Enjoying retirement
In The Red Rose County
We were going to a concert at Bridgewater Hall so we decided to do one of the Schofield walks in his new book. Appropriately it started at the front doors of the Bridgewater where we examined the rubber seal which shows the 'separation' of the Hall from its surroundings. Its 22,500 tons sits on 280 springs. The weather was gloriously typical of manchester - blue skies etc. Barbirolli Square somehow typifies Manchester with its location on the Rochdale Canal, its mix of old and new, and its impressive architecture. We followed the boardwalk round to the towpath of the canal. to seT he start of graffiti which are everywhere On the opposite side of the canal we noted the Rain Bar for later. Loved these cycles. On Tony Wilson Place (named after the Manchester impresario) there is a statue of Engels (collaborator of Marx, and Manchester businessman at the same time). It was recovered from the Ukraine in 2017 (statues of Marx and Engels were outlawed). It was interesting to see the huge Mackintosh Mills (1826), famous for producing the raincoat, now apartments. We also passed the Anthony Burgess Foundation........ On Whitworth Street West is the Ritz (1928) one of Manchester's oldest music halls and where Manchester band the Smiths first performed. Next the Refuge Assurance building. .....and the Palace Theatre... But the Refuge Assurance, now the Klimpton Clocktower Hotel proved too good an opportunity to pass. The inside is magnificent. After a suitable refreshment we admired the palazzo of St James (in actual fact built in 1913 for the Calico Printers' Association). Now offices. We peered over the bridge opposite to get a surprise view of the Rochdale Canal and........ Down Chepstow Street was the wonderful textile warehouse of Canada House (the whole rear is glazed for light)...... ......with its lovely art deco gate. and a little further along a pub - Peveril of The Peak - I had always wanted to visit with its art nouveau tiling. Unfortunately it was so busy we couldn't get in the door. Which meant we could see at last the Rain Bar, and very good it was too. ......as was our concert with the Halle which was a majestic performance........
Falla - La Vida Breve: Interlude and Dance Bartók - Violin Concerto No.2 Dobrinka Tabakova - ARTIST IN RESIDENCE Earth Suite: Pacific Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring (Model Music Curriculum Y5) Conductor Christian Reif Featuring: Antje Weithaas, violin
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August 2023
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