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Tour de France 2012
For the first time ever in its 99 year history, a Briton wins the Le Tour de France. The history of the gruelling cycle race, first staged in 1903 is peppered with scandals, drugs, cheating,...
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Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay
The ancient city of Norwich has several interesting associations with the western esoteric tradition. It was the retirement home of Arthur Dee (1578-1651) the eldest son of the Elizabethan magus John...
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Baucis and Philomen
Evidence that Sir Thomas Browne appreciated the artistry of Flemish painter Peter Paul Reubens (1577-1640) and possessed a poetic sensibility, notably when far from the city. Inspired by the good folk...
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Mermaid
The seductive figure of the mermaid has a long and fascinating place in world art and literature. An early western literary account of the mermaid legend occurs in a medieval Romance which tells of...
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Norwich 1912 Floods
The summer of 2012 in England has been a bit of a wash-out, not just the wettest ever April to June since records began in 1910, but in fact the wettest summer for over one hundred years. However, no...
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Kepler and the Quincunx
There are a surprising number of hitherto undetected connections between the German mathematician, astronomer, and astrologer Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) to the English physician and philosopher Sir...
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Osvaldo Golijov
Earlier this year I was introduced, courtesy of a friend, to the music of Osvaldo Golijov (b. 1960). The music of Golijov, who was born and grew up in Argentinia of East European and Judaic descent,...
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The Lovesick Man
Another night of Saturnine blues, this time in the form of an early work by the German artist George Grosz. The Lovesick Man (circa 1916) is a painting which reflects dominant themes in Grosz's art,...
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Beauty and the Beast
First performed in its current production in Leeds, December 2011, and now on tour throughout the UK this October and November, Northern Ballet's Beauty and the Beast, choreographed by artistic...
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Magic Square of Numbers
Recently, while browsing in a charity shop, I found a small brass square with numbers inscribed upon it. After purchasing it and taking it home I discovered that the same total sum occurs, not only on...
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Venus, Cupid, Folly and Time
Bronzino's masterpiece Venus, Cupid, Folly and Time is archetypal in its subject-matter and style to the art movement of Mannerism. Mannerism originated in Rome about...
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Paracelsus and Sir Thomas Browne
The Swiss physician and alchemist Paracelsus (1493-1541) has a fascinating yet little explored relationship to the 17th century physician, hermetic philosopher, scientist and literary artist, Sir...
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Benjamin Britten
Today is the feast day of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music, and also the birthday of the English composer Benjamin Britten (1913-1976).Throughout next year there will be a multitude of...
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Sleeping Beauty: A Gothic Romance
Matthew Bourne is surely one of the most innovative choreographers in the modern dance world. His male-roled Swan Lake (1994) propelled him to international fame and he's continued creating highly...
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Crome Yellow
Aldous Huxley's first novel Crome Yellow (1921) is a dazzling display of wit which satirizes the follies and foibles of post world-war society.The novel established Huxley's literary name and...
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Winter scene with skaters
Two contrasting faces of Winter to end the year with.In the Dutch painter Frederick Marinus Kruseman's Winter scene with skaters many characteristics associated with later nineteenth century...
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Cyrus Cylinder
Throughout the year 2013 the Cyrus cylinder (above) can be seen in America. It can be viewed at the Smithsonian’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and Freer Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. from 9 March to 28...
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Hewitt plays Beethoven
I recently attended a concert at the Theatre Royal in Norwich of Angela Hewitt (above) accompanied by the Britten Sinfonia, performing not one, but two Beethoven piano concerto's.Established over 20...
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Sun enters Aquarius
To celebrate the Sun entering the zodiac sign of Aquarius for the ten billionth time, this recently acquired pair of statuettes poised upon eagle's wings. Alchemical iconography often includes avian...
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Horacio Vaggione
Today’s the 70th birthday of the composer Horacio Vaggione (b. Cordoba, Argentinia 21st Jan 1943). Vaggione is a composer of electro-acoustic music who uses the very latest technology to explore the...
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