A trip to the theatre is something I strongly associate with Christmas. Dance lessons as a young girl meant performing in my school’s annual pantomime, usually as some form of fairy. Ballet I discovered later: The Nutcracker and Swan Lake contributed to my love of classical music. Completing the circle, each year at music school included a trip to the latest musical such as Les Misérables.
Read MoreLet's Dance (the Blues)
It has been two weeks since we woke to the sad news that David Bowie had left Planet Earth and the attempts to honour him are ongoing. For example, there's a petition on change.org calling for him to appear on the 20 pound banknote. There may have been an asterism named after him but National Geographic explains it better. I wonder what Bowie himself would have made of it all? Despite the rock star status he kept his private life away from the media glare, one of the many things I admired him for.
Read MoreCould it be Magic?
It's been a busy year for Take That who just completed their first UK/European tour as a trio. However you may feel about them, it’s impossible to deny the band’s enduring appeal. I recently found myself in the company of some TT fans - affectionately referred to as Thatters - when I went to see them perform for the first time in my life.
Picture this: it's 9 am outside the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam. My friend Ineke and I spot tents - some fans have camped overnight to make the front of the queue. We're momentarily confused - is it 1993? - but it turns out that the Take That boys are still very much loved. Their fans have even devised a queuing system, hence our early start. The first 50 fans to arrive are assigned a number, thereby securing a privileged spot in the queue.
Read MoreCocktails and Conversations with Sinfonietta Paris
La rentrée is so official in France that somebody created a word for it. French people return from their summer holiday, complaining that they are stressed about larentréé and how busy it will be.Let me point out that the word has been designated feminine - I choose to see only the positive in this however. La rentrée signifies the start of a new school year, with the opportunity to learn new things. It's a good time of year if you're looking for a new job, and I speak from experience as I have just changed company. La rentrée also means a new season of classical music, which is great news if that kind of thing floats your boat.
Read MoreIs there Life on Mars?
This past weekend I went to see David Bowie Is on its last day atthe Philharmonie de Paris. Welcoming over 1 million visitors during its 3 month run, the exhibition was extremely popular until the very end, forcing the museum to extend its opening hours during the last week. The exhibition’s curators (V&A’s Victoria Broackes and Geoffrey Marsh) were allowed full access to the David Bowie Archive, resulting in an impressive amount of material being displayed, including videos, stage costumes, album covers, stage sets, photographs and Bowie’s music.
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