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The night the music stopped – and brought the house down The night the music stopped – and brought the house down
(about 1 hour later)
I think I can probably say that my most memorable concert of the year has been and gone: I can’t really imagine anything more extraordinary than Alina Ibragimova at the BBC Proms, where she has performed, over two late nights, the complete unaccompanied Bach works for violin.I think I can probably say that my most memorable concert of the year has been and gone: I can’t really imagine anything more extraordinary than Alina Ibragimova at the BBC Proms, where she has performed, over two late nights, the complete unaccompanied Bach works for violin.
There’s absolutely nothing show-offy or flamboyant about Ibragimova’s playing: just commitment and an utter concentration that pulls you in and holds you still, despite the vastness of the Royal Albert Hall. Standing in the arena on Saturday night, I had the sense that I was not just hearing the music but feeling it wash through my entire body – an almost ecstatic experience (and all for a mere fiver).There’s absolutely nothing show-offy or flamboyant about Ibragimova’s playing: just commitment and an utter concentration that pulls you in and holds you still, despite the vastness of the Royal Albert Hall. Standing in the arena on Saturday night, I had the sense that I was not just hearing the music but feeling it wash through my entire body – an almost ecstatic experience (and all for a mere fiver).
It was an almost ecstatic experience, and all for a mere fiverIt was an almost ecstatic experience, and all for a mere fiver
That night, having played the first half of the D minor partita’s Allemande, Ibragimova not so much suffered a lapse of memory as, perhaps, took a wrong turning in the complicated labyrinth of Bach’s writing. She stopped playing, collected herself, gazed sternly at the floor, put her violin under her chin, and began again.That night, having played the first half of the D minor partita’s Allemande, Ibragimova not so much suffered a lapse of memory as, perhaps, took a wrong turning in the complicated labyrinth of Bach’s writing. She stopped playing, collected herself, gazed sternly at the floor, put her violin under her chin, and began again.
It must have been terrible for her – but in fact, in an odd way, it was rather amazing for her audience. For a start, her dignity was admirable. (It reminded me of seeing, as I have done a couple of times, a ballerina fall and then simply get herself up and dance dazzlingly again).It must have been terrible for her – but in fact, in an odd way, it was rather amazing for her audience. For a start, her dignity was admirable. (It reminded me of seeing, as I have done a couple of times, a ballerina fall and then simply get herself up and dance dazzlingly again).
Second, it gave a tiny inkling of just what a high-wire act it is to perform all of these intensely complex and virtuosic works, and from memory – a real feat of risk and daring.Second, it gave a tiny inkling of just what a high-wire act it is to perform all of these intensely complex and virtuosic works, and from memory – a real feat of risk and daring.
Dragged into the pastDragged into the past
Talking of ecstasy, I saw Bakkhai at the Almeida in London last week. Ben Whishaw, as I’d expected, was delicious casting as Dionysus – all silken malice and sexual ambiguity. Dionysus is the god of wine and of being, in all respects, “beside yourself”.Talking of ecstasy, I saw Bakkhai at the Almeida in London last week. Ben Whishaw, as I’d expected, was delicious casting as Dionysus – all silken malice and sexual ambiguity. Dionysus is the god of wine and of being, in all respects, “beside yourself”.
He is also the god of theatre, but one of the nimble things about Euripides’s play is that this aspect of his divinity is never actually mentioned, only shown: for the action is strongly concerned with theatricality, with the putting on of costumes, with the adopting of disguise, with temporary states of being.He is also the god of theatre, but one of the nimble things about Euripides’s play is that this aspect of his divinity is never actually mentioned, only shown: for the action is strongly concerned with theatricality, with the putting on of costumes, with the adopting of disguise, with temporary states of being.
One of these acts of disguise is when Pentheus, king of Thebes, is tempted by the god into dressing as a woman in order to spy on his female relatives. The excellent Bertie Carvel, playing Pentheus, duly appeared in drag. At this moment I was, unfortunately, momentarily reminded of Carvel’s also superb performance as the thoroughly horrid headmistress Miss Trunchbull in the RSC production of Matilda the Musical – which was perhaps a moment of meta-theatricality too far.One of these acts of disguise is when Pentheus, king of Thebes, is tempted by the god into dressing as a woman in order to spy on his female relatives. The excellent Bertie Carvel, playing Pentheus, duly appeared in drag. At this moment I was, unfortunately, momentarily reminded of Carvel’s also superb performance as the thoroughly horrid headmistress Miss Trunchbull in the RSC production of Matilda the Musical – which was perhaps a moment of meta-theatricality too far.
Resting on my laurels And finally … a quiz
Related: George Osborne ruined my yoga retreat | Charlotte HigginsRelated: George Osborne ruined my yoga retreat | Charlotte Higgins
Nerd that I am, my idea of fun is a quiz, and my idea of heaven is a quiz containing exclusively questions about ancient Greece. On Sunday, the Almeida put on such an event, part of its Greeks festival. Natalie Haynes set the fiendishly brilliant questions, and I’ll give you a couple on which my team stalled.Nerd that I am, my idea of fun is a quiz, and my idea of heaven is a quiz containing exclusively questions about ancient Greece. On Sunday, the Almeida put on such an event, part of its Greeks festival. Natalie Haynes set the fiendishly brilliant questions, and I’ll give you a couple on which my team stalled.
One: in what Christmas 2014 film did the Parthenon frieze in the British Museum briefly appear (full title only accepted)?One: in what Christmas 2014 film did the Parthenon frieze in the British Museum briefly appear (full title only accepted)?
Two: which ancient Greek author wrote that one swallow does not make a spring? (For the answers, see below.)Two: which ancient Greek author wrote that one swallow does not make a spring? (For the answers, see below.)
Despite our ignorance on these points, my team won, and we were awarded laurel wreaths. I have dedicated mine to Athena Nike already.Despite our ignorance on these points, my team won, and we were awarded laurel wreaths. I have dedicated mine to Athena Nike already.