LP XXV--Tate Modern, Rachmaninoff

The students are on a four-day break and many have taken a trip to Ireland to see the country. Trying to stay caught up with grading essays and preparing for classes, I also decided to seek out new places in London. Curious about where people shop for clothes or household items, I asked about a location. The place for inexpensive clothes is called Primark and the place for household items is called ASDA. A quick visit to Primark revealed a large department store doing high volume sales with discounts. I bought some shoes and after standing in the queue, I handed the shoes to the clerk and asked him if he were having a good day.

He looked at me in shock and paused before saying with a hesitant smile that yes he was having a good day. My question was highly unusual in a city of 12 million people and little meaningful contact with strangers. I enjoy the innocuous question and have yet to receive anything but a positive reaction from a worker. Seems to me that regardless of where you are, a smile and a friendly comment goes a long way for people. I left the store smiling at his reaction and decided to find ASDA.

A little research and I figured out which bus would get me close. The 30 minute trip took me to South London in a residential area filled with very nice grocery stores, a hardware store, a large McDonalds and ASDA. The spacious London version of Walmart was one of the most pleasant shopping experiences I have had here with reasonable prices and helpful workers. I then treated myself to some hotcakes and sausage at the neighboring McDonalds. Back on the bus and headed toward the Tate Modern art museum.

A converted plant, the Tate Modern is one of the most progressive art museums in London. Awkward shaped with many staircases, an escalator, hidden rooms, odd shaped hallways, Tate Modern is an adventure in progressive, creative artistic thinking. Each room contains a set of curious, beautiful, ugly, original, and vastly fascinating artwork. The difficulties of navigating through the museum add to the excitement and energy found in each room. Film, photography, oils, installation, sculpture, pencil, charcoal, ceramics, and every other type of visual art can be found in this amazing institution. Physically and emotionally exhausted from the experience, I crossed the Thames, got on a bus and headed home to get ready for the Rachmaninoff concert.



What a concert! The London Philharmonic Orchestra performed the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 and the Symphony No. 2. It was all in the Royal Festival Hall with every one of its 2900 seats occupied. The acoustics were incredible and the orchestra was the finest in my experience. With precision and expression of the highest in professionalism and musicianship, the concert was breathtaking from the beginning to the end with the 3rd movement of the symphony as the highlight. Certainly the finest concert in memory, it was an experience I will treasure forever. Rich in beauty, personal in scope, and emotional in content, every note and every phrase contained a musical magic for the audience. The lengthy applause at the end which garnered an encore, gave testament to the power of the concert for everyone present.