What could be more enticing than that precious moment at a live performance when an audience and the musicians fall in love with each other? The come-hither intensity of the music and the teasing combination of apparent proximity but actual distance producing a frisson really worth savouring.
When musician and audience want to, they can really egg each other on. But it doesn't happen that often, and when it comes to London audiences, the process can be tough, with English sangfroid mixing with the capital's dreaded sophistication. No wonder few make it past the first flirt. But witness Daniel Barenboim with his London fans – whether in the Festival Hall or last year in his surreal appearance in Tate Modern's Turbine Hall – and you see a master and his adoring audience at work. Together.
The most powerful instance of this "coupling" that I can recall was on 19 August 2007, when the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela appeared in London with their famous music director Gustavo Dudamel. Inside the Albert Hall was a mindboggling frenzy. "Absolutely the best EVER Proms night I have seen in 35 years." "By far the most exhilarating and life-affirming concert I have ever experienced." "The greatest Prom of all time." Those are just a few from thousands of such comments online. I asked Dudamel recently about his reactions to this concert. "When we came here to London," he said, "we experienced and we felt that warmth of the Proms. It was something we've never forgotten."
Not surprisingly, when Dudamel returned to London in 2009 for a residency at the Southbank Centre, there was an air of expectation. He didn't disappoint: 60,000 people mobbed the Bolívars that week, with not much letting up of the intensity from 2007. This time, instead of Dmitri Shostakovich and Leonard Bernstein's Mambo, they brought Béla Bartók, Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Igor Stravinsky. Plus Latin encores galore, performed in their trademark brightly coloured jackets that got twirled and thrown as the concerts gave way to on-stage parties that were more indie rock than classical. The love affair was still on, and with a week to enjoy it, even more passionate.
Then, last summer, they returned to the Proms, and something odd happened. They played Gustav Mahler's monumental Resurrection symphony. But now there were no coloured jackets, no madcap encore behaviour. Of course, this was Dudamel's well-placed reaction to the symphony. You don't follow a piece of that gravity with fun "pop" stuff. Yet it was fascinating watching some of the Proms audience who had turned up for the usual "mambo-madness" looking almost crestfallen at no fun to follow Mahler's triumphant resolution. Like all good programming there was something clever at play here: a concert revealing something deeper not just about the music but also the musicians.
Dudamel and his orchestra are growing up. It's not just that they now wear the tailcoats of more established orchestras, or that they have changed their name from "youth" to "symphony". These changes are a sign of something more profound: this is an orchestra and music director on a frontier. The truth is, there has never been an orchestra like this one. Now mainly in their early 30s, they have already played together for almost two decades. No one really knows how far, and in what ways, they will develop.
Dudamel, meanwhile, clearly thrives in London. "London will always be a place with many special and diverse memories," he says. "Much of my early work was here, learning with great conductors and orchestras, I had the opportunity to visit London often – my relationship with your city and your arts scene started then. I went to the Royal Opera House, spent time at the British Museum and the Tate, ate almost every lunch at Wagamama and explored your concert halls and learned what makes the 'London orchestra' such a one-of-a-kind in the world. My relationship with the Philharmonia Orchestra brought me many times to London and I will always reflect positively on that early period of development with them – their patience, their warmth, their dedication."
But there is something else special about London. "You have achieved something unique – it's sort of like our Centre for Social Action in Music, transported piece by piece, concept by concept, to the Southbank Centre – that is one of a kind outside of Venezuela," says Dudamel. "Everywhere will be music this week in London. A 'pop-up' nucleo, I don't think, has ever happened before in this form. We're going to share a little of what happens, every day, for 500,000 kids in some 350 nuclei around Venezuela in the heart of London. And I think that is perhaps why we feel so at home working and performing here in London."
Talking with the orchestra's players a few weeks ago as they rehearsed in Caracas, I heard the usual youthful bonhomie, and as they boarded UK-bound flights on Saturday, Facebook was humming with posts – principal viola player Ismel Campos still typing as he got on the plane. "The UK," replied one of his friends immediately, "Take umbrellas!!" Off stage it is still fun, but will the London audience buy the developing on-stage Bolívars?
Dudamel has certainly decided to play the stakes high. He opens the residency on 23 June with Ludwig van Beethoven, a composer he has never performed in London with this orchestra. This is not mambo, but core European repertoire. Can the Bolívars pull this one off? As the twin opening E flat chords of the most revolutionary symphony of all time are played by the most radical orchestra of all time, we may well find the answer.
