Enjoying retirement
In The Red Rose County
We had passed Manchester Hall (a Masons HQ) a few times. Now we were due to enter to one of the three new restaurants opened inside the restored building (The Masons still have the secretive third floor). How magnificent the inside is and very atmospheric. And our restaurant - Masons- was terrific. I was expecting it to be good (all Five Star reviews), but it was beyond that. Cocktails brilliant. Service exceptional. And the beef simply the best I have ever had. A lovely lunch. And so we strolled past the magnificent Midland Hotel....... .......to our venue the ultra modern Bridgewater Hall. We were there for a performance of Mahler's Symphony Number 3. It was long (the longest in a standard orchestra's repetoire apparently), but dramatic. I listened to a 30 minute recording of the First Movement in the morning, and what a comparison to hear it live. Well there was no comparison. Compared to a recording, the live performance is incomparable, sublime. The soloist Alice Coote was very good but so were the Halle Choir and the Halle Children's Choir. and, at the end a standing ovation (granted some of the parents of the children must have been there!). And both The Guardian and The Times gave it unreserved 5 Stars. The Guardian ★★★★★ Hallé/Elder review – Elder’s measured passion unleashes Mahler’s magicBridgewater Hall, Manchester Mahler’s huge Third Symphony marked a triumphant opening of the Hallé’s spring season The Times
★★★★★ At a certain point this Mahler Symphony No 3 transformed from the very good to the sublime. I almost didn’t notice it happening, so powerful was that sensation of being utterly consumed by the music, of living and experiencing it rather than simply listening to and observing the performance.
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August 2023
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