Dreams, Lights and Virtuosity

We are in Liverpool, staying overnight after a few hours of massive sensual overload. 

First there is a 45 minute scramble round five installations on this year’s River of Light. It’s all we have time for, and plan to return tomorrow evening to complete the route - but weather wise, this seems unlikely! 

First there’s the fascinating walk-through futuristic world of Emergence, where realities melt into a confused series of perspectives through use of mirrors and light. 

Then there’s the huge golden light bulb of Night Whisper, covered by fluttering golden moths, with coloured light installations of Lampshades Bouquet and Glow. 

We spend most time watching the mesmerising Ukrainian Dreams, an animated light projection on one of the Albert Docks’ warehouses. Colourful folk-art style images from the artist Maria Prymachenko project to tell a timely story of peaceful harmony and nature, war and resistance. It’s beautiful and mesmerising. 

Then it’s onto an altogether different experience - Vikingur Olafsson playing Bach’s Goldberg Variations in the  Philharmonic Hall. It is an intense, uplifting and at times meditative experience as the Icelandic pianist plays with both brilliant virtuosity and the utmost sensitivity. 

Olafsson describes  The Goldberg Variations as being ‘like an encyclopedia of how to think and dream on the piano’. He is performing this set of 30 variations 88 times on 6 continents, 75 minutes of ‘the most wildly virtuosic keyboard music ever written.’ We feel so privileged to be at one of these 88 performances, one minute listening with tears in our eyes, the next stunned by the sheer brilliant of the playing. 

At the end of the performance - a return to the gloriously delicate and emotional Aria - there is a pause, as if the whole audience is reluctantly being drawn back into the real world, before we all erupt into thunderous applause.  Finally he addresses the standing ovation apologetically telling us he cannot play an encore as this is one piece of music that has to end as Bach intended. And he’s right of course. 

Quite a few links today, if you are interested: 

River of Light Installations, followed by links to Olafsson’s writing and playing : 

https://www.visitliverpool.com/riveroflight/emergence/

https://www.visitliverpool.com/riveroflight/night-whisper/

https://www.visitliverpool.com/riveroflight/ukrainian-dreams/

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/oct/06/vikingur-olafsson-pianist-on-bach-goldberg-variations

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcJBKZqb-68

Hard to decide - as usual- on my main, but I’ve gone with Emergence as it’s the most ‘interesting’ shot - though I may well change this! N extras there’s a single shot and a collage of Ukrainian Dreams, plus one of Night Whisper! 

Thanks for your kindness shown towards my Egret and Castle shots this week. I’m way behind again ……