The good news is that if you are not one of the lucky 2,700 who have a ticket to the concert, you can still watch it live here on the Guardian. Love affair or lovers' tiff? Saturday will tell.
Both concerts (23 and 26 June) in the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra's Southbank Centre residency will be live-streamed on the Guardian. Details here. They will be available to view again on demand for a further week.
• Marshall Marcus is director of the Simón Bolívar Music Foundation's Venezuelan baroque music programme and Southbank Centre's former head of music
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Hammerson sells London offices portfolio for £518m - Daily Telegraph
Brookfield hired Mr Jepson to lead an expansion in London and has been scouring the market for months a deal.
Mr Jepson said: “The acquisition of this portfolio is in keeping with our previously stated strategy to expand in the UK and reaffirms our commitment to building a platform in London.
“This unique portfolio provides Brookfield Office Properties with opportunities to create value through leveraging our leasing, asset management and development expertise.”
David Atkins, chief executive of Hammerson, said: "I'm delighted that we have been able to achieve our goal of becoming a pure retail business earlier than anticipated by arranging a single transaction for the majority of our London offices which secures excellent value for shareholders."
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Sussex burglar meets victims in prison to say sorry - eastbourneherald.co.uk
A PROLIFIC burglar, who targeted homes in Eastbourne and was jailed for seven years, has met some of his victims in prison to apologise for his crimes.
Barrie Williamson, 49, was caught in January this year after an intensive police investigation and an appeal on the BBC Crimewatch programme.
In April, Williamson was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court, after pleadeding guilty to four dwelling burglaries in Eastbourne, Hove, Worthing and Seaford in October last year.
The court also took into consideration his admission of a further 39 burglary offences from September last year to January, including six in Eastbourne, two in Seaford and one in Bexhill. Williamson struck at homes in Sussex, as well as in Lancashire, Dorset, Nottinghamshire, Kent, and Norfolk where he took jewellery and cash.
Now, Williamson has met four of his victims, who travelled to Coldiingley Prison in Surrey.
Victims of one of the Sussex burglaries, a husband and wife who do not wish to be named, said; “We found the conference very interesting and an extremely valuable and worthwhile experience.
“Barrie Williamson was not our idea of a stereotypical burglar. He remembered all of the details of the crimes involving all present at the conference and emotions ran high at times on all sides.
“At the end of what was a mentally draining experience, we had probably got all of our anger out of our systems and replaced it with a genuine hope that he would have the determination,support and opportunity to lead a law-abiding life on his release.”
After his sentencing at Lewes Crown Court, officers from the Sussex Police Priority Crime Team visited Williamson in prison where he expressed remorse for his offences and asked if he could say sorry to at least some of his victims. Sussex Police then set up its second Restorative Justice conference to be held in a prison, working with the prison governor, staff and Probation.
Restorative Justice is a forum when police arrange for victims to meet offenders to talk about the crimes that have been committed against them. It takes place after conviction and sentence usually takes place in a prison where the offender is serving his or her sentence.
The RJ process is unique within the criminal justice system since it is a voluntary process and the offender receives no rewards or other incentive to take part. It is based on the principle that those who have been involved in the crime are best place talk about it and look at ways in which the offender may be able to explain and atone for the harm that has been caused.
The victims can ask unanswered questions, with the view of gaining closure and for the offender to stop re-offending.
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Print this pageSource: www.eastbourneherald.co.uk
Sussex Police hunt for suspect in Arundel rape case - thisissussex.co.uk
Sussex Police are trying to trace a man who is wanted in connection with a rape near Arundel in 2010.
Detectives are urging members of the public to come forward with any information they may have concerning the whereabouts of Abdul Bieeu, 23.
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Police want to speak to Abdul Bieeu
Mr Bieeu has already been arrested in connection with the rape but he was released on bail and failed to answer bail.
It is thought he may have gone to Libya for a time but may have now returned.
The rape, where the victim was a 19-year-old woman, took place on the site of a Comfort Inn Hotel in Lyminster Road, Lyminster between the 8th and 9th of September 2010.
Mr Bieeu is also known as Marney Rafah, Abdel Sadik, Marney Bieeu and Abdel Sadiq.
