Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas by the Academy of Ancient Music

I had missed their much acclaimed Faerie Queen two years ago, but had managed to see their exceptional King Arthur last year (the staging modernised to comment on the whole Brexit debacle). I was not going to pass up this year’s Dido and Aeneas.

I am not very knowledgeable about classical music and hardly go to any classical concerts. But I do like the opera; its the whole spectacle of the thing. Music and song and play. Also I am quite keen on Purcell. Early indoctrination by my father? The particular whimsical baroque elements to his music that make it quite different from the more famous classical music that followed? The rarity of hearing a harpsichord in an orchestral setting nowadays?

Tangerine Dream at the Union Chapel

I have seen a lot of good concerts this year, and this was definitely one of them! I like myself some good atmospheric ambient and prog. And I love visiting the Union Chapel – it’s both lovely and convenient.

I know Tangerine Dream is a 70s group, and that their leader has died, but I was too young to have had the chance to see them in their heyday. And this year I have been busy ticking artists off my bucket list.

Coraline: the opera

2018 turned out to be the year of the opera for me, as I booked to see four operas, far more than I usually see. Coraline is a brand new opera by Mark-Anthony Turnage, who I learnt is a hot contemporary british opera composer. I don’t often see operas by living composers (Philip Glass being an obvious exception), but I was intrigued.

Fever Ray at the Troxy

I have loved The Knife and Fever Ray for several years now. Their combination of haunting vocals and droning electro beats hits my musical sweet-spot just right. So as soon as I learnt Fever Ray was touring to promote her new record, I bought tickets for her London show without having even heard her new album. And then I spent long months eagerly waiting for the concert and slowly listening to her new album and following the slow release of her promo videos and music videos.

I must confess that I do not like her new album as much as her first one. There was something otherworldly and a little bit folky to her first album that was just perfect for me. Since then, she has gone through a divorce and re-invented herself and her sexuality, something that she showcases in her second album.

Boom for Real – Basquiat

Back in the beginning of the year, the Barbican centre held a retrospective exhibition on the American artist Basquiat. I love the Barbican’s exhibitions. Most of them are very well curated and they often give me a chance to learn new artists and photographers. Case in point: Basquiat. Even though he is quite a well known artist, I only learnt about him from this exhibition.

Belle and Sebastian at the Troxy

A fortnight ago I saw Belle and Sebastian at the Troxy. I had been a bit undecided about whether to go or not as I no longer listened to their music as much as I used to. But I found a meetup group was organising to go, and I thought the with company it would definitely be fun.

I’m really glad I went! It was a very good concert! I have only seen Belle and Sebastian live once before. Back in 2002 in Athens. It was one of the highlights of the year back then. They were in their heyday and had a big indie following in Greece and I was pretty much obsessed with them at the time.

Philip Glass’ Satyagraha by the ENO

I used to hate Philip Glass. But that was because I was exposed to him at a very young age in a rather brutal manner. When I was in my early teens, my father went through an obsessive Philip Glass phase. I challenge any 13year to listen to Philip Glass for several hours almost every day for a several months not to acquire an aversion to his music! But time passed, my father’s phase passed, I grew up, my tastes changed and I re-evaluated my opinion of Philip Glass.

So when a while back a friend told me the ENO were performing Satyagraha at the Coliseum and we could get £12 restricted view tickets, I jumped to agree.

Aloysius Suwardi: Planet Harmonik

A lot of the time I just want to collect experiences and try new things. This concert was one such case. I wasn’t sure if I’d like it, but I decided to go because it sounded so interesting and different.

Aloysius Suwardi is a professor of music, a composer of Indonesian gamelan music and an inventor of musical instruments. He not only composed the score of Planet Harmonik, but also built the musical instruments is is played on. That alone promised this concert would be quite a unique experience.