A Wigmore

A fortnight ago now we made into London for a Sunday morning concert at the Wigmore Hall, having cried off a modest number of evening concerts. So we had the new-to-us Merel Quartet giving us Haydn Op.20 No.2 and Dvořák Op.106. Which made me wonder this morning how many saleable paintings a painter produces in his or her working life? It would not take many a month to get to 106 over a twenty year career. Which then made me think that the way that quartets work up their season's offering and then hawk it around the concert halls of the world, is much the same as a painter of old, before the days of mechanical reproduction, knocking out lots of versions of a successful painting. The Breughel operation comes to mind, for which see reference 2.

Back at Epsom, it was wet enough when we set off to carry folding umbrellas, but we had them furled again by the time we got to the station. But cold to be standing about, which was unfortunate as the Waterloo services had been stood down for some reason and we had to settle for Victoria, some minutes later. Something I usually check for on the day, the Network Rail Journey Planner usually being very reliable on such matters, but forgot on this occasion. Not doing so well first thing this morning I might say, with the emergency timetables not making it through from the Southwestern Trains website to the Planner. I suppose they have a reasonable excuse.

Oxford Circus curiously empty when we arrived at around 10:30. About from the sounds of a brass band drifting in from somewhere. Luckily, All Bar One in Regent Street was open, so we got our fix of tea, coffee and smarties (for her). Once again thought about the merits of taking lunch there later, once again did not, in the event, make it. Wondered about how much tips had suffered in our now more or less no-cash environment. So the restaurant gets their 10 or 12% service charge more or less automatically, but I don't suppose many people top that up with cash or otherwise. I sometimes get a bit more added in, but that usually seems to cause more confusion with the money collecting machine than it is worth. So does it all leave them behind or ahead?

Not impressed by this dress in Margaret Howell, the fancy fashion house just before the Hall, last noticed at reference 5 on our last visit, more than two months previously, since when we had been plagued out. I thought it might do rather well in a costume drama involving lady prison officers, but BH assured me that it was all the thing. No doubt with a price to match. Not displayed though, as that would be in poor taste.

Onto a fairly full Wigmore Hall, where mask wearing was much improved and the flowers were as good as ever. Wondering who does them, I asked Bing this morning, who turned up the bit of the Wigmore Hall website which says 'Additional flowers and bouquets can be supplied by Wigmore Hall’s florist, The Flower Shop by email or by telephone on 07739 371282'. Searching for 'the flower shop london' turns up reference 3, which looks possible, probable even, but which has the wrong telephone number. Searching for the telephone number doesn't work at all, in either Bing or Google. No substitute for a telephone directory. But I dare say they would have a better chance if it were not a mobile number, in this case one of a block originally allocated to O2.

Bing also turned up the place at reference 4, from Wigmore in Kent, although it seems a bit unlikely to have anything to do with the hall. They did, however, supply the snap above, even if a little florid for musical types.

The audience sported a noticeable number of women with what looked like expensive and recent hairdos. And a noticeable number of rather scruffy, older men. Perhaps they were bachelors from nearby luxury flats. Or the not so luxury ones nearer Euston Road.

The quartet sat in the unusual order of violin one, cello, viola, violin two and they all used computers rather than paper scores. And did us very well. Haydn as reliable as ever and Dvořák entirely satisfactory. Running time about 75 minutes.

Out to the 'Place to Eat' at the top of John Lewis, a place with fine views of the roofscape. Quite a decent ham and cheese baguette, taken previously, but only a fair lemon meringue pie. Slightly irritated when we left to notice that they they did have the savoury lentils which I had liked on a previous occasion, but didn't think to look for on this one. Probably put off by the modest queue. Staff very pleasant, as ever.

Took the opportunity to take a quick look at televisions, with our still mulling over whether or not to get rid of our ancient but entirely functional 26 incher from Panasonic in favour of something that talks to the Internet. Plenty of giant tellies, far too big for our needs, but also some more modest ones. Mostly equipped with sound bars, which were not compulsory, but we were told that we should have one if we cared about our music... We were also told that we might want someone to do the installation. And that it would be unwise to jettison our DVD's on day one. The Internet offering was not as good as Spotify is for music and anything even a touch exotic might be absent. Information filed, and replacement project put away again. This despite my worrying that if we left it much longer we might find that we could not (which should be translated as BH could not) be bothered to learn how to drive it properly. Maybe one day we will make it to the slightly nearer people at reference 6. Be an excuse for lunch out in a town we do not know very well, with it being more than two years since the last visit. A visit which, before I took a look at reference 7, was mainly remembered for nearly buying a pile of heritage tableware.

Didn't get close enough to find out why Microsoft thought it was a good plan to fill up a large chunk of their Oxford Circus showroom with an armoured car. But there were a few more people about than earlier.

The tree on the line at Ewell East was cleared just as we reached the Victoria Station concourse, which was good. Scoring two aeroplanes at Balham, a first for what seems like years, was also good. Had the train lingered a few seconds longer, I might have bagged a second two.

Noticed the promotional signage for Subsea7 at Sutton Station and thought to look them up today. Lots of flashy pictures for those who like to look at marine engineering. Originally a Norwegian company, now grown up enough to want to avoid regulation and tax in the Duchy of Luxembourg. But still, according to Wikipedia, headquartered in Sutton.

Slept well that night. Clearly tired out after our first outing to the big town for weeks and weeks.

References

Reference 1: https://www.merelquartet.com/.

Reference 2: Breughel Enterprises - Peter van den Brink - 2002.

Reference 3: https://theflowershop.london/.

Reference 4: https://wigmoreflorists.co.uk/.

Reference 5: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2021/12/trios.html.

Reference 6: https://www.richersounds.com/.

Reference 7: https://psmv4.blogspot.com/2019/09/another-important-place.html.

Reference 8: https://www.subsea7.com/en/index.html.