At Home He Feels Like A Tourist

Category: Germany

• Culture Fascism Fiction Film Germany History Ideology Literature London Memory Novel Theatre Uncategorized War

  The Tin Drum at the Coronet Theatre review *****

  The Tin Drum The Coronet Theatre, 24th February 2020 I know. This is ridiculous. Posting some comments on something the Tourist saw over 18 months ago. But I started. So I’ll finish. And with some cracking live theatre now under his belt, the Tourist’s cultural mojo is back with a…

  October 1, 2021
• Chamber Music Classical Music Concert Culture Enlightenment Germany London Piano Quartet Romanticism Sonata Symphony

  Beethoven Weekender at the Barbican review

  Beethoven Weekender “This could be the closest thing to heaven …. “. No not the Tears for Fears dirge from 2004 but one of the many fine singles from the vastly under-rated, and alas short-lived, Kane Gang from 1984. The KG, along with the magnificent Prefab Sprout, and the rather…

  April 14, 2020
• Acting Culture Fascism Film France Germany History Ideology Industry London Politics Power Theatre

  Les Damnes: Comedie-Francaise at the Barbican Theatre review *****

  Les Damnes (The Dammed) Comedie-Francaise, Barbican Theatre, 21st June The Tourist is now so far off the pace in terms of commenting om his cultural adventures that there must surely be a strong case for giving up. Hurrah I hear you cry. Well I am afraid any joy you feel…

  August 12, 2019
• Baroque Classical Music Concert Culture Germany London

  Collegium Vocale Gent at the Barbican review *****

  Collegium Vocale Gent, Philippe Herreweghe (conductor), Dorothee Mields (soprano), Hanna Blazikova (soprano), Alex Potter (countertenor), Thomas Hobbs (tenor), Krešimir Stražanac (bass) Barbican Hall, 14th June 2019 It’s Bach. It’s the B Minor Mass. So of course it is beautiful. But it can be a bit, well, “bitty”. After all the…

  August 1, 2019
• Communism Culture Germany London Theatre Thriller

  Anna at the National Theatre review ****

  Anna National Theatre Dorfman, 11th June 2019 After a false start, (the indolent Tourist failed to wake up in time on the appointed on-sale day and this sold out fast), a couple of returns were secured so it was off to the Dorfman with MS in tow for Ella Hickson’s…

  July 27, 2019
• Chamber Music Classical Music Contemporary Classical Culture Electronics Germany London

  Stockhausen chamber music at the Queen Elizabeth Hall review ****

  Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano), Tamara Stefanovich (piano), Dirk Rothbrust (percussion), Marco Stroppa (sound design) Queen Elizabeth Hall, 2nd June 2019 Karlheinz Stockhausen Zyklus for percussion Mantra for 2 pianos with 12 antique cymbals, woodblock & 2 ring modulators (and shortwave radio/tape)  I confess. I was defeated by the performance of Donnerstag aus Licht by…

  June 25, 2019
• Chamber Music Classical Music Concert Concerto Contemporary Classical Culture Enlightenment Germany London Opera Symphony

  Britten Sinfonia Beethoven cycle at the Barbican Hall review *****

  Britten Sinfonia, Thomas Ades (conductor), Barbican Hall, 21st and 26th May 2019 Lawrence Power (viola) Eamonn Dougan (director) Jennifer France (soprano) Christianne Stotjin (alto) Ed Lyon (tenor) Matthew Rose (bass) Britten Sinfonia Voices Choir of Royal Holloway Beethoven – Symphony No 7 in A majpor, Op 92 Gerald Barry –…

  June 10, 2019
• Acting Biography Culture Fascism Film Germany History London Memory Theatre Truth

  A German Life at the Bridge Theatre review ****

  A German Life Bridge Theatre, 15th April 2019 It is pretty easy when you spend as much time consuming theatre as the Tourist to go full on luvvie and get well carried away with the “genius” of playwrights, directors, creatives and, especially, actors. So you would probably be wise to…

  April 28, 2019
• Capitalism Culture Germany London Politics Power Russia Theatre

  The Good Person of Szechwan at the Barbican Theatre review ****

  The Good Person of Szechwan Moscow Pushkin Drama Theatre, Barbican Theatre, 9th February 2019 I am a sucker for these Russian theatre companies. Despite the fact that I can’t say I was bowled over by the last visits of the Maly Drama Theatre of St Petersburg and the Vakhtangov State…

  February 27, 2019
• Biography Culture Germany History London Politics Syria Theatre War

  Borders (*****) and Games (****) at the Arcola Theatre review

  Borders and Games Arcola Theatre, 22nd December 2018 I had only seen one of Henry Naylor’s acclaimed plays prior to this double header and that was Angel at this very venue. That was enough to know that I like the cut of his jib. Mr Naylor, prior to writing plays,…

  January 8, 2019