Concerto

I managed to prise myself out of the house yesterday evening to take in a concert; which is not something I do very often, mainly due to laziness, coupled with an inability to make up my mind whether I quite fancy anything that's on. But I was spurred into what passes for action by seeing a review in the newspaper praising last Thursday night's concert by the Hallé orchestra, and which heartily recommended going along to the repeat performance. Given that the national press generally overlooks the many cultural delights of this part of the world, it seemed churlish to ignore so direct a recommendation to an event practically on my doorstep. Although I did actually have to get there by car. So it wasn't quite on my doorstep.

So it was well worth giving up a lazy Sunday evening at home in order to soak up a bit of culture, especially when Sir Mark Elder himself was conducting – a spectacular Brahms second piano concerto and an intense Sibelius second symphony, a couple of my favourite composers. It's a rare treat to be sitting up in the heights of the Bridgewater Hall, completely entranced with observing all the details of the performance, the subtlety and invention and passion of a great professional orchestra at work. As opposed to be sitting there for my sons' school's Speech Night, which tended to be a less inspiring affair. And lasted longer. But there are always enough intriguing architectural details around the hall to keep your mind occupied.