A second man has been arrested and charged with rape in relation to this incident. He is Richard Wooster, 24, of Highfield, Wick. He has pleaded not guilty to the offence and is due to appear on trial at Chichester Crown Court on September 3rd 2012.
Detective Constable Andrea Watts of West Sussex CID said: "We have been working to establish Mr Bieeu's whereabouts but have been unable to trace him so far. We are appealing for anyone who has information about his whereabouts to contact police.
"It was believed that he may have gone to Libya for a short time and may have now returned. He also has links to Manchester, Bolton, Chester and Southsea.
"Mr Bieeu has been known to work for cash-in-hand at restaurants and bars and may be using a different name."
If you have any information about his whereabouts please contact Sussex Police on 101 quoting serial 297 of 9/9 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Source: www.thisissussex.co.uk
London Welsh appeal to block Premiership promotion delayed for seven days - Daily Mail
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London Welsh's appeal against the decision to block their promotion to the Aviva Premiership has been delayed by a week.
The case will now be heard on June 28 - it was originally scheduled for Thursday - under agreement by all parties involved.
The independent panel will compromise of James Dingemans QC (chairman), Ian Mill QC and Tim Ward QC at a venue yet to be confirmed.
Appeal: Welsh are hoping their recent victory isn't in vain
Welsh won this season's Championship after beating Cornish Pirates in both legs of the final.
But the Richmond-based club were told just hours before the first leg kicked off in Cornwall they did not meet minimum standards criteria set down by English rugby's Professional Game Board for entry to the Premiership.
The Exiles played the final's second leg at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford, which is thought to be their preferred venue should they gain top-flight status.
As things stand, Newcastle will remain in the Premiership next term despite finishing bottom by a point behind Wasps this season.
But should London Welsh succeed in overturning an original decision that went against them, then they will go up and the Falcons be relegated.
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
London Games to be first social media Olympics - AP - NBC Sports
LONDON - Tweet this: The London Games will be the first Olympics told in 140 characters or less.
The London Games will be the most tweeted, liked and tagged in history, with fans offered a never before seen insider's view of what many are calling the social media Olympics, or the "socialympics."
Hash tags, (at) signs and "like" symbols will be as prevalent as national flags, Olympic pins and medal ceremonies. Some athletes may spend more time on Twitter and Facebook than the playing field.
Mobile phones have become smarter, laptops lighter and tablet devices a must-have for technology lovers — meaning social-savvy fans, whether watching on television or inside the Olympic stadium itself, will be almost constantly online.
Organizers expect more tweets, Facebook posts, videos and photos to be shared from London than any other sports event in history. The 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver offered just a small glimpse of what's to come.
"Vancouver was just the first snowflake," said Alex Hout, the International Olympic Committee's head of social media. "This is going to be a big snowball."
Twitter is already braced for a surge of traffic. Launched in 2006, it has become a key outlet for sports fans to trade messages during live events.
Users sent 13,684 tweets per second during a Champions League soccer match between Barcelona and Chelsea in April, a record volume of tweets for a sporting event — busier even than the 2012 Super Bowl. Chances are good that will be one of the records broken in London.
"It could be the 100-meter final or something unexpected," said Lewis Wiltshire, Twitter U.K.'s head of sport.
At the last Summer Olympics in Beijing in 2008, Twitter had about 6 million users and Facebook 100 million. Today, the figure is 140 million for Twitter and 900 million for Facebook.
"In Sydney (2000) there was hardly any fast Internet, in Athens (2004) there were hardly any smartphones, in Beijing hardly anyone had social networks," said Jackie-Brock Doyle, communications director of London organizing committee LOCOG. "That's all changed. Here, everyone has all that and will be consuming the games in a different way."
Later this month, at trials in Calgary for Canada's Olympic track and field team, athletes will even wear Twitter handles on their bibs — encouraging fans to send messages of support as they race.
Sponsors have also taken their Olympic campaigns online. Coca-Cola, Cadbury, Visa and BP are among those using Facebook to reach younger consumers. Samsung is even offering to paint the faces of Internet users with their national flag — virtually, of course.
"They key difference from four years ago is that now almost everyone has a smartphone, which means everyone can participate in real time," said Adam Vincenzini, an expert at Paratus Communications, a London-based PR and social media marketing agency. "You used to have to be sitting at your desk to access various social media platforms. Now you can have your phone or tablet on your lap while you watch, whether that's at the pub or the stadium."
