Of This is London

So that was London. 3 business meetings, 1 great seminar, 1 visit to Lincoln's Inn for lunch, 1 to the Savoy for Afternoon T and a spectacular visit to the opera to see Rimsky-Korsykov's the Tsar's Bride.

This time, before the show started I went back stage to get an idea of just what goes into each production. I learnt that often a production is planned 6 years ahead. That's almost as long as a good malt whisky takes to mature for premium markets. I learnt the Tsar's Bride production required over 600 costumes and they didn't manage a full dress rehearsal until the day before opening night.

The production is not for the faint hearted. In the opening scene one of the lead characters casually dispatches a torture figure before slipping into something a little less blood stained. In contrast however, Marfa the Tsar's bride, was glorious and sang out a closing scene to match in beauty anything I've witnessed on stage anywhere.

Eastbourne or Antrim? London every time please....