Actually pianists set a historic world record with Himalayas performance.
Coady Green, Artistic Director for Actually Gay Men’s Chorus and his partner Christopher Wayne Smith, both internationally award-winning classical pianists have made the record books by performing two massive symphonies for piano duet, 3600 meters above sea level at the Thikse Monastery, the biggest monastery in the Himalayas. It’s on record as the highest ever publicly attended classical music concert in history.
This most unusual concert came about to honour of the 100th year anniversary of the great Russian composer Alexander Scriabin’s death, Coady and Christopher were asked to help realise the composer’s dream of having his music performed in the Himalayas. Scriabin had grandiose plans for a seven-day spectacle of his music in this exotic location, combining piano, orchestral and choral music with light, colour, dance and scent.
Coady Green and Christopher Wayne Smith
They performed together at the event with a massive light show according to Scriabin’s own colour-tonal scheme, scent infusions from renowned French perfumer Michel Roudnitska, and dance movements from the monks of Thikse Monastery.
As a result of this unusual performance Coady and Christopher have been offered a major recording contract with Toccata Classics to record the complete works of Scriabin for two pianos and piano duet, including the arrangements of all the symphonic works, and the complete works for two pianos and piano duet of Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky.
Christopher said:“It’s an epic project, several years in the making but it’s a job we love doing and though it takes a lot of very dedicated work, it does mean that we get to see some wonderfully unusual places around the world.”
To view YouTube trailor, Scriabin in the Himalayas, click here:
The couple can next be seen performing together at the Brighton Dome on January 10 with the London Gay Symphony Orchestra and Actually Gay Men’s Chorus, in a fun and diverse programme which includes Carnival of the Animals, narrated by Miss Jason, highlights from HMS Pinafore and the show-stopping Poulenc Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra.
So you want to know me now? The Sound of McAlmont & Butler celebrates its 20th anniversary.
The pitfalls of skirting about the peripheral edges of a mass music movement such as Brit-Pop in the mid 1990s are that you are certain to disappear from view as swiftly as you briefly appeared.
That was certainly the case with David McAlmont and Bernard Butler in 1994. By the time Butler teamed up with the much underrated McAlmont, he had already abandoned Brett Andersson and Suede but not before delivering them a set of songs of such soaring quality in their second album Dog Man Star they would never again achieve without him.
Much of the eleven strong set here on this anniversary reissue highlights what an exceptional gift Butler is as a musician and composer and what an incredible talent David McAlmont is as a singer (check out his collaboration with David Arnold on Diamonds Are Forever yes – that one).
The creative relationship faltered and they had themselves already separated as a partnership by the time the album was released in 1995 amid allegations of homophobia (from McAlmont to Butler) and the split was described by both as acrimonious.
However, they recently reunited for a UK tour in support of this re-issue, which along with the original album includes a DVD of promotional videos and Top of the Pops appearances, and a further fifteen demos, rarities and live recordings. It would be true to say that the album never quite matches the magnificent and frankly symphonic ‘Yes’, an orchestral I Will Survive so F*** You masterpiece unrivalled by their contemporaries at the time and which criminally stalled at number 7 in the charts. But as an extended ‘full’ version appears here, its inclusion amongst your collection of pops finest moments is worth the deluxe package fee alone.
Available now on EDSEL recordings from all good high street and online retailers.
The results of the 2013/14 Brighton & Hove LGBT Trust and Confidence Survey are now live online.
The findings and recommendations drawn from them were presented at a quarterly meeting of the Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum (LGBT CSF) on Wednesday, October 28.
The idea for a Trust and Confidence Survey came out of Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum public meetings during 2012.
LGBT groups indicated that hate crime was a significant factor in the City, and wanted an annual survey to measure baseline levels of trust and confidence in police and council services, to deal with this situation.
They were also mindful of the Police Survey: Sexual Orientation and Transgender Related Incidents – Understanding Under Reporting and the Count Me In Too survey report from 2007.
Key findings of the 2013-14 survey include:
♦ 39% of respondents said they had experienced one or more incidents of verbal abuse, sexual abuse, bullying, physical violence, cyber-bullying, negative comments, criminal damage, harassment or teasing these things with the majority (26%) stating that they have experienced negative comments.
♦ 56% of respondents reported that these incidences took place on the street with 75% being committed by strangers.
♦ One of the main themes raised by respondents in relation to the Police and Local Council was that they would like to see a more visible police presence on the streets, particularly in known popular LGBT areas. The findings suggest that the increased police presence in these areas might see a reduction in street crime.
How well are crime reports dealt with? ♦ When asked what they would like to see in Brighton & Hove in the future 45% of respondents stated that they would like the police and service providers to have LGBT awareness training.
♦ The theme of education and training was echoed strongly when respondents were asked to comment about what they felt would improve safety in Brighton and Hove for LGBT communities. Several respondents commented that the police and council staff needed to have more training and a greater understanding of LGBT issues.
When asked how well reports of abuse, discrimination and safety issues in Brighton and Hove were dealt with by different agencies, the most significant finding were:
♦ Of the respondents that reported a crime to the police 67% were not sure of the outcome and 0% ended in conviction. This compared to the 2012/13 survey where 8.5% resulted in conviction.
♦ 44% of respondents stated that they didn’t report an incident because they felt it wasn’t serious enough and this was echoed in some of the comments where respondents made reference to the fact they may have got used to name calling and didn’t see it as a hate crime.
