Bassoons, Laser Cannons and Creamy Jingoism

Sundays, I think, should be all about doing things that make you feel about 65. Roast dinner, a walk round a National Trust place, antiquing - all of them lovely, all of them relaxing...none of them cool. If you want to be cool, go out on Friday, Saturday (or if you're so edgy you don't mind getting sacked) a Tuesday. Save the industrial dance rave for some other time - Sundays are for playing the Antiques Roadshow game (if you haven't tried it, you haven't lived.)

I just love this lady's face

So it was in this spirit of stodgy Sunday-ness that I bought tickets for my parents, F, and me to see the 25th Anniversary of Classical Spectacular the weekend after Mother's Day.

If you have not experienced Classical Spectacular before, it is rather a difficult concept to put across.

Imagine you are an Events team executive pitching to the board at the Albert Hall, possibly the most sought after, respected venue in the arts world. The conversation goes something like this:


YOU: It'll be a celebration of all the most popular pieces of classical music - a bit of opera, bit of symphony - with the full London Philharmonic Orchestra. We might even throw in some patriotic songs to keep the older generation happy. We think it'll really appeal to families out for a bit of culture, especially those with grandparents.

THE BOARD: So...why do you need the laser cannons?


That's right. Laser cannons. And fireworks. And guns going off. Plus some actual military canons BLASTING OFF AROUND YOU during the 1812 Overture at the end.

 Let's face it, classical music will never be cool. It is even less cool to attend a blisteringly cheesy compilation of classical music's greatest hits, surrounded by middle-class senior citizens.

Classical Spectacular is, basically, Strictly Come Dancing with bassoons.

And that is precisely, why we need the laser canons, because apart from all the sci-fi style swirling colours and lights (preeeeeeetty) it creates a kind of bonkers paradox, just like the 'England and Cream' sketch from A Bit of Fry and Laurie.

It's as if they were whispering to us as we bellowed our way through that third reprise of Rule Britannia, saying, "yes, we know this is completely over-the-top, jingoistic nonsense, but if we just push it a biiit further, it crosses over into the effing hilarious."
This is why I loved Classical Spectacular, and more importantly, why my parents have now been three times. The music was beautifully played, the lasers lasered brightly and on cue, and as we all know, we British are never happier than when we are laughing at ourselves.

Love,

W.L.

P.S. If you need any more proof of how completely, wonderfully, MAD Classical Spectacular is, here's a picture. This season is sadly now sold out - but there's always next year. Come on, you know you want to.