Czech National Symphony Orchestra

Last Friday evening I looked at my tickets for the concert I was going to Sunday and got a shock that it was at 3pm and not 7:30pm as I was expecting.

The concert was the Czech National Symphony Orchestra with Violinist Jennifer Pike  (a former BBC young musician of the year)

The programme was:

• Smetana - Comedy Overture
• Bruch -Violin Concerto
• Piazzolla - Libertango
• Dvorak - Symphony No 8 

I haven't written my thoughts before as I wanted to cogitate and consider my thoughts.

Now it's NOT that I didn't enjoy it, I did, but the pervading thought was pleasant and I expected more. The Bruch is a very popular piece and won I liked but it didn't WOW me. It seem a bit restrained.... I wonder if they didn't want to overpower the violin but I it almost felt like it was at 80%....

The Piazzolla, for me, didn't really work. It's a piece that I think would work with a smaller ensemble...

For me the best piece was the Dvorak it didn't sound as restrained as the Bruch and it was more engrossing.

It was pleasant (that word again) but not more.

Clare again

Trish has just flown into Stansted from warmer climes and as is here for a concert Sunday. Today I took her for a wander around Clare.

The old station

The priory.

Into the church

Finally I visited the Old Station cafe for a coffee and bacon roll!

On the way back we stopped to look at St Mary's, Great Dunmow. I've never been in before!

There are two perspex (?) "humans" bearing witness. Nice idea.

Rye Meads

I haven't been to Rye Meads in ages....  primarily as I haven't had a birding lens. I still haven't but Trish is off on holiday and as she flew from Stansted she left her lens here and I got to play with it today.

As you would imagine it was quiet... highlights being a Green Sandpiper and a Great Spotted Woodpecker! Birds were mostly distant.

Teal

Little Grebe

Teal

Coot

Magpie

Gadwall

Shoveler

WOW ! Dragonflies! in November!!

Teal

Coot

What do you think? Given I had a few hours with it and I've never used the lens or used this camera  for birding I'm actually quiet pleased with the results!

And I will admit it was lovely to wander around Rye Meads again.