Summertime in Menton - the Festival of Music

Each summer - in August - Menton holds its famous Festival of Music. This year is the 59th year. Seating, as we see, is in the square outside the Basilica. The columns of the Basilica are on our left and you can see another photograph of this facade by clicking in the link.

Ahead of us is the Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs - you saw the inside of this beautiful building the other day. The majority of the Old Town is to our right. Behind us is the sea and so those sitting facing us, have a wondrous view. Actually I think we do too, don't you?

In the photograph, the pianist and artisitic director of the Festival, Jean-Bernard Pommier, is addressing the audience. He is also the conductor of the orchestra: the Martinova-Kazakov Menton Saint-Peterburg Orchestra.

They played works by Mozart, Haydn and Saint Saëns. My favourite was the beautiful clarinet of Andrey Kazakov - the soloist in Mozart's Concerto for clarinet and orchestra KV622. Unfortunately I couldn't get a photograph of him as he was masked by the conductor, who because of the wind had to conduct with one hand only and with the other, he held on to the soloist's music - to prevent it blowing away in the wind. Someone needed to have brought a peg onstage!

I want to thank Chuckeroon of Richmond upon Thames Daily Photo. If I printed out and counted the number of emails, Chuckeroon has written - helping me, advising me, answering endless questions on night photography, I think I'd fill the Basilica with them. Chuckeroon, thank you so much for your patience with me. A long way to go yet, but I'm slowly learning and today go to buy a 'proper' tripod. I took this photograh with a Gorillapod, which had been suggested by Don, a regular visitor to Menton and to this blog. It stood happily on the low wall in front of where I sat. Thanks, Don.

Tomorrow - the pianist and the cellos.

Summertime in Menton - the Piano Recital

Menton holds its famous Festival of Music each August. In additional to the main concerts held outside the Basilica at 21h30, there are smaller recitals held outdoors at 11h and 17h (we saw the Mandolin Player the other day). There are also recitals that take place at 18h at the stunningly beautiful Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs, the interior of which, you see here. This Chapel stands at a right-angle to the Basilica itself in the centre of the Old Town.

These are my first proper attempts at indoor photography. I tried using a Gorillapod as a tripod but no joy - the chairs available as support were just too slippery. And I apologise for the awful photograph of Einav Yarden, the wonderful Israeli pianist. (I'm learning, folks) Einav lives in the USA. She played - so beautifully - a series of sonatas by Bach, Stravinsky and Beethoven.

Morning Light

The morning sun - hundreds of dots of light dancing on the sea is something I just love. Here, I've photographed somewhat against the sun - doubtless breaking rules - but I don't mind the steeples in shade. Do you?

This was taken just below the cemetery and looking over the Old Town and port.

Église Notre-Dame-des-Neiges - 2

Churches in most of the Mentonnais hill villages, have a simple exterior, but surprise us when we go inside. Here you see three views of the interior of the 16th century church in Sainte Agnès.

Église Notre-Dame-des-Neiges

The parish church of Sainte Agnès, near to the entrance to the village, is dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows. You can see the entrance on the right of the photo. Do come back tomorrow and I'll take you inside this beautiful little church and show you the wonders therein.

Scouts' honour

Lunctime for a group of scouts on the steps of the Eglise St. Michel in the Old Town.