The IOC, with 760,000 Twitter followers and 2.8 million on Facebook, will host live chats from inside the Olympic village with athletes, allowing the public to pose questions using social media accounts. It has already created an online portal, called the Athletes' Hub, which will collate posts from their Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Under IOC rules, athletes and accredited personnel are free to post, blog and tweet "provided that it is not for commercial and/or advertising purposes" and does not ambush official Olympic sponsors and broadcasters. Social media posts should be written in a "first-person, diary-type format."
What about spectators using their phones and iPads to take photos and video?
"There is no problem with photo sharing," Hout said. "We encourage it. But monetizing is not allowed."
"People are allowed to film. They're allowed to do that on their phones," he said. "The thing that we ask is that content is not uploaded to public sites."
The reason is to protect the exclusivity of the broadcasters who shell out big money for the rights. NBC, for example, paid more than $1 billion for the U.S. rights to the London Games.
"We encourage the use of social media. We encourage athletes to engage and to connect," Hout said. "There are some rules to follow, there's no question about it. But we don't police the fans, we don't police the athletes. We don't do that. What we do is we engage."
Facebook launched an Olympic page on Monday that groups teams, sports, athletes, broadcasters and in one place. The site has pages dedicated to specific Olympic sports and links to Facebook sites for 60 national teams and 200 athletes, including Michael Phelps, LeBron James and David Beckham.
LOCOG also plans to announce new Olympic tie-ups with Twitter and Google.
But London Olympic organizers have drawn up strict rules for their employees and the 70,000 Olympic volunteers. They have been told not to share their location, any images of scenes in areas that are off limits to the public, or details about athletes, celebrities or dignitaries who they find themselves in contact with.
"We are not stopping people from using social sites," Brock-Doyle said. "We say there are lots of things about your job — procedures, places you'll be and do — that remain confidential. There are elements of your job you can't share with wider groups of people."
Athletes, too, will need to navigate the social media world carefully.
Australian swimmers Nick D'Arcy and Kenrick Monk have already been punished after posting photos of themselves on Facebook in which they cradled pump-action shotguns and a pistol in a U.S. gun shop.
The Australian Olympic Committee ordered them to remove the photos immediately. The swimmers have been banned from using social media for a month starting July 15 and will be sent home the day the Olympic swimming program finishes.
The British Olympic Association has offered advice to its own athletes, suggesting that "a few smiley faces and LOL's (online speak for laugh out loud) will make you seem more approachable and encourage more people to talk and ask you questions." What not to do: "Don't get into disputes with your audience."
British swimmer Rebecca Adlington, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a leading medal contender in London, has spoken out about abuse she has received about her physical appearance from some users on social media sites. She has already blocked the worst offenders from being able to contact her, but insists she won't stop using Twitter, where she trades dozens of messages a day with more than 50,000 followers.
"I'm insecure about the way I look and people's comments do hurt me," Adlington said in a message posted on Twitter.
While some athletes prefer to tune out from social media to concentrate on their competition, others embrace the opportunity to interact with their fans.
"Letting people know what I'm eating, how I'm sleeping, what the venues are like — people want to know what we're going through," U.S. gymnast Jonathan Horton said. "They want to know what it's like going through the experience and what we're up to."
All in 140 characters.
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Follow Stephen Wilson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/stevewilsonap
Follow David Stringer on Twitter at http://twitter.com/david_stringer
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AP Sports Writer Nancy Armour in Chicago contributed.
Source: nbcsports.msnbc.com
Plamen Petkov honoured for West Wittering beach rescue - BBC News
A man who drowned saving a young child from being swept out to sea off West Sussex has been rewarded for his "self-sacrifice and courage".
Plamen Petkov, of Sutton, south London, died after saving a five-year-old girl off West Wittering beach on 26 May.
Mr Petkov, 32, who was a British citizen of Bulgarian origin, has been posthumously awarded the highest civilian Bulgarian distinction.
His family have also set up an RNLI fund in his name.
Mr Petkov dived into the water after he and a friend spotted a mother shouting for help because her daughter was adrift on an inflatable ring being taken out to sea.
'Heroic act'He managed to reach the girl but after he passed her to a woman from Guildford, who also entered the water, he was dragged under the water by strong currents.
Mr Petkov was pronounced dead at the scene by the emergency services despite attempts by the woman to resuscitate him.
