Just before half term, a group of Lower Sixth musicians visited the Royal Academy of Music. They attended the concert of the RAM Symphony Orchestra performing Gustav Mahler’s Fourth Symphony, under direction of the renowned conductor Finnegan Downie Dear. Our musicians thoroughly enjoyed the concert and left full of enthusiasm and excitement. This was a polished performance, with maturity which is characteristic of professional orchestral ensembles. The technical skill of the performers was evident, but our students were equally impressed by the synchronisation and blending of timbre within incredibly complex textures, typical of Mahler’s works. They also had an opportunity to meet two of the current RAM undergraduate students, and discuss the specifics of specialist music courses in a conservatoire setting. A very successful and uplifting visit!
The English department took the Third Form to see “The Taming of the Shrew” at the Globe Theatre in London. Opened in 1997, the Globe Theatre remains one of the most unique, remarkable and breathtaking theatrical spaces in London. The Globe is based on Shakespeare’s “wooden O” theatre: a 360° auditorium with no roof over the central yard. The Third Form experienced the play as “groundlings” standing in the yard for over 2.5 hours rather than seated in the galleries so they were very much part of the action and enjoyed the immersive experience which included being pelted with popcorn and splashed with water by the actors!