Musical encounter

Tuesday, December 29th., Chiltern Court, London.

I recently attended a chamber concert. After a Beethoven quartet I leaned over to a lady in front of me who was sitting by herself. A careful study of the back of her head ( she wore a rather fetching hat) was all that had kept me going during the performance. I asked her: "What are you here for?" She said she had come to "hear some music". I asked if she was bored and she replied: "Horribly!" "Don't you feel as if you would rather be at the Palladium?" I asked. "I certainly do", she said with enthusiasm. The third and final item on the programme was another classical quartet. We left before it started. We had to. We just had to leave, or we should have begun to recite Dante's "Purgatorio" aloud!

We went to the Palladium. No sign there on the faces of the audience that they imagined that they were doing a duty to art, or proving themselves the favoured of Heaven! But there was every sign of a good night out. We heard Ella Shields sing her celebrated song "Burlington Bertie" (who rose at eight thirty). It was a distinguished performance. I would rank Ella Shields as an artist appreciably above 95 percent of the artists whom I have heard at 'serious' concerts in the last ten years. 

Music hall is one thing; chamber concerts are another. After sober reflection, based on lengthy experience, I know which I prefer and I am now sufficiently secure in my identity to say so. It is a wide world, and I wish the shepherds of the musical valley would realise this.

As regards the rather pleasant, if a little past her prime, lady I escorted to the Palladium .... I shall keep the details of a very enjoyable evening to myself.