More front than Blackpool in Cambridge

It is several decades since I was in the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. What a fabulous collection of art – with a stunning exhibition of the work of John Craxton.

But how on earth did they manage to commission and build that mid-19^th century façade and entrance lobby. Perhaps in order to compete with the Ashmolean at Oxford?

It’s completely out of proportion to the rest of this lovely town, gigantic and loaded down with second-rate “classical” architecture and sculpture. It seems to dwarf what lies behind it – just look closely at the photo above. 

Time for a discreet earthquake?

 

O be joyful in King’s College Chapel

 
Although I’ve been in King’s College Chapel in Cambridge several times over the years ‒admiring the architecture, the furnishings and the superb Adoration of the Magi by Rubens ‒ I’d never been to a service there.

To be honest, I’ve never much enjoyed recordings made there – the resonant acoustic seems to turn everything into a sonic mist – but Matins last Sunday was spectacularly wonderful. The famous choir, directed by Stephen Cleobury, was on top form, and made full allowance for the fact that the music lingers in the air far longer than in most environments.

Perhaps most memorable were two pieces by Simon Preston – a dazzling Toccata as organ voluntary and a setting of the Jubilate that fully endorsed the inspiring words for a multinational congregation:

O be joyful in the Lord all ye lands.

Serve the Lord with gladness
and come before his presence with a song.

That we were and that we did.