A Palm House Concert





It was a bit of a rush but I got to Liverpool, met my friend Colin and got to the Palm House in Sefton Park for 7.27pm …minutes before the concert started.
We had bought tickets to a rather attractive string quartet playing a selection of film scores by candlelight amid the wonderful backdrop of the Victorian hot house and it was all rather civilised and rather sweet


Bravely the quartet picked some BIG numbers by John Williams , who is known more for his full orchestra set pieces with lots of horn ( so to speak) but they tried their best with the likes of Jurassic Park and Star Wars before giving a lovely rendition from Schindler’s List .

Their pieces by the composer Danny Elfman were much more lyrical and interesting and seemed more suited to the backdrop of palm trees, a thousand candles ( well battery operated ones) and dozens of banana fronds smelling a little like pee



 

39 comments:

  1. The candles remind me of the ones I saw once in a rhubarb forcing shed in Wakefield.

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  2. What a beautiful venue!

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  3. A palm house makes me imagine elegant folk, men in crisp jackets with dazzling white shirts, and women in flowing gowns, flirting dangerously amongst the greenery while sipping on martinis. One can only dream.

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  4. A splendid evening.

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  5. It looks gorgeous... too bad about the stinky trees. Lol.

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  6. Last week my husband and I went to something very similar in our Anglican cathedral here in Brisbane. Completely candle lit by fake ( but very realistic ) candles so very atmospheric in the big, dark church. Ours was a string quartet playing tributes to Queen. They were terrific with Bohemian Rhapsody and not so wonderful with some of the others as you can imagine but it was still a pleasant outing. There are more such outings organised, with Classical music, in parks along the river which I think would be very nice on a warm Summer evening .
    They must be the latest "thing".

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  7. Barbara Anne12:14 am

    How wonderful! The venue is lovely and the music must have been ethereal, the palm odor aside. Best of all, you and Colin were on time!!
    You'll probably hear the music in your sleep tonight.

    Hugs!

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  8. I hear Schindler's List most days on the radio and each time feel unsettled x

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  9. The location is Gatsbyesque.

    Love,
    Janie

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  10. That building is impressive, and lovely.

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  11. Sounds wonderful! Except for the banana fronds smelling like pee.

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  12. Beautiful John!!!! I love me a gorgeous time spent in a Victorian Conservatory. Visited a few of them when in Vienna.

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  13. Well, at least it looked and sounded good.

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  14. What a fabulous building, I've not seen it before. Hidden Liverpool!

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  15. It sounds wonderful and I love those candles!

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  16. What an enjoyable experience! So atmospheric and different.

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  17. What a wonderful experience - even the pee odour! I've been to Liverpool plenty of times,but never been to Sefton Park, or the glasshouse. Now on my bucket list! xx

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  18. That sounds absolutely magical. xx

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  19. Looks amazing. Lovely experience for you to enjoy.

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  20. That must have been great. I love palm houses and their atmosphere. Lots of horn, indeed. tsk.

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  21. What a lovely evening. I love palm houses.

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  22. I saw Sefton Park and the Palm House in the snow in 1974. It was magic. The only time I have been there.

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  23. Anything by candlelight does it for me :) All looks and sounds wonderful, even if it didn't smell wonderful :)

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  24. A string quartet in a Victorian palm house - perfect!

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  25. Wonderful venue, great music, and nice companionship, sounds like fun. I photographed John Williams in a rehearsal hall at Walt Disney World back in the late 1970's. I may still have the negatives from that.

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  26. Oh I love the Palm House!
    Our son quite fancied getting married there, but his now wife wasn't keen.
    For weddings, due to Liverpool being the home of two great football clubs, the Palm House provide either a red (Liverpool FC), or blue (Everton FC) carpet!
    Football is a religion in some parts of Liverpool!

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  27. That is simply magical :-)

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  28. That looks terrific! Glad you enjoyed yourself!

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  29. Yes, magical. Thanks for sharing with us.

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  30. An interesting way to stage a concert! Looks beautiful!

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  31. You go to the loveliest concerts - I am green with envy.

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    1. Before we shuffle off this mortal coil , shall we go

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  32. What a wonderful venue for a concert. I have never been to a classical concert. I would like to go I think.

    Jo in Auckland

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