Billie Lewis
Billie Lewis, the elected Chair of the LGBT CSF, said:“Its important that the LGBT community feels safe within the city. With more cut backs looming its vital the statutory services show they are taking our concerns seriously and have a sturdy plan in place to deter and prosecute perpetrators of Hate Crime. A large majority of people have indicated that they would like to see more LGBT awareness and training within the statutory services. This may be happening but there seems to be some confusion within the community on what training takes place, how it is implemented and how the level of training is maintained. I have invited both the Police and the Partnership Community Safety Team to attend our Public meeting on Wednesday, February 10 to discuss how LGBT policing works within the city and how complaints of Hate Crime and incidences are dealt with and actioned.”
Eric Page
Eric Page, Community Safety Officer, Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “Brighton & Hove City Council and the Partnership Community Safety team are grateful to the LGBT CSF for undertaking the survey for another year and sharing the findings. It’s an important source of feedback and fresh data regarding the LGBT communities in the city and their experience of services and accessing services offered by the Partnership Community Safety Team, the council and our partners.
“The survey’s results highlight areas where the local authority can do better and building on the findings of the previous survey, and the recent Trans Needs assessment, the findings are an important tool in helping us better focus services to identified needs and also directing us to areas of work with the LGBT community that are currently not taking place but the community identifies as important. In a time of diminishing resources and budgetary contractions it is helpful to have up to date data to inform work that affects the city’s wide and diverse LGBTQ communities.
“It is encouraging to see amongst the results, quotes and findings that there are some areas of work where we are successfully reaching vulnerable communities and treating them with respect and consideration, but as always with trust and confidence this is an ongoing process of engagement where we will only be judged on the work we successfully achieve.”
Chief Super Nev Kemp
Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp, added:“I am pleased that overwhelmingly those from LGBT communities who reported incidents and crimes to Sussex Police were pleased with how we dealt with them. I would like to see more reporting of incidents to us but I understand that there are many reasons for not doing so and this survey shows that when we are told, we usually get our response right and provide a good service that supports the victim.
“We have come a long way in improving trust and confidence with LGBT communities over the years and I want everyone from those communities to know that we stand with you and if you need us, we will be there for you. I would like to thank the LGBT CSF for their work and for making this survey possible and I am pleased that we were able to make a contribution towards the cost of the survey.”
The Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum is an established independent LGBT forum of seven elected unpaid volunteers working with the LGBT Community to address and improve safety and access issues throughout Brighton & Hove and the towns within its city.
They undertake cultural, educational and social safety community activities and any type of LGBT community/inclusion and accessibility initiative.
The Forum was formed to give the community a much-needed voice on a wide range of safety issues in Brighton and Hove and exist to act as a bridge between the community and statutory services such as Brighton & Hove City Council and Sussex Police to enable there to be more accountability and transparency of the services provided.
It’s very much a forum where members of the public can have their say and can ask direct questions to those in charge of community safety in the city.
The Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum hold quarterly public meetings. The dates of the public meetings in 2016 are:
♦ Wednesday, February 10
♦ Wednesday, April 13
♦ Wednesday, July 13
♦ Wednesday, October 26 AGM
To view the complete findings of the 2013-14 Trust & Confidence survey, click here:To take part in the 2014/15 Trust & Confidence survey, click here:
A short section of one lane westbound on the seafront carriageway will close for two and a half years from January 4 for the Shelter Hall project and for work to take place under the A259.
The Shelter Hall
The lane will be shut for a distance of about 50 metres either side of the bottom of West Street. The junction will include a dedicated filter for right turns into West Street for westbound traffic. Access to Churchill Square and car parks will be kept open.
Traffic travelling southbound down West Street and heading west on the seafront will need to turn right on Russell Road and use the Cannon Place/A259 junction.
Advanced warning signs are now up on the seafront. The council will be supervising the works to make sure there is minimum disruption to the public, businesses and public transport.
Shared pedestrian and cycle access along the upper prom will be maintained at all times, as will access to the lower prom.
Work to reconfigure the lower promenade is on schedule and foundations are being put in place for the construction of the seawall. This phase is expected weather permitting, to be completed by the end of March.
Brighton & Hove was one of only a few councils to win funding from the government’s Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund, securing £9 million to undertake the work which will also save the seafront road from collapse and protect it for the future.
The total £10 million project involves rebuilding the historic Shelter Hall (a Victorian building originally designed to shield bathers from bad weather and hot sun) to become a flagship commercial location for the 21st century, creating a new walkway on the beach, enlarging the upper prom area and building new public toilets on the seafront.
The Shelter Hall also extends under the A259, one of the major routes in and out of the city.
Due to the age of the structure and complexity of the construction, the lane closure is expected to be in place for two and a half years. Traffic management will be co-ordinated with an overall plan that takes into account other major schemes in the city.
Councillor Gill Mitchell, chair of the city’s environment and transport committee, said: “The rebuilding of the Shelter Hall and work to strengthen the A259 is absolutely essential for the future of our seafront and the road, which is the major coastal route through Brighton and Hove. We need to do the work to protect these assets into the next century.
“Shelter Hall marks the first stage of investment in the seafront’s infrastructure which is urgently in need of restoration and regeneration. This project, largely funded by the government, is on schedule and on budget and is a key part of securing our seafront economy.”
Brighton’s Shelter Hall is part of the historic seafront arches. Built in the 1880s at 150-154 Kings Road Arches, it supports the upper promenade and the highway and is currently in very poor condition.
Brighton & Hove City Council is contributing nearly £1.7 million towards the scheme from Local Transport Plan funding. The project will be overseen by the team which created the award-winning seafront arches restoration near the i360 development.
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