september sun and the biennial

By Catherine Jones on Sep 21, 08 03:46 PM

How gorgeous is this weather?
I spent this afternoon buzzing around at the Hope Street Feast which was thronged with families and others all out having a good time in the warm sunshine.
It's all slightly vexing though as I've just packed away most of my summer clothes and now I'm having to spring them out again.
Still, after the summer we've had it would be churlish to grumble.
Added to which, put out the flags - it's Biennial time.

I went to the Biennial launch party on Friday night in Greenland Street which was buzzing. I didn't get there until quite late on because I'd been reviewing Nigel Kennedy and his Polish quartet at the Phil and they decided to start half-an-hour later than advertised.
The streets around A Foundation and Novas were awash with party goers and arty types when I got there.
I bumped into Peter McDonald the unfeasibly young looking (he's 35 but looks about 20) John Moores Prize winner in Mathew Street yesterday morning, wielding a Biennial map, and he said he'd also been at the event.
He was obviously getting in a little bit of last minute culture before heading back to London!
It was great actually to wander around town yesterday and see all these people with maps wandering from art installation to gallery to public square.
The sparkly spider in Exchange Flags is particularly appealing to families. More so I suspect than Tom of Finland at Novas.....
I was very entertained by Mingering Mike, the Barefoot Lone Pilgrim at the Bluecoat.
It's a good thing the Biennial is on for 10 weeks because there is simply so much to see.
Anyway, back to the Hope Street Feast.
Normally the Phil is packed for a mini-performance from the RPLO with Vasily Petrenko at the helm.
This year he instead gave an open rehearsal with the Phil choir ahead of next weekend's Verdi Requiem.
I used to sing in choirs as well as doing some solo work, and I tell you, I'd love to have had a choirmaster like Mr P - he sees and hears everything, offers reams of constructive criticism and advice, and has the knack of looking as if he is conducting each choir member individually.
He told the audience straight up: "This will be rehearsing, not performing so be expecting some rehearsal moments as well."
But I'm not sure all of them realised how repetitive rehearsing can be, and many soon flagged.
Personally, I can't wait to hear the Requiem on Saturday now...