Mathew Street Music Festival 2006 – Part 1 – Friday August 25th Pier Head
Its August Bank Holiday Weekend, its the Mathew Street Music Festival opening with an outdoor concert by The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. So, naturally, its cold and raining but we British are prepared for this weather with all our outdoor gear, blankets, umbrellas, folding chairs and flasks of sweet hot tea.
Unfortunately the wind is also blowing in the wrong direction so the delicate members of the orchestra (that’s the instruments not the players) have to make a quick exit after only a few minutes.
Things were delayed for a while so that a reduced orchestra could play further back from the elements. We were then treated to short (1 song) sets from Thomas Lang with Jennifer John, Garry Christian, and Pete Wylie performed his ‘Heart as Big as Liverpool’. Finishing with the orchestra led by their new conductor Vasily Petrenko from Russia performing some Mussorgsky (appropriately) with a small firework display at the climax.
Despite the conditions it was a very good evening and the crowd were very appreciative of the the performers efforts.
I though Mark Forrest of Classic FM did a good job as compere for the evening too.
After it had finished earlier than scheduled due to the weather, the rain stopped briefly but then really chucked it down as we walked home. Managed to keep my camera dry but everything else was soaked.
