. I too love these old buildings, it has a special vibe to it :)
You should tell me one day about the places if you like? Would love to hear!
Not even before and after photos?
Did they have a set? Sometimes they can be over protective.
But I'm not surprised at no 'during the performance' pics. . .
is normal practice.
Did I forget to tell you it was an hour show? Bad mij ;-)
They really should add something else when performing that piece, maybe the Octet. But it's all about extra musicians and union rules - if you have them there.
Looking forward to hearing all about it just the same.
No... no pictures at all, shame huh? Well it wasn't about the set it was about the auditorium, there was a sign that said: no photography allowed in auditorium. Yes you forgot to tell me it was an hour show... :p
I wish it would've taken longer, it was a pleasure to sit, watch and listen to the performance. I don't know about union rules, I guess they must apply here as well but I believe in this case it might have been a money issue ;)