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19 December 2009

Last Night's Concert

Yosuke Yamashita played Gershwin with the Vietnamese Symphony Orchestra last night. It was at the Hanoi Opera House, which is a tired yet cosy little venue.

We were seated to the right of the stage, but when Yosuke arrived I moved around to the left and stood beside a column. I always need a view of the hands.


One of the violinists was wearing a strange sleeveless fluffy pink mohair top; oversized with a black belt around it. I think I spotted black jodhpurs when she stood up. A bold choice for someone on a stage, surrounded by ball gowns.

Some of Yosuke's earlier installations are also quite remarkable. This one below, from the 70's, is called 'Ecstasy of the Angels'. It seems to start with a hidden (oversized) vibrator, closely followed by an axe, then wraps up via a tribute to some kind of Japanese Patty Hearst.


Back to the concert.

Look closely at the applause at the end. Vietnamese people don't really stand up to applause but there is a lonely old girl in the distance, on her feet.


It was so fantastic that we want to go again. It's sold out so we are going try to sneak in tonight during intermission, brandishing last night's programs.