Music and memorials

Managed to get a late return ticket to tonight's Prom concert (which had previously been sold-out), and a front row circle seat at that (£15.00).

Took the Jubilee Line to Green Park then walked through Green Park and Hyde Park.

Had a look at the new Bomber Command Memorial  (see also www.bombercommandmemorial.co.uk/ for more pictures) on the Piccadilly side of Green Park, by Hyde Park Corner, which was unveiled by the Queen in June. It is quite impressive, and attracting a lot of attention, but the stonework still looks much too new. It is based around a long classical colonnade along the south side of Piccadilly with a central vestibule open on both sides - and, appropriately, to the sky - with a sculpture depicting Bomber Command personnel. I wonder if it is just a bit too classical to engage and retain the attention that it undoubtedly deserves.

Then had a good look at the New Zealand and Australian memorials which are on opposite sides of the Wellington Arch. They are very different. The New Zealand one, with its sixteen cross-shaped bronze pillars, is much more about the cultural and historical links between our two countries. There is only a passing specific reference to the war contribution.

The Australian one on the other hand is much more like a modern war memorial. A long curving wall with the place names of the places of birth of Australia's war dead inscribed in a manner which highlights the main places of conflict. The graphic effect is quite mesmeric.

Walked through Hyde Park and had a look at this year's Serpentine Gallery summer pavilion - the twelfth. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei. The premise is a bit pretentious (exploring the foundations of the previous pavilions), but I quite liked the low, water-filled roof. It is very low-level and subterranean. Unfortunately, what they have created below the roof is a pretty good impression of an underground car park. It is small-scale, and interestingly constructed and delineated, and all the surfaces are cork (although still looks like concrete). But it still looks like an underground car park. When I was there, there were quite a few kids "occupying" some of the more interesting spaces. It is dark and gloomy (despite being a nice and sunny day), and did not feel like a very friendly or welcoming space. Disappointing. I much preferred last year's pavillion.

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Prom 50: Beethoven, Mozart, Delius & Nielsen
Monday 20 August
7.30pm – c. 9.45pm
Royal Albert Hall

Beethoven: Egmont – overture (9 mins)
Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major (28 mins)
Delius: Eventyr (Once Upon a Time (16 mins)
Nielsen: Symphony No. 5 (34 mins)

BBC Symphony Orchestra
Osmo Vänskä conductor
Michael Collins basset clarinet

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The concert was good. The first half of the Nielsen was excellent - really muscular and tense (which is what it is supposed to be), but the second half was a bit ropey in places. Seemed to me as though they had concentrated all the rehearsal on the first half (which is the more difficult) and neglected the second part somewhat. Shame, but it was still a pretty good performance, and the two ladies sitting next to me really enjoyed it - and they had no idea what they were going to be listening to.

What did surprise me was that the audience seemed really old. Average age in the circle looked to be at least 60. Not sure what is going on with the Proms in that respect. Maybe it was because it was a Monday. Or maybe the ticketing arrangements favour older people who don't have to worry about booking in advance for weekday evening performances. I don't know, but itis a bit depressing - this was a really nice programme that I would happily have taken friends along to. And it was sold-out (I was lucky to get a late return).