He has been posthumously awarded the Honorary Decoration of St George by the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria for his "self-sacrifice and courage".
A spokeswoman for the Bulgarian Embassy in London said the award had been given in recognition of Mr Petkov's "illustrated bravery, self-renunciation, civil courage" and for "upholding the prestige of the Republic of Bulgaria".
In a statement, his family said: "Although tragic, we are touched by the fact that Plamen's heroic act has been so widely and internationally praised.
"We would like to direct the support of those who have been moved by Plamen's bravery to the RNLI in their efforts to make Britain's beaches safer."
Gemma Nightingale, of the RNLI, said: "We are honoured that the family of Plamen Petkov have chosen to remember his life with a Forever by the Sea fund.
"It is a fitting tribute that this young man's ultimate generosity of spirit will be reflected in the generosity of those who now visit the site."
The young girl was reunited with her family who are from north west London.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
London 2012 Olympic Games legacy: Jowell and Jenkins - BBC News
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Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Sussex village's bonfire futures looking bleak - thisissussex.co.uk
BONFIRE celebrations in some East Sussex villages could be a thing of the past if local groups continue to struggle for money.
Mayfield and Fletching bonfire societies said this year's events would go ahead but after that the future was bleak unless people were prepared to help or give money.
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help: Jo Lee, vice-chairman of a Mayfield bonfire society
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help: Jo Lee, vice-chairman of a Mayfield bonfire society
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burning out: Mayfield Boyes and Belles Bonfire Society carnival and procession
Crowborough's organisers also said they are "struggling".
They have blamed the lack of community spirit in their villages.
Jo Lee, vice-chairman of Mayfield Bonfire Boyes and Belles Society, which has been running for more than 50 years, said each year they had to start from scratch.
"Funds we collect on the night just go to charity. None of it comes to us at all," she said.
"In years gone by we have managed to raise enough to have a slush fund. Paraffin costs are rising and people are not spending on entertainment.
"You have villages, such as Rotherfield and East Hoathly where people have a community spirit.
"Mayfield is different. It is a commuter village.
"People are quite happy to invite friends down for the event but don't want to help.
"Basically my message is 'support us or lose it'."
Sarah Bradford, chairman of Fletching Bonfire Society, said it cost £10,000 to put on the event each year and fundraising had not been as good as in the past.
"We are going to try and plod on as long as we can," she said.
"We get no support from the village. A lot of people have come from outside. They use the village at a weekend. Most of our fundraising is supported by family and friends of the committee."
Nigel Cassford, chairman of Crowborough Bonfire Society, said the group had been struggling for the past three years.
He said: "People are working longer and don't have as much time. Getting sponsors is harder and harder because they don't have as much money to give.
"We have had to economise. For example we dropped the fireworks display a few years ago. We are not in difficulties as such but times are tough."
But Les Pike, chairman of Rotherfield Bonfire Society, said his group had great support. He said: "We have well over 100 supporters. There is a fantastic community spirit in the village."
Source: www.thisissussex.co.uk
Sussex steal Kent Exiles' Thunder (From News Shopper) - News Shopper
Kent Exiles 12-50 Sussex Thunder
11:08am Tuesday 19th June 2012 in Sport
KENT Exiles were beaten by Sussex Thunder on Sunday in their final home game of the season.
Going into the game as underdogs, and with a depleted squad due to five games in as many weeks having taken its toll with injuries, the Exiles dug in early on and matched Thunder stride for stride.
After an early Thunder score the Exiles thought they had drawn level when Zac Ritchie threw to Sam Johnson and the wideout broke a tackle and outpaced the visiting defence, but a penalty wiped the score off the board.
Ritchie found Colin Chislett and then Johnson again to move them within touching distance of the endzone and Jon Miller caught the touchdown.
Sussex Thunder pulled ahead on their next drive, but the Exiles came straight back once again.
Ben Abbott continued his good form finding some running room and Ritchie found the reliable Chislett and Miller before Wesley Eversley jumped between three defenders to pull in the touchdown and bring the scores level again.
One more Thunder score as the half ran out gave the visitors the lead, but at half-time it was anyone's game.
However, the second half was a different story as Sussex Thunder’s defence started to get on top and force turnovers which resulted in some quick scoring without reply from the Exiles and before long the game was out of reach.
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Source: www.newsshopper.co.uk
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